Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 13, 2022
ADF&G News
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Personal Use Fishing
- The Chitina Subdistrict personal use salmon fishery on the Copper River is currently open through July 17. For the week of July 18, the fishery will be open:
- 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 18 through 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 19
- 12:01 p.m. Thursday, July 21 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 24
- Dipnetters may retain their one King salmon for the remainder of the season.
- If you're heading to Chitina to try your luck dipnetting salmon in the Copper River, be sure to check out ADF&G's four-part video series on how to dipnet for salmon at Chitina. This series of videos shows anglers what they need to dip net at Chitina and how to do it, including how to fish eddies, how to sweep and how to fish from a boat.
Informational Hotlines for Chitina Personal Use Fishery
- Anchorage: 907-267-2511
- Fairbanks: 907-459-7382
- Glennallen: 907-822-5224
Freshwater Fishing
- For a guide to where all the accessible fisheries are, 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.
Salmon
- Sockeye salmon are still running in the Klutina River. Fishing slowed down this past week with high water in the Copper River, but the water is dropping and fishing should pick up this weekend.
- Sockeye salmon are also in the Gulkana River. Sockeye salmon have two distinct runs into the Gulkana and the second run should be building now. Don’t miss a chance to fish for reds on a river with few other anglers to get in your way.
- Remember, your daily bag limit in the Copper River Drainage is still just 3 sockeye salmon per day, but now you may have a total of 6 sockeye salmon in possession. So if you are camping for two days you no longer need to get that first day’s catch frozen or canned before fishing the second day. Or if you are floating the Gulkana you can come out with up to 6 sockeye salmon in your cooler.
- The king salmon fishing on the Gulkana River remains tremendous above Sourdough. But remember the Gulkana River closes on July 20 for kings.
- Anglers are being highly successful with king salmon on the Klutina River.
- For those few folks fishing the Tonsina River, well, lets say they are enjoying a well kept secret.
Lake trout
Lake trout are being caught in all area lakes so if you want a break from flossing reds, try running a boat in some of our area lakes.
Arctic grayling
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Arctic grayling abound in almost all waters of area. Try wetting a line in any of our streams fro small to average sized fish. Try shore fishing many of our lakes for some larger fish. For the really big ones you’ll need to trek into those colder headwater streams of the Gulkana River system.
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-19-22 opens the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery from 12:01 p.m. Monday, July 18 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 and 6:00 p.m. Thursday, July 21 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 24.
Additional Tips
- 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 in before you head out.
For more information
Call the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309 with any questions.