Tanana River personal use chum fishery opens July 27 near Fairbanks

Residents near Fairbanks, North Pole, and Salcha may dip net and run fish wheels for summer chum salmon on the Tanana River starting July 27, under an emergency order opening Subdistrict 6-C personal use salmon fishing that had been closed until further notice. The schedule runs two 42-hour windows per week: 6 p.m. Monday through noon Wednesday, and 6 p.m. Friday through noon Sunday, through noon Aug. 12. The fishery covers the stretch from the mouth of the Wood River upstream to the downstream mouth of the Salcha River. Only manned fish wheels and dip nets may be used.

Every Chinook that comes up in the gear must go back in the water alive, immediately; kings may not be retained during this opening. Only 198 Chinook had passed the Chena River tower as of July 8, against a historic average of 379, and the Canadian-origin component is not expected to meet the 71,000 border passage goal. Yukon Area Management Biologist Deena Jallen said: "These conservation efforts are critical to supporting long-term recovery and ensuring healthy runs for future generations." If managers see evidence that Chinook are being targeted rather than incidentally caught, the fishery will be further restricted.

The opening comes as summer chum run strength supports the opportunity. An estimated 781,000 summer chum had passed the Pilot Station sonar as of July 8, with the run projected to reach 1 million fish against an escapement goal range of 500,000 to 1.2 million. Fish wheels used during this opening must meet new 2026 construction standards, with baskets lined with seine-type webbing and chutes with a smooth bottom lined with closed-cell foam, designed to reduce injury and improve survivability for any Chinook encountered. Retention of summer chum will no longer be allowed once fall season management begins; fall chum are forecast below average and have been designated a Stock of Management Concern. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a coordinated federal special action for waters adjacent to federal land; in federal public waters, summer chum retention is limited to federally qualified subsistence users in the Yukon River drainage.

Subsistence salmon fishing in Subdistrict 6-C remains closed until further notice. Upriver subsistence communities face strict limits or closures of their own, and some tribal and subsistence interests argue personal use access should remain restricted while subsistence fisheries are closed.

Household possession limits are 75 chum salmon through Aug. 15. Salmon must be marked by clipping both tips of the tail fin. Participants need both a personal use salmon permit and a valid sport fishing license; permits are available at adfg.alaska.gov/store or from the ADF&G Fairbanks office. The fishery is managed by emergency order and can close at any time.