Chatanika River whitefish spear lottery opens July 27

Every fall, whitefish move up the Chatanika River from the Minto Flats toward their spawning grounds, and they move at night. So people wade into the dark water north of Fairbanks carrying lanterns and headlamps, and spear them.

It takes a permit, and there are only 400 this year, up from the usual 300. Fish and Game opens the lottery Monday, July 27, and closes it August 7 — one entry per household, with a resident sport fishing license required.

Winners get a five-week season, September 11 through October 12, on about seven miles of river below the Elliott Highway bridge. The limit is 10 whitefish per household, any size.

One thing not to forget: everyone who draws a permit has to file a harvest report by October 31, even if they never make it out. Miss it and your household is out of next year's lottery.