King Salmon Fishing Banned Across Tanana Drainage Due to Yukon Forecast

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed all sport fishing for king salmon in the Tanana River drainage, including catch-and-release fishing, due to a preseason forecast for a below-average Yukon River king salmon run.

Emergency Order 3-KS-U-01-26 prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing, in all waters of the Tanana River drainage. The closure affects the Chena, Goodpaster and Salcha rivers, among other waters in the drainage.

The order requires that all king salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Andrew Gryska, area management biologist for the department, issued the fishing report on May 18, 2026. Gryska can be reached at 907-459-7339 or [email protected].

The emergency order ties the Tanana River drainage closure directly to conditions in the Yukon River system. The preseason forecast projects a below-average run of king salmon returning to the Yukon River this year.

King salmon, also known as Chinook salmon, can be identified in their marine phase by spots on their back and both lobes of the tail, along with a black mouth and a black gumline. Spawning king salmon turn maroon or olive brown and retain spots on their body and both lobes of the tail.

The closure comes as local fishing conditions shift with the season, according to the report. Smaller lakes and ponds around Fairbanks and Delta are just beginning to break up. Larger lakes will be ice-free later; Harding Lake typically goes ice-free around Memorial Day weekend. River levels are high and the waters are murky. Warmer weather should result in more snowmelt at high elevations, which will push water levels up.

Most river boat launches are ice-free, though some may still be soft and muddy. The George Lake boat launch is unusable due to the channel undercutting the slab. This has caused a three-foot drop along the edge of the entire launch area.

Other fishing restrictions remain in effect in the Tanana drainage. Arctic grayling fishing in the entire Chena River is restricted to catch-and-release with only unbaited, single-hook lures or flies until June 1. Northern pike fishing in the Tolovana River drainage, including Minto Flats, Minto Lakes and the Chatanika River, is now open as of April 15. Lakes remain ice covered.

After June 1, a bag limit of one Arctic grayling is allowed for anglers downstream of the dam. Upstream of the dam remains catch-and-release only year-round for Arctic grayling.

Arctic grayling are nearing completion of spawning in most rivers and will soon be migrating to their summer feeding grounds. Badger Slough remains one of the few area streams with clear water to fish. Arctic grayling should be moving into the Delta Clearwater River soon.

Stocking in local lakes around Fairbanks and Delta Junction started on May 14 and will continue over the next month. Staff at Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery in Fairbanks stocked Quartz Lake with 4,088 rainbow trout on May 14. Bolio Lake was stocked with 1,521 rainbow trout the same day. The remainder of the 89 lakes will be stocked with thousands of fish as soon as the ice melts out.

Northern pike spawn as rivers and lakes become ice-free and will be found in shallow areas near shorelines. Currently, only rivers are open, but smaller lakes will likely begin breaking up this week. Harding Lake is now open for catch-and-release fishing for northern pike, but the lake is still iced over.

Burbot fishing remains available before summer arrives. The department recommends fishing downstream from the mouths of tributaries in the Tanana River using bait such as herring, whitefish or lamprey on the bottom of the river in back eddy areas and in slow-moving waters in the mainstem of the Tanana River.

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.

Both the Delta and Fairbanks offices have fishing rods to loan out as part of the ADF&G Rod Loaner Program. All that is required is a current sport fishing license, which is required for resident anglers 18 and older and nonresidents 16 or older, to borrow a rod. Anglers must provide their own tackle, but rods are free of charge.

The department directs anglers to its Sport Fishing Interior Alaska Facebook and Instagram pages for the most up-to-date information about fishing in Interior Alaska.

For additional information, contact the ADF&G Fairbanks or Delta Junction offices at 907-459-7228 or 907-895-4632.