Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 10, 2022

ADF&G News

ADF&G has a new mobile app. You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon, halibut), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today.

Freshwater Fishing

Most rivers are clear, although some localized showers may have obscured some waters. The Delta Clearwater, Tangle, and Delta Rivers are good bets when other rivers are difficult to fish, and they are great for scenic float trips.

• The Richardson Highway has opened between Delta Junction and Paxson after repairs to the road washout.
• Cooler weather should produce better fishing for some species.

Salmon

Sport fishing for king and chum salmon in the Tanana River drainage remains closed by emergency order. The closure includes the Chena, Salcha and Goodpaster Rivers. Any king or chum salmon caught incidentally cannot be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

• To date, 355 king salmon and 897 chum salmon have been counted at the Moose Creek Dam counting tower on the Chena River and 984 kings and 1,224 chum have been counted on the Salcha River.

Arctic grayling

Arctic grayling fishing in local streams such as the Chena, Chatanika and Salcha Rivers should be good as long as water conditions remain stable. Small spinners and a wide variety of dry flies will attract the interest of grayling.

• Grayling fishing in the Delta Clearwater and Richardson Clearwater Rivers should be excellent.
• 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

Minto Flats are not flooded but the water remains fairly high. Back water sloughs of the Tanana River are accessible due to high water, and they can be productive while fishing in tranquil surroundings. 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

Lake trout may be found in deeper cooler waters during the summer, but with the recent cooler weather they may be found near shore in shallower water.

Stocked Lakes

• The recent spell of cooler, wetter weather has improved fishing, especially for shore anglers.
• The forecast is for warmer, sunnier conditions for the next several days, which could prompt fish to move into deeper, cooler water.
• The crew at the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery will be starting their fall stocking program soon to make sure anglers have enough fish to get them to freeze up.
• 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 five different stocked lakes in the Delta Junction area, as well as George Lake.
• 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.