Tanana kings closed all season; chum fishing back open after run surges

Sport anglers fishing the Tanana River drainage are operating under two different realities this summer: king salmon are off-limits entirely through September 30, 2026, and chum salmon are back on the table after a run that outpaced expectations.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed all sport fishing for king salmon in every flowing water of the Tanana drainage through September 30, 2026, covering the Chena, Goodpaster, Salcha, and every other tributary. The closure covers catch-and-release as well as retention. "King salmon may not be targeted and those caught incidentally while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately," the agency stated. The driver is a below-average Yukon River king salmon preseason forecast.

The chum picture is more encouraging. ADF&G initially closed chum sport fishing effective June 22, but the summer run came in stronger than projected. Effective July 8, the agency rescinded that closure. "The summer chum salmon run has exceeded expectations and is well within the escapement goal for the Yukon River drainage," ADF&G said. Anglers heading out for chum should note that some rivers in the drainage may be running murky and higher than normal due to recent rains, which can affect visibility and access.

The Interior's recreational fishing picture also includes a stocked-lake component. ADF&G's lake stocking program, which began in 1959 and is funded through angler license fees and equipment taxes, wrapped up this season with 65 lakes stocked and 309,095 fish placed across the Tanana drainage, including 115,558 catchable rainbow trout, 9,627 catchable Arctic char, 117,605 fingerling coho salmon, and 66,305 fingerling rainbow trout.