Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 23, 2016

PERSONAL USE
Copper River Chitina Subdistrict is currently open and will remain open through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, July 3rd. The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery is closed to the retention of king salmon. King salmon incidentally taken may not be retained and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed. The water level in the river is high at this time. Up to date info can also be obtained from Chitina Dipnetters Association website. The preliminary season schedule is based on the projected daily sonar counts at the 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.
SOCKEYE SALMON Fishing for sockeye on the Klutina River has proven to take more time and patience, but the fish are there! There have been reports of good sockeye numbers in the Gulkana River and fish being caught . Fish with caution when fishing from the shore with the recent high water the river banks could be undercut. Expect fishing to pick up in the following weeksand through the 4th of July weekend in both the Klutina and Gulkana rivers.
KING SALMON FISHING
Under Emergency Order (EO), the Upper Copper River King Salmon fishery will close for the remainder of the season effective 12:01am on June 25th upstream of Haley Creek. Kings may not be targeted in any waters of the Copper River Drainage after this date. This EO also prohibits the use of bait, anglers are restricted to unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures.
LAKE TROUT The larger lakes in the area: Tyone, Paxson, Lake Louise, and Summit Lake are all ice free and should be productive fishing throughout the summer. Anglers are still having success around the outlets of Paxson and Summit lakes.
STOCKED LAKES
Catchable rainbow trout were stocked in most UCUS stocked lakes within the past month. Try Old Road and Round lakes, off the Lake Louise Road. Catchable Arctic Char were also released in Gergie Lake just south of Lake Louise Rd. For the best rainbow trout fishing head out the McCarthy Road to Strelna, Silver, and Sculpin lakes which offer the best opportunity to catch more and a possibility to catch larger fish. Silver Lake has walk in access only, and fishing has been great. Peanut and Tolsona Mountain Lakes are also excellent lakes for rainbow trout, but an ATV is helpful to access them. These two lakes are not readily accessible to the road system and have been stocked in past years and receive little pressure.
ARCTIC GRAYLING
Arctic grayling can be found in most area streams. Grayling fishing around Glennallen and Sourdough has slowed as they move into smaller tributaries to spawn. Many of the small lakes on the Lake Louise and Nabesna roads contain grayling populations. Long Lake and Jack Lake are good bets for grayling. Mendeltna creek, and larger Rivers like the Gulkana and Little Nelchina also contain grayling