Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 12, 2021

* Just a reminder to all anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing as well as when shopping for fishing supplies from your local store, and by wearing a face covering when social distancing is not possible.

Sport Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

• Most area rivers remain clear and low even with the recent rain in the interior. The Salcha and Goodpaster Rivers have been exceptionally low this summer. Trails are still fairly dry however some low sections may have standing water from the recent rain.
• Northern pike fishing has been good in interior lakes. Most lakes are exhibiting increased aquatic plant growth with the warmer temperatures in the Interior. Try top-water lures such as mice, frogs, ducklings, or weedless spoons if you are fishing near vegetated areas. In deeper cooler waters, try fishing spoons such as Daredevils, Krocodiles, Little Cleo, or Pot Gold.
  • Water levels in Minto Flats have remained steady, but lake levels remain somewhat high. Pike fishing has been good, but there may still be limited to no dry land available for onshore use and/or camping. Target bigger pike using lures like large spoons or heavier swimbaits that run farther down in the water column.
• Arctic grayling are surface-feeding on insects and will readily strike a dry fly or one submerged just below the surface. Target grayling hiding behind bigger rocks waiting to strike on drifting insects.
  • For helpful tips on technique and gear, watch the ADF&G video, How to Fish for Arctic Grayling before heading out.
• Lake Trout fishing has been good. The hot summer days have most lakers hanging in the deeper cooler water. Try casting or trolling heavier weighted spoons or swim shads that get you closer to the cooler water near the bottom of the lake. Depending on the lake depth, jigging off the bottom in 30-40 ft of water with bait (check area regulations first though!) may entice a bite.
• Burbot is starting to get more aggressive as water temps cool and darkness returns. Try jigging or placing set lines at the mouth of sloughs. Herring or whitefish work great as bait but burbot loves lamprey if you can get your hands on some.

Lake Fishing

• Lake fishing has been reported as excellent, especially in lakes where catchable rainbow trout were stocked. Try casting near weedy areas or jigging bait over deeper sections. Many of our stocked lakes have bathymetric maps located on the Alaska Lake Database. Check it out to see where these deep spots are!
  • For the fly fishers try sinking flies such as dragon and damsel nymphs, or leech patterns.
  • For the reel fishers, drift small pieces of shrimp under a bobber or use lures such as Super Dupers and Swedish Pimples to entice a bite.
• Not sure where you want to head for the weekend? Check out the multiple stocked lake fishing opportunities listed by the roadway in the Tanana Valley Stocked Lakes Fishing Guide.

Salmon

By emergency order, the Tanana River drainage was closed to sport fishing for chum salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2021.

By emergency order, the Tanana River drainage was closed to sport fishing for king salmon, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2021.

This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king and chum salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. All king and chum salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. The 2021 Yukon River drainage king and chum salmon runs are weak. A conservative management approach is being taken to protect the 2021 king and chum salmon run. Subsistence and personal use fishing have been closed within the Yukon River drainage (including the Tanana River drainage).

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-CS-U-02-21 closes all waters of the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for chum salmon. All chum salmon caught incidentally in the Tanana River drainage while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Emergency Order 3-KS-U-05-21 closes all waters of the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon. All king salmon caught incidentally in the Tanana River drainage while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Emergency Order 3-NP-U-01-21 reduces the Minto Flats northern pike bag and possession limit.
• Emergency Order 3-R-U-02-21 restricts Piledriver Slough and Moose Creek to catch-and-release fishing for all fish species.

Don't forget to bring your 2021 sport fishing license. Help maximize social distancing by purchasing your sport fishing license at the ADF&G Online Store. You can print your license from the comfort of your home. Also, be sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2021 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

NEW! Check out the #wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the 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

Call the Fairbanks office at (907) 459-7228 or the Delta Junction office at (907) 895-4632 with any questions.