Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 30, 2022

ADF&G News

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Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Sport fishing for king and chum salmon in the Tanana River drainage has been closed by emergency order due to late, poor runs in the Yukon River drainage. Any king or chum salmon caught incidentally cannot be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Arctic grayling

• Most area rivers are clear and low. However, the Tanana River is high and rising as warm weather intensifies meltwater from glaciers.
• Arctic grayling are actively foraging during the short summer. Small spinners and a wide variety of dry flies usually produce good results attracting the interest of grayling.
• There are two more weekends of the Chena River Youth-Only Fishery for Arctic grayling, including this weekend (July 2 and 3). Anglers who are 15 years of age or younger may keep 1 Arctic grayling of any size in the lower Chena River - downstream from a regulatory marker 300 feet downstream of the Chena River Flood Control Project. The weather and water levels are expected to be exquisite for participants.
• Arctic grayling are in the Delta Clearwater River near Delta Junction, and fishing should pick up as the warm, sunny weather stimulates aquatic insect activity.
• For helpful tips on fishing technique and tackle choice, be sure to watch the, "How to Fish for Arctic Grayling" video on the ADF&G Youtube channel. It was filmed on the upper Chena River and features spectacular underwater footage of grayling and their feeding habits.

Northern pike

• Water levels in Minto Flats have dropped, but a fire near Murphy Dome landing has resulted in an evacuation notice for the area. Minto Lakes Fire Evacuation Update FNSB Emergency Alert – Alaska Wildland Fire Information (akfireinfo.com)
• The daily bag and possession limit for Minto Flats northern pike (including the Tolovana and Chatanika river drainages and Lakes) has been reduced by an emergency order from five to two fish a day, only one of which may be 30 inches or longer. The reduced bag limit will remain in effect for the duration of the pike fishing season from June 1 to October 14.

Lake trout

• Fishing for lake trout has been excellent as all alpine lakes are ice-free, and lake trout are actively feeding. Try fishing the outer edge of weed beds or trolling lures off shelves.
• The warm, sunny weather has caused the surface temperatures of lakes to rise. As a result, lake trout will tend to be found in deeper, cooler water.

Stocked Lakes

• Spring stocking is complete. One hundred eleven lakes were stocked with 268,724 fish. This includes 113,088 catchable rainbow trout and 8,866 Arctic char. An additional 76,243 fingerling rainbow trout and 70,527 fingerling coho salmon were also stocked.
• Fishing for rainbow trout in stocked lakes has been excellent with the warmer water temperatures stimulating aquatic insect activity.
• You can find up-to-date information on what lakes have recently been stocked on the Alaska Lake Database.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:

• Emergency Orders 3-KS-U-13-22 and 3-CS-U-12-22 closed sport fishing for king and chum salmon on Monday June 20 in all waters of the Tanana River drainage, including the Chena, Salcha, and Goodpaster Rivers. All king and chum salmon caught incidentally in the Tanana River drainage while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Emergency Order 3-NP-U-03-22 reduces the bag and possession limits to 2 northern pikes, only of which may be larger than 30 inches, in all lakes and flowing waters of the Minto Flats area, including the lower portions of the Tolovana and Chatanika drainages.
• Emergency Order 3-R-U-01-22 restricts Bear, Moose, and Polaris Lakes, Bathing Beauty Pond, Piledriver Slough, and Moose Creek to catch-and-release fishing for all fish species, and Kimberly Lake is closed to fishing.

Additional Tips

• Both the Delta and Fairbanks offices have fishing rods to loan out as part of the ADF&G Rod Loaner Program. All you need is a current sport fishing license (for resident anglers 18 and older and non-residents 16 or older) to borrow a rod. You’ll have to provide your own tackle but rods are free of charge.
• Be sure to follow the ADF&G Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Facebook page to get the most current information about fishing in the area.
• Check out ADF&G’s public use cabin reservation system to see about renting a free public use cabin on one of six different stocked lakes in the Delta Junction area.
• The Tanana Valley Fisheries Center in the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery at 1150 Wilbur Street in Fairbanks is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop in to say hi and see what’s growing in the hatchery.
• Don’t forget to bring your 2022 sport fishing license. Help maximize social distancing by purchasing your sport fishing license at the ADF&G Online Store and printing 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 Fairbanks office at (907) 459-7228 or the Delta Junction office at (907) 895-4632.