Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 29, 2023

ADF&G News

The Glennallen ADF&G office offers a free fishing rod loaner program. The office has rods suitable for fishing stocked lakes and resident species such as Arctic grayling, northern pike and salmon. Resident anglers 18 and older and non-resident anglers 16 and older must have a current Alaska sportfishing license to sign out a rod. This is a first-come, first-served program and fishing rods cannot be reserved. For more information, check out the Rod Loaner Program web page at or call the Glennallen ADF&G office at 907-822-3309.

Personal Use Fishing

• The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dipnet Salmon Fishery is currently open through midnight Sunday, July 2. The fishery will then immediately open again for a 168-hour period from 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 3 through midnight Sunday, July 9.
• Miles Lake sonar numbers are quickly rising and catching up to the expected cumulative. Remember, these fish are at least 2 weeks away from reaching Chitina and longer if water levels are rising. You can monitor the numbers at the online at the NOAA/National Weather service website.

Sport Fishing

Resident freshwater species

For a guide to where all the accessible fisheries are, check out 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.

Arctic grayling

Try fishing some smaller lakes and their outlets. Near-shore fishing in the larger lakes like Lake Louise and Paxson Lake should also be productive. If stream fishing, find those upper stream sections where the water is coldest to find the really big fish.

Lake trout and burbot

At this point in the summer, these species will be residing in cool, deep water. Try fishing below the thermocline or along deeper ledges.

Dolly Varden

For smaller Dollies, you can have a great time fishing the Tiekel River which runs along Richardson Highway on the way to Valdez. As always, the Little Tonsina River and the upper Klutina River are a good choice for Dollies. Fishing along the Nabesna and McCarthy Roads can be productive as well.

Salmon

Sockeye salmon

Sockeye are moving through the Klutina River. Fishing should be good to excellent through the remainder of June. Be sure to watch the video, How to Fish for Klutina River Red Salmon, for helpful tips on tackle and technique. Also try the Gulkana River for sockeye. They are more of a challenge there, but worth the effort.

King salmon

Copper River King salmon are returning in good numbers this year. The Klutina and Tonsina Rivers open up to king salmon fishing this weekend, on July 1. Kings are being caught in the Gulkana River.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip. Also, be sure to review the 2023 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For more information, please call the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.