Yukon Drainage Management Area
Fishing Opportunities
Beaver Creek Float
Description
Beaver Creek flows north into the Yukon River from the White Mountains. The river provides excellent fishing for Arctic grayling, and in the lower reaches, for northern pike. The river is typically floated from an access site off the Steese Highway to a gravel bar airstrip at river mile 113, just below Victoria Creek. It can be floated another 140 miles to the Yukon River, then 84 miles down the Yukon to the Dalton Highway, but since there is little current in lower Beaver Creek, most floaters take-out by air charter.
An angler shows off an Arctic grayling taken on a dry fly.
Tackle
Arctic grayling respond well to both dry flies and nymphs, typical fly patterns include mosquitoes, elk-hair caddis, and mayflies. For spinning gear select small spinners and spoons or 1/8 oz leadheaded jigs. Northern pike, found in the lower reaches in slow water and sloughs, can be caught on silver or gold spoons or spinners, as well as surface lures and rubber fish patterns. Large flashy dry flies will also provide some exciting strikes. As always, when fishing for northern pike, steel leaders are a must.
Getting There
The float trip is accessed from the Steese Highway at milepost 57. Take US Creek Road for 7 miles, turn left and follow the Nome Creek Road for about 12 miles to the BLM campground and the small boat/canoe access to Nome Creek. From there, it’s a 2.5 mile float down Nome Creek to Beaver Creek. For about the first 20 miles, the river is shallow and braided, and floaters often have to line their boats across shallower bars. The take-out is typically at a large gravel bar strip two miles downstream of Victoria Creek, making for a float of 107 miles. Air charter can be arranged with operators in Fairbanks for the pickup at river mile 113. Additional information is available from the US Bureau of Land Management at thier plan your visit webpage.
Species
Dates
Ends: September 258
Regulations
Before you go fishing please check the regulations.