Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 19, 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 are on the rise with the recent rain in the interior. The Chena, Salcha, Chatanika, Goodpaster, and smaller creeks and tributaries in the Tanana Flats will be higher or peaking by the weekend. Trails in the interior will likely be wet and muddy, but there was variation in rainfall amounts which will impact trail conditions.
  • Northern pike fishing has been good in Interior lakes. As we move into fall, the pike fishing will pick up with the changing of the daylight and the cooler evening temps. Casting bright flashy spoons such as Daredevils, Krocodiles, Little Cleo, or Pot o’ Gold have been successful lately.
    • Water levels in Minto Flats are rising and the lakes may be flooded again by this weekend which will result in limited dry land available for onshore use and/or camping. Fishing has been decent with the majority of the fish concentrated in the channels and clearer waters between the lakes. Flashy spinners and spoons are effective tackle for northern pike.
  • Arctic grayling fishing will suffer in most rivers with rising, dingy water. The clearwater rivers and the Tangle Lakes area will more reliably provide good fishing conditions for Arctic grayling. Most graylings are surface-feeding on insects and will readily strike a dry fly or one submerged just below the surface. Other options include casting small spinners, small spoons with bright flashes of color, or plain jigs with a weighted hook to entice a strike.
  • Lake Trout fishing has been slow due to the recent warm weather, but the cooler weather will begin to cool surface waters during the fall, and surface and shoreline fishing will improve. For now, try casting or trolling heavier weighted spoons or swim shads near the bottom of the lake. Depending on the lake depth and bait restrictions, jigging off the bottom in 30-40 ft of water may entice a bite.
  • Burbot fishing remains slow, but similar to lake trout, burbot will become more aggressive as water temperatures cool. Try jigging or placing setlines with herring or whitefish at the mouth of sloughs.

Lake Fishing

  • Lake fishing has been reported as excellent. Cooler weather and rains in the Interior have begun to cool the lakes and fishing has improved. Try power bait, shrimp, various colored jigs, or small flies to increase your chances of success.
  • Many of our stocked lakes have bathymetric maps located on the Alaska Lake Database. Check it out to see where some good fishing spots could be!
  • 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

Coho salmon are slowly making their way up the Yukon River and should be arriving into the lower Tanana River near the end of the month. Early indications are that the run is poor this year.

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.

Archives

Tanana Area Archives for:
Sep 02, 2021 Aug 26, 2021 Aug 19, 2021 Aug 12, 2021 Aug 03, 2021 Jul 28, 2021 Jul 22, 2021 Jul 15, 2021
Jul 08, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 Jun 23, 2021 Jun 17, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 Jun 03, 2021 May 27, 2021

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