Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

August 20, 2026

Local Conditions:

The upper Copper River is flowing above average in response to warm days earlier this month, but cooler weather is forecasted. The Copper River flow gauge in Chitina has been offline since June 15 due to equipment issues.

The Gulkana River and non-glacial small streams in the area have low flows.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Dip Net Fishery:

The Miles Lake sonar counts ended on July 28 with a below-average run size this year.

The king salmon run to the Copper River this season was also weak. An Emergency Order was issued prohibiting king salmon retention in the Personal Use fishery for the remainder of the season.

The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use dip net salmon fishery will open as follows:

OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 21 - 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 23

OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 28 - 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 30

OPEN: 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, September 1 - 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30

Informational hotline for Chitina Personal Use Fishery: (907) 822-5224.

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon Fishery:

The Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence salmon fishery will remain open through September 30. Currently, there are no Emergency Orders specific to the Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence salmon fishery.

Sport Fishing:

Pippin, Old Road, Round, Tex Smith, and 2 Mile Lake will be stocked with rainbow trout next week.

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.

Sockeye salmon are still entering the Gulkana River, so that may be a good spot for those still looking to fill their freezers with sport-caught fish.

King salmon: ALL WATERS of the Upper Copper River drainages are closed to king salmon fishing.

Remember to report on your Upper Copper River King Salmon Sport Fishery Permit. Permits must be reported online by August 31, 2026. You are required to report on your permit even if you did not fish, or if you went fishing but did not harvest a king salmon.

ADF&G News

• Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed above in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
• Be sure to follow the ADF&G Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Facebook page or ADF&G Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Instagram page for the most up-to-date information about fishing in Interior Alaska. Note: These are good pages to follow to keep track of all information about the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery.
• The Glennallen ADF&G office has fishing rods to loan out as part of the ADF&G Rod Loaner Program. All you need is a current sport fishing license (for resident anglers 18 and older and non-residents 16 or older) to borrow a rod. You’ll have to provide your own tackle, but rods are free of charge.
• Make sure to review the 2026 Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
• For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.