Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 02, 2020
* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.
EMERGENCY ORDERS
Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:
- Emergency Order 3-KS-I-03-20 reduced the annual limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from four to one fish. Any king salmon harvested from the Upper Copper River drainage prior to June 20 does not count toward the one fish annual limit.
- Emergency Order 3-RS-I-05-20 details the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishing Schedule for the week of June 29 - July 5.
- Emergency Order 3-RS-I-06-20 details the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishing Schedule for the week of July 6 – 12.
INFORMATIONAL HOTLINES FOR CHITINA PERSONAL USE FISHERY
- Anchorage: 907-267-2511
- Fairbanks: 907-459-7382
- Glennallen: 907-822-5224
PERSONAL USE
The Copper River Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery is currently open through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 5th. The fishery will reopen for 84 hours at 12-noon Thursday, July 9 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday July 12. Retention of king salmon remains closed.
The sonar is still tracking nearly 100,000 fish short of the cumulative objective, and management of the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery will continue to be conservative.
SPORT FISHING
King salmon fisheries in the entire Copper River drainage are currently open (see the ADF&G Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary Upper Copper and Upper Susitna Drainage for special regulations closing specific waters to the taking of King salmon) . The annual limit for king salmon in the copper river drainage has been reduced from 4 fish to 1 (Refer to Advisory Announcement for 6/17/2020). This change will stay in effect for the remainder of the season. If you have already retained 1-3 king salmon in the Copper River drainage prior to June 20, you may still retain a single king salmon. If you had already reached the regulatory annual limit of 4 king salmon by June 20 you may not retain an additional king salmon.
Anglers are currently targeting king salmon on the Gulkana River with limited success. The river remains high but is clearing. If the current weather pattern holds, fishing conditions should be fair to good over the 4th of July weekend. King salmon have been moving into the river and upstream very slowly. Fish are distributed throughout the river with good fishing out of Sourdough and below Sailor’s Pit.
The 2020 king salmon run is tracking well below forecast and Gulkana River king salmon counting tower counts are lagging behind expected. Although this may indicate a late run, we suspect the run is also weak. However, we do not anticipate any further restrictions on this river at this time.
The Klutina and Tonsina rivers open for king salmon starting today. Some kings have been observed in the upper portions of the Klutina River so expect fish to be moving throughout the river in low numbers. The king salmon run on the Klutina should continue to build over the next couple of weeks. On the Tonsina River the king salmon run is usually more compressed so expect fishing to improve on that river faster than on the Klutina.
Sockeye salmon are open throughout the Copper River drainage. Fishing in the Klutina River continues to be slow, but has improved. Expect fishing to be spotty with short periods of good fishing intermixed with very little action. Anglers are reporting reaching their daily limits of three fish, but sometimes taking all day to do so. In the Gulkana River sockeye salmon counts are well below average at our counting tower.
Resident freshwater species: All stocked lakes have been stocked for the summer with Arctic grayling, rainbow trout and coho salmon.
Waters remain cool so lake trout should be well distributed offering anglers a good chance of success from both boats and shore. Look to the Lake Louise complex of lakes and Paxson and Summit lakes for good roadside lake trout fishing. For the more adventurous try flying into Crosswind Lake or Copper Lake up near Nabesna for some remote lake trout fishing.
We have had reports of great Arctic grayling fishing in Paxson Lake, and as usual, the Gulkana River has more than enough grayling to keep even the most ravenous angler happy. Look for streams with colder water if you want to target an exceptional Arctic grayling in the area.
Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing by purchasing your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store. You can print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Glennallen Area Office at (907) 822-3309.