Many Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Areas Now Open For Fishing

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Fishing Report

May 18, 2026

Local Conditions

• A later than average breakup occurred throughout the management area following average low elevation snow levels this past winter. However, above average snowfall was received in the Wrangell-St. Ellias portion of the Copper River drainage.
• All rivers are open and flowing. The Gulkana River has average flow while the Klutina and Copper Rivers are low for this time of year.
• Smaller lakes are beginning to open along the shoreline, but most are not ice-free along the Glenn, Richardson, and Edgerton Highways.
• Large lakes, such as Lake Louise, Paxson, and Summit Lakes, have ice remaining as well.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dip Net Fishery

• The Chitina Personal Use fishery, below the bridge, is tentatively scheduled to open at 12:00 PM (noon) on June 10. The actual opening will be based on Miles Lake sonar passage and will be announced by Emergency Order in early June. Check the Chitina dipnetting page for more information.
• Salmon passage at the Miles Lake sonar is expected to be later than average based on temperatures. Sonar counts will begin as soon as river and ice conditions are suitable.
• To get ready for the dipnetting season, watch the four-part series, “How to Dipnet for Salmon at Chitina”.

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Fishery

• Opens June 1 in accordance with regulation.

Sport Fishing

• Fish stocking efforts are anticipated to begin later this month.
• Now is a good time to target Arctic grayling in smaller streams crossing our highways. Check out the ADF&G video, “How to Fish for Arctic Grayling”, for helpful tips on tackle and technique.
• For an adventure, try heading up the Klutina Lake Road to just below the lake to target Dolly Varden and the occasional rainbow trout.
• 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

• There are currently no active Emergency Orders addressing UCUSMA fisheries. Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed at the top of this report in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

ADF&G News

• 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 get 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 2025 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.