Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Archived Sport Fishing Report

Copper River Chitina Subdistrict remains open through Sunday August 2nd at 11:59 pm. The preliminary season schedule is based on projected daily sonar counts at Miles Lake sonar and is subject to change based on actual salmon escapement. If actual counts are below the projected counts, fishing time will be reduced. If actual counts are above the projected counts fishing time will be increased accordingly. The river level has been dropping and the fishing has started to pick up in the last few days. Of the total limit only one king salmon may be retained per household.

Sockeye fishing on the Klutina River has been slow the last few weeks. The Gulkana River is another option for sockeye fishing with decent numbers of sockeye passing the counting tower located above the West Fork of the Gulkana River. Anglers reported catching sockeye near the bridge in the last few days. The daily bag and possession limit for the Copper River drainage is 6 fish for the remainder of the season.

The upper portion of the Gulkana River closed for king salmon fishing July 19th, and the upper portion of the Klutina River above mile 19.2 closed July 19th. The Klutina River report is that the fishing has been fair. The Tonsina River is another option for fishing although there have not been any recent reports from anglers fishing the Tonsina River.

The larger lakes which include Lake Louise, Susitna, Tyone, Paxson, and Crosswind Lakes should continue to produce decent catches of fish throughout the summer. Trolling in deeper water could be productive with the warmer temperatures the fish could be in deeper waters.

Catchable rainbow trout were stocked in most UCUS stocked lakes during the month of June. There are several easy to access lakes along the Lake Louise road, Old Road, Round, Crater, and Peanut Lakes to name a few. Two Mile, and Three Mile Lakes on the Edgerton Highway, and Pippin Lake on the Richardson Highway. Catchable Arctic grayling were also released in stocked lakes in the Lake Louise area in June. Give Connor, and Junction Lakes on the Lake Louise road a try. For the better trout fishing in the area head down the McCarthy Road to Strelna, Silver, and Sculpin Lakes. These lakes offer the best opportunity to catch more and a possibility to catch larger fish. Silver Lake has walk in access only. Tex Smith and Tolsona Lakes on the Glenn Highway have been doing well this summer also. Tolsona Mountain Lake is another option for excellent fishing, but an ATV is helpful to access this lake. Check out the sport fishing Alaska rivers and lakes in the Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Basin for more info on sport fishing in the area.

Arctic grayling can be found in most area streams. Most of the local streams offer a run of grayling for a short time as the fish head upstream to spawn. Many of the small lakes on the Lake Louise and Nabesna roads contain grayling populations. Long Lake and Jack Lake should be good for grayling. Poplar Grove, and Sourdough Creek are also another option for grayling fishing, as well as the Gulkana River.