Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

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 shopping 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-U-05-20 closed the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon.

Sport Fishing

King salmon fisheries in the Tanana River drainage are currently closed until run indices indicate that a sport fishery can be executed.

The Chena River counting tower is currently operational. However, the observed counts are well below what is anticipated for this timeframe.

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

With the cold weather and rain that the Interior has had, the larger lakes remain cold, and fishing for lake trout and Arctic char should be good.

Northern pike fishing remains difficult within the Tolovana drainage due to high water. Minto Flats is still flooded and there is very little onshore use available. Reports from George Lake have indicated decent fishing for northern pike. For anyone looking for a roadside pike fishery- Little Harding Lake is open to the retention of pike, but Harding Lake is closed to both retention and catch-and-release fishing for pike.

Rivers such as the Goodpaster, Chena, Salcha, and Chatanika have been high but are slowly starting to recede. Fishing for Arctic grayling will improve as water levels drop. Fly fishers have reported that drifting beadhead nymphs has been very effective.

Clearwater rivers, such as the Delta Clearwater and Richardson Clearwater have had stable water levels and fishing for Arctic grayling has been exceptional. The Fielding Lake outlet and Tangles Lakes complex are also Arctic grayling hotspots.

This will be the final weekend for the Chena River Arctic grayling youth only fishery. Be sure to watch the ADF&G video, How to Fish for Arctic Grayling. This was filmed on the Chena River and offers helpful tips on technique and gear.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license. Help maximize social distancing by purchasing your 2020 sport fishing license 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.