King Salmon Fishing Closed Across Tanana Drainage Due to Yukon Forecast

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed all sport fishing for king salmon in all flowing waters of the Tanana River drainage on May 21, 2026, citing a preseason forecast for a below-average Yukon River king salmon run. The closure affects the Chena, Goodpaster, and Salcha Rivers.

Emergency Order 3-KS-U-01-26 prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. Anglers who incidentally catch king salmon while fishing for other species may not remove the fish from the water and must release them immediately.

The king salmon closure does not affect other freshwater fishing 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, 2026. After June 1, 2026, anglers downstream of the dam may keep one Arctic grayling; upstream of the dam remains catch-and-release only year-round for Arctic grayling.

Northern pike fishing in the Tolovana River drainage, which includes the Chatanika River and Minto Flats area, is closed until June 1, 2026.

Current Conditions

Smaller lakes and ponds around Fairbanks and Delta Junction have opened up, though larger lakes such as Harding Lake remain ice-covered. Harding Lake typically goes ice-free around the end of May. River levels are high and waters are murky; warmer weather is expected to push water levels higher as snowmelt increases at high elevations.

Most river boat launches are ice-free, though some may still be soft and muddy. The George Lake launch on the Tanana River was scoured by breakup and has a precipitous two-foot drop at the end of the ramp.

What's Biting

Arctic grayling have completed spawning in most rivers and will soon be migrating to their summer feeding grounds. Arctic grayling should be moving into the Delta Clearwater River right now. Northern pike spawn as rivers and lakes become ice-free and will be found in shallow areas near shorelines.

For burbot, anglers can try 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.

Staff at the Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery in Fairbanks began stocking local lakes as of last week Thursday. With 89 lakes to stock, the process may take another two weeks. Anglers can check the stocking status of individual lakes through the Alaska Lake Database on the department's website.

For additional information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Fairbanks office at 907-459-7228 or the Delta Junction office at 907-895-4632. Andrew Gryska, area management biologist, can be reached at 907-459-7339 or [email protected].