Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

July 16, 2026

Local Conditions

• Summer fishing is in full swing in the Interior, albeit a cooler and wetter one. Due to recent rains and localized deluge, some rivers may be murky and on the rise.

Arctic grayling

• Arctic grayling are at their summer grounds. Warmer weather and sunshine have stimulated insect activity, and Arctic grayling are taking advantage of the feast.
• In the Chena River drainage, Five Mile Clearwater Creek, Delta Clearwater River, and Tok River drainage, only one unbaited, single-hook lure or fly is allowed when fishing for Arctic grayling.
• In the lower Chena River, beginning 300 feet downstream of the dam, a bag limit of one Arctic grayling is allowed for all anglers.
• In the upper Chena River, upstream of the dam, only catch and release is allowed year-round.
• Special regulations for Arctic grayling are in effect in the following locations: In the Delta Clearwater River, a bag limit of one Arctic grayling (12 inches or less) is allowed; In Five-mile Clearwater Creek, a bag limit of two Arctic grayling (only one may be 12 inches or longer) is allowed; In the Tok River drainage a bag limit of two Arctic grayling is allowed.
• Dry flies continue to work well. Small patterns in sizes 10 through 16, such as caddis, mayflies, midges, mosquitoes, and gnats, are reliable choices. Nymphs can also be effective. Anglers using spinning gear can try small spinners in sizes zero through two, spoons from 1/4 to 1/2 ounce, and small jigs.
• Watch the How to Fish for Arctic Grayling video on the ADF&G Youtube channel for helpful tips.

Northern Pike

• For northern pike fishing, try big, flashy spoons to attract their attention. Some local options for northern pike include Minto Flats lakes, Cushman Lake, Little Harding Lake, Harding Lake (catch-and-release only), sloughs of the Tanana River, and the mouths of rivers that are tributaries to the Tanana.
• Due to the significant snowpack, Minto Flats are flooded, so expect the northern pike to be widely dispersed.
• Watch the new ADF&G video, How to Fish for Northern Pike, for information on tackle choice and fishing strategies.

Burbot

• As waters warm and the Tanana rises, burbot fishing can get slower. Anglers can fish downstream of tributary mouths along the Tanana River using bait such as herring or whitefish placed on the bottom in back eddies or slower water along the mainstem.
• If you catch a burbot, watch the How to Clean a Burbot video to learn how to take three fillets from this tasty fish.

Lake trout

• Lake trout tend to remain deep as surface waters are warm during summer. Try fishing lures that imitate small fishes, such as spoons and other lures, and fish them in deeper waters.

Stocked Lakes

• Spring stocking has concluded in the Tanana River drainage. During the stocking season, 65 lakes were stocked with 309,095 fish, comprised of 115,558 catchable rainbow trout, 9,627 catchable Arctic char, 117,605 fingerling coho salmon, and 66,305 fingerling rainbow trout.
• For a complete list of stocked lakes in the Interior and statewide, check out the Alaska Lake Database to see when lakes were stocked, how many fish were stocked, and what kind of fish were stocked.
• The Tanana River Drainage Stocked Lakes Fishing Guide is available online or at ADF&G offices in Fairbanks & Delta Junction.
• Stocked fish are acclimated to their lakes and are looking for food. Try fishing with small pieces of shrimp or salmon eggs under a bobber or use small, flashy spoons or spinners to entice fish to bite. Fly fishing with nymphs is effective as well. If a hatch is occurring and there are many rising trout, then utilize a dry fly that matches the hatch

Emergency Orders

Emergency Order 3-KS-U-01-26 closes sport fishing for king salmon in all flowing waters of the Tanana River drainage because the Yukon River king salmon preseason forecast is below average. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing, in all waters of the Tanana River drainage, including the Chena, Goodpaster, and Salcha Rivers. All king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Emergency Order 3-CS-U-09-26 closes sport fishing for chum salmon in all flowing waters of the Tanana River drainage. Chum salmon may not be targeted, and those caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Emergency Order 3-CS-U-17-26 rescinds Emergency Order 3-CS-U-09-26 and opens sport fishing for chum salmon in all flowing waters of the Tanana River drainage. The summer chum salmon run has exceeded expectations and is well within the escapement goal for the Yukon River drainage.

ADF&G News

• The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish is inviting anglers to take on three new fishing “Slam” challenges designed to recognize unique angling accomplishments across Alaska’s diverse waters. Learn more at the ADF&G website.
• 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 get keep track of all information about the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery.
• Make sure to review the 2026 Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
• Both the Delta and Fairbanks offices have 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.
• Check out ADF&G’s public use cabin reservation system to see about renting a free public use cabin on one of six different fishing lakes in the Delta Junction area.
• The Tanana Valley Fisheries Center in the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery at 1150 Wilbur Street in Fairbanks is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop in to say hi and see what’s growing in the hatchery.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Fairbanks or Delta Junction offices at 907-459-7228 or 907-895-4632.