Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

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

Personal Use

Chatanika River Personal Use Whitefish Spear Fishery Permits will be issued using an online lottery system this year. The online application period begins Saturday, August 1 at 12:01 a.m.. and ends August 15 at 11:59 p.m.. To enter, applicants must apply online at the ADF&G Online Store. The lottery application is located in the Fishing & Shellfish Permits section of the online store.

Sign-up for this lottery will be exclusively online. Due to Covid-19, lottery entries will not be issued from a Fish and Game office. Your efforts to use the online system and not show up in person to the office are appreciated. If you have difficulties navigating the website, staff will be available to help you over the phone (459-7357).

A total of 225 permits will be randomly selected during the week of August 17. Successful applicants will receive their permits via email and will need to print and sign them before participating in the fishery.

A current State of Alaska resident sport fishing license (unless under 18 years of age) is required to enter the lottery. Only one online lottery entry per household is allowed, and only one permit per household will be issued.

This year, the fishery will open on Thursday, September 10 and close on Monday October 12. The household limit (i.e. per permit) is 10 whitefish. Sheefish or Arctic grayling MAY NOT be speared or retained.

Sport Fishing

King salmon

King salmon fisheries in the Tanana River drainage are currently closed. Fish counts from the Chena River counting tower remain very low, and the run is nearly over.

Resident freshwater species

Fishing for rainbow trout in stocked lakes along Chena Hot Springs Road and the Steese Highway has been good. Check out the Alaska Lake Database to see exactly how many of each species of fish have been stocked into each lake.

The Upper Chena and Chatanika rivers are clearing up again, making for better Arctic grayling fishing. Try bouncing a white or black jig along the bottom to entice a strike. Watch the How to Fish for Arctic Grayling video for helpful tips before you go out.

Fishing for Arctic grayling in the Delta and Richardson Clearwater rivers remains excellent. Warmer weather in the forecast should help the mayfly hatches.

The Tanana River is still running high, but northern pike can usually be caught at the mouths of creeks using a a Johnson silver minnow with a white Mr. Twister attached.

Fielding and Tangle lakes are always good options for lake trout. Trolling a green or silver Crocodile at 15 to 20 feet is a tactic that often works well, but patience is required.

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 either the Fairbanks office at (907) 459-7200 or the Delta Junction office at (907) 895-4632.