Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 30, 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 State of Alaska Health Mandates currently in effect. As indicated in Health Alert 010, please wear a face covering and practice social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and while shopping for fishing supplies from your local store.
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-09-20 details the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishing Schedule for the week of July 27 – August 2.
- Emergency Order 3-RS-I-10-20 details the Copper River Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishing Schedule for the week of August 3 – 31.
- Emergency Order 3-RS-I-01-20 Copper River drainage sockeye salmon sport fishery closed for remainder of the season.
Personal Use
The Copper River Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery is closed through August 31.
Sonar counts ended over 94,000 fish short of the cumulative objective. The Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery is closed for the remainder of August to conserve sockeye salmon for escapement.
Informational Hotlines For Chitina Personal Use Fishery
- Anchorage: 907-267-2511
- Fairbanks: 907-459-7382
- Glennallen: 907-822-5224
Sport Fishing
King salmon: King salmon fisheries are open through August 10th on the Klutina and Tonsina rivers, and the Copper River drainage below the upstream bank of the Klutina River (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 is in effect for the remainder of the season.
The Gulkana River is closed for king salmon, and anglers are once again limited to no bait, single hook artificial lures.
The Klutina River from 19-mile to 13-mile of the Klutina Lake Road is open for king salmon through Friday, July 31. The Klutina River below 13-mile of the Klutina Lake Road, and the Tonsina River below the Alyeska pipeline bridge, and all waters of the Copper River drainage downstream of the upstream bank of the Klutina River, including the Chitina River drainage, are opened for king salmon through August 10th. Fishing is ok to good on the Klutina River and on the Tonsina River.
Sockeye salmon: As of 12:01 a.m. Monday, August 3rd, the sockeye salmon sport fisheries in the Copper River drainage will be closed for the remainder of the season (Refer to Advisory Announcement for 7/29/2020).
Resident freshwater species: All stocked lakes have been stocked for the summer with Arctic grayling, rainbow trout and coho salmon. The second stocking of several area lakes will occur over the next two weeks. Check the Alaska Lake Database to see how many fish, of which species and size, have been stocked into each lake.
For some wild stock action, you can head up the Klutina Lake Road to the mouth of Klutina Lake for some great Dolly Varden fishing. This is best if you have a motorized canoe, inflatable, or small skiff you can haul up. This isn’t a trek for the faint of heart though and expect to take 3 -4 hours getting up to the lake from the Richardson Highway. But the fishing can be that good. If you’re looking for easier access, try the Little Tonsina River near mile 79 of the Richardson Highway (on the way to Valdez).
For bigger, wild Arctic grayling, look for those colder running streams in the area.
Look to the area’s larger lakes like Lake Louise, Susitna, Tyone, and Crosswind, as well as Paxson and Summit lakes on the Richardson highway. Some good fly-in lake trout fishing can be found on Copper and Tanada lakes and Tonsina Lake.
Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license. Help maximize social distancing by purchasing your sport fishing license at the ADF&G Online Store. You can print your license from the comfort of your home. Also, be 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 more information, call the ADF&G Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.