Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 01, 2022
Personal Use
- The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Salmon Fishery will open for a 24-hour period from noon Saturday, June 11 through noon Sunday, June 12. Dipnetters may retain a king salmon during this opening. Judging from Miles Lake sonar counts so far, it appears the 2022 Copper River salmon run is 7-9 days late due to cold, spring water temperatures. There were 15,212 Salmon counted by the Miles Lake Sonar from May 23-29 but more than 20,000 fish passed the sonar May 30-31. It takes about two weeks for fish to reach Chitina from the Miles Lake sonar. Like most rivers in the Interior, water levels in the Copper River are high due to warm temperatures and snow melt. The high water and late run timing will likely make dipnetting a challenge for the opener.
Informational Hotlines for Chitina Personal Use Fishery
- Anchorage: 907-267-2511
- Fairbanks: 907-459-7382
- Glennallen: 907-822-5224
Freshwater Fishing
Arctic grayling
- Arctic grayling are beginning to move upstream to spawning locations. These migrations peak at water temperatures above 41 degrees. Cast your way up streams along the Richardson Highway up to Paxson Lake and along the Denali Highway.
Burbot and lake trout
- Ice is thinning and moving away from shore on Lake Louise. The Lake Louise Road is repaired so head out and target those open water leads along shore for lake trout and burbot.
- Paxson, Summit and Tangle Lakes should be ice free soon and it’s the perfect time to fish lake edges for burbot, lake trout and whitefish before they head to deeper water.
Stocked Lakes
- Most lakes are now open, and stocking has begun. The first Glennallen-area lakes were stocked Tuesday, May 21 with Arctic char going into Tex-Smith, Buffalo, Ryan, and Two-Mile lakes. Rainbow trout were stocked into Two- and Three-Mile Lakes. The hatchery crew from Fairbanks will be down again next week to complete some additional rainbow trout stockings. You can find up-to-date information on what lakes have recently been stocked on the ADF&G Alaska Lake Database.
Salmon
- Sockeye and king salmon are moving up the Copper River and should be poking their noses into the Gulkana River. As noted earlier in this report, it appears the Copper River salmon run is running 7-9 days later than usual so early-season king fishing will be a challenge until rivers drop and clear up. There were 15,212 Salmon counted by the Miles Lake Sonar from May 23-29 but more than 20,000 fish passed the sonar May 30-31.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed at the top of this report in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:
- Emergency Order 3-RS-I-07-22 opens Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net fishery for 24 hours beginning noon, Saturday June 11 through noon, Sunday June 12. Additional emergency orders will implement or change this schedule based on actual numbers of fish passing the Miles Lake sonar.
Press Release
Additional Tips
- If you are looking for more information on new spots to fish, check out 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.
- Check out ADF&G's new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips.
- Don’t forget to bring your 2022 sport fishing license. You can purchase your sport fishing license at the ADF&G Online Store and print it off from the comfort of your home. Also, be sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2022 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
For more information
Call the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309 with any questions.