Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

July 3, 2025

Local Conditions

• The Copper River water level has risen to a more average depth for this date, with normal daily fluctuations of between 13 to 14 feet at the Chitina stage gauge. You can view the Copper River’s stage gauge in Chitina online at this NOAA website.
• Forecasted sunny skies for the remainder of this week with daytime highs into the 60s and low 70s may result in increased river stage height of the Copper River and its glacial-fed tributaries again.
• Very minimal rainfall in the Gulkana River drainage recently has increased the water level only slightly. The river remains relatively clear.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Fishery

• The Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon dipnet fishery is currently open through 11:59 pm Tuesday, July 8. The Chitina PU fishery will then close at 12:01 am Wednesday, July 9 through 11:59 am Thursday, July 10. The Chitina PU fishery will reopen at 12 pm (noon) on Thursday, July 10 and remain open through midnight on Sunday, July 13.
• During June 23-29, there were 72,717 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 63,335 salmon, which results in a surplus of 9,382 salmon.
• Through July 1, the cumulative count of salmon past Miles Lake sonar is 583,735. This count is approximately 155,000 fish greater than the expected cumulative count for this date. The rule of thumb is that it takes approximately 10-14 days for salmon to reach the dip net fishery from Miles Lake sonar, depending on water levels.
• Due to concerns about king salmon escapement, the personal use fishery will be restricted to no retention of king salmon for the remainder of this season. King salmon caught in the personal use fishery may not be kept. All king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
• Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use permits and State of Alaska Sport Fishing licenses are currently available online at the ADF&G store and will also be available at Fish and Game offices and at vendors in Anchorage, Fairbanks and local communities. Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence permits are also available online and at the Fish and Game offices in Anchorage, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, and Palmer.
• Check the Chitina dipnetting page for more information on the personal use dip net fishery.
• If you haven't tried dipnetting before, or are interested in some helpful tips, be sure to watch the 4-part video series, "How to Dipnet for Salmon at Chitina" at the ADF&G website or on the ADF&G Youtube channel.
• Lastly, it’s always a good idea to make sure fishing is open in Chitina before making the drive. Call the 24-hour hotline for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery at 907-822-5224.

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Fishery

• The Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence salmon fishery is currently open and will remain open through September 30.
• Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence permits are available online at the ADF&G store and at local ADFG offices in Anchorage, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Glennallen and Palmer.

Sport Fishing

• For a guide to local area small fisheries, check out ADFG’s website for Sport fishing Alaska rivers and lakes in the Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Basin. This guide lists all the fisheries, species available, and mile markers along all the major highways crossing the Upper Copper and Upper Susitna Area.
• An Emergency Order has reduced the annual limit for king salmon in the Upper Copper River drainage from 4 to 1 fish. This includes the Gulkana, Klutina and Tonsina Rivers. Sport anglers are only allowed to retain 1 king salmon this season from any of the tributaries open to king salmon sport fishing.
• Anglers are reporting limited king salmon action in the Gulkana River from the Richardson Highway Bridge to Sourdough and upstream to the West Fork. Fishing has been reported as slow and an Emergency Order prohibiting the use of bait and treble hooks in the Gulkana River drainage remains in effect.
• Sport fishing for king salmon opened in the Klutina and Tonsina Rivers on Tuesday, July 1 but an Emergency Order issued July 2 will restrict king salmon fishing in all streams of the Copper River drainage to catch and release only starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 7. In addition, the use of bait and multiple hooks will be prohibited at teh same time.
• Sockeye salmon fishing on the Klutina River has slowed down.
• Be sure to watch the ADF&G video, "How to Fish for Klutina River Red Salmon" for helpful tips on fishing strategy, access points and camping options.

Emergency Orders

• Emergency Order 3-KS-I-12-25 prohibits the retention of king salmon of any size and prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks in the sport fisheries occurring in all flowing waters of the Upper Copper River drainage, including the Gulkana, Klutina and Tonsina Rivers. King salmon may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Emergency Order 3-RS-1-11-25 opens the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery for a 36-hour period from 12:01am Monday, July 7 through 11:59 pm Tuesday, July 8. The fishery will then be closed from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 9 through 11:50 a.m. Thursday, July 10. The fishery will reopen at 12 pm (noon) on Thursday, July 10 through11:59 pm Sunday, July 13.
• Emergency Order 3-RS-I-10-25 closes the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery to the retention of king salmon for the remainder of the season.
• Emergency Order 3-KS-1-09-25 reduces the king salmon annual limit from 4 to 1 fish and prohibits the use of bait and treble hooks in the Gulkana River drainage. King salmon harvested from the Upper Copper River drainage prior to June 20 does not count toward the newly reduce 1 fish annual limit.

ADF&G News

• The Glennallen ADF&G office has fishing rods to loan out as part of the ADF&G Rod Loaner Program. All you need is a current sport fishing license (for resident anglers 18 and older and non-residents 16 or older) to borrow a rod. You’ll have to provide your own tackle but rods are free of charge.
• Make sure to review the 2025 Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
• Be sure to follow the ADFG Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Facebook page or the ADFG Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Instagram page for the most up-to-date information about fishing in Interior Alaska. Note: This is a good page to follow to get keep track of all information about the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.