Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 09, 2020

* Just a reminder to all of our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing, as well as when you need to shop for fishing supplies from your local store, as indicated in Health Alert 010.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:

  • Emergency Order 3-KS-I-03-20 reduced the annual limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from four to one fish. Any king salmon harvested from the Upper Copper River drainage prior to June 20 does not count toward the one fish annual limit.
  • Emergency Order 3-RS-I-06-20 details the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishing Schedule for the week of July 6 – 12.
  • Emergency Order 3-RS-I-07-20 details the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishing Schedule for the week of July 13 - 19.

Personal Use

The Copper River Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery is currently open through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 12th. The fishery will reopen for 84 hours at 12-noon Thursday, July 16 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday July 19. RETENTION OF KING SALMON REMAINS CLOSED.

The sonar is still tracking nearly 55,000 fish short of the cumulative objective, and management of the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery will continue to be conservative.

INFORMATIONAL HOTLINES FOR CHITINA PERSONAL USE FISHERY

  • Anchorage: 907-267-2511
  • Fairbanks: 907-459-7382
  • Glennallen: 907-822-5224

Sport Fishing

King salmon fisheries in the entire Copper River drainage are currently open (see the ADF&G Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary Upper Copper and Upper Susitna Drainage for special regulations closing specific waters to the taking of King salmon) . THE ANNUAL LIMIT FOR KING SALMON IN THE COPPER RIVER DRAINAGE HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 4 FISH TO 1 (Refer to Advisory Announcement for 6/17/2020). This change will stay in effect for the remainder of the season.

Anglers are currently targeting king salmon on the Gulkana River with good success throughout the entire river. The river remains high but is running fairly clean. Water temperature in the Gulkana River is above 16 oC and fish are on the move. King salmon are moving past the counting tower at a consistent pace.

The Klutina and Tonsina rivers opened for king salmon on July 1. Fishing is ok, with kings being caught from 4-mile up, but most of the good fishing is still above 13-mile on the Klutina. We have no reports from the Tonsina. The king salmon run on the Klutina should continue to build over the next couple of weeks. On the Tonsina River, the king salmon run is usually more compressed, so expect fishing to improve on that river faster than on the Klutina.

Sockeye salmon are open throughout the Copper River drainage. Fishing in the Klutina River continues to be very slow. Expect fishing to be spotty with short periods of good fishing intermixed with very little action. In the Gulkana River, sockeye salmon counts at our counting tower have really jumped, so sockeye are moving fast. Expect better fishing for sockeye as a result.

Resident freshwater species: All stocked lakes have been stocked for the summer with Arctic grayling, rainbow trout and coho salmon.

Waters remain cool, so lake trout should be well distributed, offering anglers a good chance of success from both boats and shore. Look to the Lake Louise complex of lakes, and Paxson and Summit lakes, for good roadside lake trout fishing. For the more adventurous, try flying into Crosswind Lake or Copper Lake up near Nabesna for some remote lake trout fishing.

The Department of Natural Resources has closed the state recreational area at Lake Louise due to misuse. This is a sad statement on the behavior of some Alaskans and has led to the loss of access to this fine fishery. The boat launch at the end of the Lake Louise Road is still open, but parking is limited. There are no dumpsters in this area, and toilet facilities are limited to the small camp area there. Please respect these valuable amenities. Also, if you bring it with you, take it home with you as far as your trash.

We have had reports of great Arctic grayling fishing in Paxson Lake, and as usual, the Gulkana River has more than enough grayling to keep even the most ravenous angler happy. Look for streams with colder water if you want to target an exceptional Arctic grayling in the area.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing by purchasing your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store. You can print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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

Archives

Upper Copper Upper Susitna Area Archives for:
Sep 04, 2020 Aug 06, 2020 Jul 30, 2020 Jul 23, 2020 Jul 16, 2020 Jul 09, 2020 Jul 02, 2020 Jun 26, 2020
Jun 18, 2020

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