Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 27, 2023
Personal Use Fishing
- The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dipnet Salmon Fishery will be open continuously through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, September 30.
- Salmon passage at the Miles Lake sonar has consistently exceeded the daily projection by more than double for the past week. During July 17–23, there were 94,453 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period is 31,546 salmon, resulting in a surplus of 62,907 salmon.
- Cumulative sonar passage for the season at the Miles Lake sonar stood at 972,814 fish as of July 25, which is 402,000 above expected for this date.
- Fish passing the sonar today are about three weeks away from reaching Chitina. Check on the numbers yourself at the ADF&G fish count web page.
- The Miles Lake sonar is scheduled to cease operations on July 28.
- The Copper River water level is currently above 16 feet at Chitina. Copper River water level near Chitina can be monitored online by NOAA/National Weather Service.
- Call the Chitina Personal Use Fishery Hotline at 907-822-5224 for more information on the Chitina dipnet fishery.
Sport Fishing
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
- Paxson Lake is a good, consistent choice for Arctic grayling, as is Lake Louise. If you have an ATV, you can find good-sized Arctic grayling throughout the summer by running out to the Swede Lake trail to Swede Lake or the Middle Fork of the Gulkana River. For a road accessible option, try Gunn Creek at the north end of Summit Lake
Lake trout and burbot
- Lake Louise and Susitna Lake are always good choices for lake trout in the summer. Paxson Lake and Summit Lake in the upper Gulkana River drainage are also great options. You can explore other lakes like Swede and Little Swede Lakes south of the Denali Highway or Sevenmile Lake north of the highway.
Dolly Varden
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The Little Tonsina River and the upper Klutina River are always a good option for Dollies. Anglers can also find success fishing along the Nabesna and McCarthy Roads; the fish may not be real big but they are plentiful. For smaller Dollies you can have a great time fishing the Tiekel River that runs along Richardson Highway on the way to Valdez.
Sockeye salmon
- Sockeye salmon fishing remains consistent on the Klutina River. Expect to put in 2-3 hours to land that full limit, but land them you will. We expect the Klutina to remain consistent through mid-August.
King salmon
- Fishing for king salmon on the Klutina and Tonsina Rivers remains good and should be productive through the end of the season. The Klutina River up to Mile 19.2 mile of Klutina Lake Road will remain open through July 31 while the Klutina River up to Mile 13 of Klutina Lake Road will remain open through August 10. The Tonsina River up to the Alyeska Pipeline bridge and the Copper River from the Klutina River to Haley Creek will remain open through August 10.
- The possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or longer in length in the Upper Copper River drainage has been increased from 1 to 2 fish effective Thursday, July 20. The daily bag limit remains 1 king salmon per day. What this means is that if you harvest a king salmon one day and keep it in a cooler, you can harvest another king salmon the following day as well. If you fish a third day, you would need at least one of the two fish you already kept to be frozen, cooked or canned.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed at the top of this report 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.
Press Release
ADF&G News
- Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon, halibut), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. You can also purchase your license and dipnetting permits online at the ADF&G online store.
- Also, check out ADF&G's new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips.
For more information
For more information, please call the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.