Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 06, 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 is currently open, and ends August 15th 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, and the king run is over.

Other salmon

Chum salmon are currently in the Chena and Salcha rivers, although fishing may be difficult due to high water. Coho salmon are just now appearing in the lower Yukon. It takes these fish approximately 30 to 40 days to begin showing up in the rivers of the Tanana drainage.

Resident freshwater species

All stocked lakes have been stocked for the summer with Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, Arctic char and coho and king salmon. Check out the Alaska Lake Database to see exactly how many of each species of fish have been stocked into each lake. Soon, staff from the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery will begin their fall stocking schedule.

Fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Arctic char, and landlocked salmon should be excellent this upcoming weekend. Try power bait, shrimp, various colored jigs, or small flies (i.e. wooly buggers) to increase your chances of success.

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. Large spoons, flatfish lures, and crankbaits work well for trolling.

Minto Flats is still flooded, and there is very little onshore use available. However, effort and interest in Minto Flats has been increasing. For those willing to make the trip, try trolling large spoons or Rapalas in the deeper channels for larger pike. Remember to please crimp barbs and/or change out treble hooks with single hooks if catch-and-release fishing for northern pike, the fish and your hands will thank you!

The weekend forecast currently looks nice, and with hunting season fast approaching, this would be a great weekend to take the kids out fishing at one of our local lakes or rivers.

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.

Archives

Tanana Area Archives for:
Aug 27, 2020 Aug 20, 2020 Aug 13, 2020 Aug 06, 2020 Jul 30, 2020 Jul 23, 2020 Jul 23, 2020 Jul 16, 2020
Jul 09, 2020 Jul 02, 2020 Jun 26, 2020 Jun 18, 2020 May 29, 2020

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