Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna

July 30, 2026

Local Conditions

• The Copper River is flowing near average. The Copper River flow gauge in Chitina has been offline since June 15 due to equipment issues.
• The Gulkana and Klutina Rivers have near average flow for this time of year.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Dip Net Fishery

• Copper River sockeye salmon numbers are lower than expected this year.

• The king salmon run to the Copper River this season is also weak. An Emergency Order was issued prohibiting king salmon retention in the Personal Use fishery for the remainder of the season.

• The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use dip net salmon fishery will open as follows:

  • OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, July 31 - 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 2

  • OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 7 – 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 9

  • OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 14 – 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 16

  • OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 21 – 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 23

  • OPEN: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 28 – 12:00 p.m. (noon) Sunday, August 30

• King salmon retention is prohibited in this fishery for the remainder of the season

• Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use permits and State of Alaska Sport Fishing licenses are currently available online and will also be available at ADF&G offices and at vendors in Anchorage, Fairbanks and local communities. Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence permits are also available online and at ADF&G offices in Anchorage, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, and Palmer.

• Informational hotline for Chitina Personal Use Fishery: (907) 822-5224

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon Fishery

• The Glennallen Subdistrict subsistence salmon fishery opened by regulation June 1st at 12:01 A.M. and remains open through September 30th. Currently, there are no Emergency Orders specific to the Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence salmon fishery.

Sport Fishing

• Several lakes in the area have been resupplied with our finest rainbow trout and Arctic char.
• For more information about Alaska stocked lakes, visit the Alaska Lakes Database.
• Try fishing for Arctic grayling in some smaller lakes and their outlets or closer to shore in larger lakes. If stream fishing, try upper stream sections where the water is coldest to find bigger fish.
• The Little Tonsina River and the upper Klutina River are always a good choice for Dollies. Also, fish along the Nabesna and McCarthy Roads. For smaller Dollies you can have a great time fishing the Tiekel River, which runs along Richardson Highway on the way to Valdez.
• Both sockeye and king salmon runs to the Copper River are tracking weaker than expected this season.
• All waters of the Upper Copper River drainage are closed to sport fishing for king salmon, including the Gulkana, Klutina, and Tonsina Rivers. King salmon may not be targeted and must be released immediately if incidentally caught. Additionally, all flowing water in the Upper Copper River drainage are restricted to no bait, single hook artificial lures.
• Remember to report on your Upper Copper River King Salmon Sport Fishery Permit. Permits must be reported online by August 31, 2026. You are required to report on your permit even if you did not fish, or if you went fishing but did not harvest a king salmon.
• Sockeye salmon are open to fishing throughout the Upper Copper River drainage. Fishing in the Klutina River has been inconsistent but productive with daily bag limits being filled. To learn more, be sure to watch the ADF&G video, How to Fish for Klutina River Red Salmon.
• It is a good time to target Arctic grayling in the Gulkana River and other small streams in the area. Check out the ADF&G video, How to Fish for Arctic Grayling, for helpful tips on tackle and technique.
• For a guide to where all the accessible fisheries are, check out Sport Fishing Alaska Rivers and Lakes in the Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Basin. This guide lists all the fisheries, species available, and mile markers along all the major highways crossing the Upper Copper and Upper Susitna Area.

Emergency Orders

• Emergency Order 3-RS-I-20-26 opens the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery from 12:00 p.m. Friday, July 31 through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, August 2.

• Emergency Order 3-RS-I-21-26 opens the Chitina Subdistrict personal use dip net salmon fishery from:

  • 12:00 p.m. Friday, August 7 through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, August 9

  • 12:00 p.m. Friday, August 14 through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, August 16

  • 12:00 p.m. Friday, August 21 through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, August 23

  • 12:00 p.m. Friday, August 28 through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, August 30

• Emergency Order 3-KS-I-15-26 closes all Upper Copper River drainage king salmon sport fisheries effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 10.

ADF&G News

• Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed above in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
• Be sure to follow the ADF&G Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Facebook page or ADF&G Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Instagram page for the most up-to-date information about fishing in Interior Alaska. Note: These are good pages to follow to keep track of all information about the Chitina Personal Use Salmon Fishery.
• The Glennallen ADF&G office has 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.
• Make sure to review the 2026 Northern Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
• For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.