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Area Sport Fishing Reports
Tanana

September 2, 2021

* Just a reminder to all anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing as well as when shopping for fishing supplies from your local store, and by wearing a face covering when social distancing is not possible.

Sport Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

  • Most area rivers are high and muddy with the recent rain in the Interior although they will be clearing with the sunny dry weather this week. Some trails in the Interior may still be wet and muddy for the upcoming weekend.
  • Northern pike fishing has been good in Interior lakes with the cooler temps and rain enticing pike to move and feed before freeze up. Casting bright flashy spoons such as Daredevils, Krocodiles, Little Cleo, or Pot o’ Gold have been successful lately.
    • Water levels in Minto Flats remain high which will result in limited dry land available for onshore use and/or camping. Fishing has been decent with majority of the fish concentrated in the channels and clearer waters between the lakes. Flashy spinners and spoons are effective tackle for northern pike.
  • Arctic grayling fishing will improve in most rivers with clearing water. The clearwater rivers and the Tangle Lakes area will more reliably provide good fishing conditions for Arctic grayling. Most grayling are surface feeding on insects and readily strike a dry fly or one submerged just below the surface. Other options include drifting nymphs and casting small spinners, small spoons, with bright flashes of color such as pink and green.
  • Lake Trout fishing has been improving including shoreline fishing due cooler weather. Try casting brightly colored spoons such as Little Cleos, Krocodiles, KO Wobblers and swim shads to entice a strike.
  • Burbot fishing remains slow, but like lake trout, burbot will become more aggressive as water temperatures cool. Try jigging or placing setlines with herring or whitefish at the mouth of sloughs.

Lake Fishing

  • Lake fishing has been reported as excellent. Cooler weather and rains in the Interior have begun to cool waters. Try bobber fishing with power bait or shrimp. Also, cast and retrieve spinners, spoons and jigs.
  • Not sure where you want to head for the weekend? Check out the multiple stocked lake fishing opportunities listed by the roadway in the Tanana Valley Stocked Lakes Fishing Guide. Directions to the lake and species present are described as well. You can also refer to the stocked lakes search or the Alaska Lake Database

Salmon

By emergency order, the Tanana River drainage has been closed to sport fishing for coho, chum and king salmon. Please review the emergency orders listed below for more information.

The closures prohibit all sport fishing for coho, chum, and king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. All coho, chum, and king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. The 2021 Yukon River drainage coho, chum, and king salmon runs are the lowest on record, and substantially below historic averages for this time of year. A conservative management approach is being taken to protect the 2021 coho, chum, and king salmon run. Subsistence and personal use fishing have been closed within the Yukon River drainage (including the Tanana River drainage).

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-SS-U-02-21 closes all waters of the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for coho and chum salmon. All coho 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-KS-U-05-21 closes all waters of the Tanana River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon. All king 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-01-21 reduces the Minto Flats northern pike bag and possession limit.
  • Emergency Order 3-R-U-02-21 restricts Piledriver Slough and Moose Creek to catch-and-release fishing for all fish species.

Don't forget to bring your 2021 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 2021 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

Interactive Fishing Location Maps

NEW! Check out the #wefishak page on the ADF&G website for the new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips!

For More Information

Call the Fairbanks office at (907) 459-7228 or the Delta Junction office at (907) 895-4632 with any questions.

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