Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

July 9, 2025

Local Conditions

• Water levels within the Copper River are still below the historical average, with daily fluctuations between 13 and 14 feet at the Chitina stage gauge since mid-June. The water did drop on 9 June to the low end of the range for the last week.You can view the Copper River’s stage gauge in Chitina online at this NOAA website.
• Weather during the 4^th of July weekend was sunny and warm but not hot. Since that time, a low pressure system has brought widespread cloud cover with scattered rain showers resulting in minimal precipitation at lower elevations while higher elevations receive more snowfall. Small incremental breaks in the cloud cover this week should provide welcome glimpses of sunshine and a slight uptick in daytime temperatures into the high 60s and low 70s, as the cloud cover and scattered rain showers continue to dominate our Copper River Valley weather.
• Very minimal rainfall in the Gulkana River drainage recently has had no discernable effect on water level and it remains relatively clear.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Fishery

• The Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon dipnet fishery will open at 12 pm (noon) on Thursday, July 10 and remain open through midnight on Sunday, July 20.
• During June 30–July 6, there 114,098 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 59,101 salmon, which results in a surplus of 54,997 salmon.
• Through July 8, the cumulative count of salmon past Miles Lake sonar is 700,269. This count is approximately 210,000 fish greater than the expected cumulative count for this date. The rule of thumb is that it takes approximately 10-14 days for salmon to reach the dip net fishery from Miles Lake sonar, depending on water levels.
• Due to concerns about king salmon escapement, the personal use fishery will be restricted to no retention of king salmon for the remainder of this season. King salmon caught in the personal use fishery may not be kept. All king salmon caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.
• Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use permits and State of Alaska Sport Fishing licenses are currently available online at the ADF&G store and will also be available at Fish and Game offices and at vendors in Anchorage, Fairbanks and local communities. Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence permits are also available online and at the Fish and Game offices in Anchorage, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, and Palmer.
• Check the Chitina dipnetting page for more information on the personal use dip net fishery.
• If you haven't tried dipnetting before, or are interested in some helpful tips, be sure to watch the 4-part video series, "How to Dipnet for Salmon at Chitina" at the ADF&G website or on the ADF&G Youtube channel.
• Lastly, it’s always a good idea to make sure fishing is open in Chitina before making the drive. Call the 24-hour hotline for the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery at 907-822-5224.

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Fishery

• The Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence salmon fishery is currently open and will remain open through September 30.
• Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence permits are available online at the ADF&G store and at local ADFG offices in Anchorage, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Glennallen and Palmer.

Sport Fishing

• For a guide to local area small fisheries, check out ADFG’s website for 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.
• Effective on July 7 through August 10, no retention of king salmon is allowed and sport fishing for king salmon throughout the Upper Copper Management Area (i.e., the mainstem Copper River and its tributaries) is limited to catch-and-release only and the use of bait and treble hooks is prohibited in all flowing waters.
• Anglers are reporting limited king salmon action in the Gulkana River from the Richardson Highway Bridge to Sourdough and upstream to the West Fork. Fishing has been reported as slow.
• Sockeye salmon fishing on the Klutina River has recently seen an upswing in activity and catchability for fishermen.
• Be sure to watch the ADF&G video, "How to Fish for Klutina River Red Salmon" for helpful tips on fishing strategy, access points and camping options.

Emergency Orders

• Emergency Order 3-RS-I-15-25 opens the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery for a 168-hour period from 12:01 am Monday, July 14 through 11:59 pm Sunday, July 20.
• Emergency Order 3-RS-I-12-25 prohibits the retention of king salmon of any size and prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks in the sport fisheries occurring in all flowing waters of the Upper Copper River drainage. King salmon may not be retained or possessed, must be released immediately, and may not be removed from the water before releasing the fish.
• Emergency Order 3-RS-I-10-25 closes the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery to the retention of king salmon for the remainder of the season.

ADF&G News

• 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 2025 Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
• Be sure to follow the ADFG Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Facebook page or the ADFG Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Instagram page for the most up-to-date information about fishing in Interior Alaska. Note: This is a good page to follow to get keep track of all information about the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.