Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

July 16, 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. Since June 9^th, the river depth has consistently been at or below 13.5 feet due to continued cool, cloudy weather with minimal rainfall across the Copper River Valley. You can view the Copper River’s stage gauge in Chitina online at this NOAA website.
• Recent weather across the Copper River Valley has been continually cool (50s and 60s at lower elevations and 40s-50s at higher elevations) and intermittently cloudy weather with minimal rainfall. However, the forecast for upcoming weather in the entire valley is for hot, sunny days which will lead to some melting of local glaciers and an increase in water levels for the Copper River and its tributaries.
• In particular, very minimal rainfall in the Gulkana River drainage recently has had no discernable effect on water level and it remains very low and relatively clear. This situation is expected to continue given the forecast over the Gulkana River drainage.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Fishery

• The Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon dipnet fishery remains open through midnight on Sunday, July 27.
• During July 7-13, there 97,476 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 52,847 salmon, which results in a surplus of 44,629 salmon.
• Through July 15, the cumulative count of salmon past Miles Lake sonar is 798,722. This count is approximately 258,000 fish greater than the expected cumulative count for this date. The rule of thumb is that it takes approximately two weeks 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.
• Anglers are reporting slow salmon fishing on the Gulkana but good fishing for sockeye salmon on the Klutina River for the past few days.
• 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.
• King salmon fishing closes for the season at midnight on Saturday, July 19 on the Gulkana River and the upmost sections of the Klutina and Tonsina Rivers. The lower portions of the Klutina and Tonsina Rivers have king salmon season open through August 10 for catch-and-release fishing only.
• 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-16-25 opens the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery for a 168-hour period from 12:01 am Monday, July 21 through 11:59 pm Sunday, July 27.
• 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.