Salmon fishing in Fairbanks? (College, Kenai: to buy, school, college)

[UAFBoundYankee]

Is there any good salmon fishing in Fairbanks? I would love to be able to go salmon fishing on my days off from class. I've no problem catching pike, burbot, trout, char and grayling if that's all there is.

P.S. Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I finished my Spring semester at school (made the Dean's Honor list with straight As) and went straight into the Summer semester (and the three week minimester). Maintained my 4.0 GPA thus far, but it's been keeping me preoccupied. Taking College Algebra now so it's quite a bit of work. Hope everyone is doing well. Solstice is almost here so I know youse guys are stoked...

[blueflames50]

Hey hey hey!! Congrat's on the high honors!

[warptman]

Salmon swim a far ways from the ocean up the Yukon. Your best bet is head down the Richardson and fish one of the Copper River tributaries.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by UAFBoundYankee

Is there any good salmon fishing in Fairbanks? I would love to be able to go salmon fishing on my days off from class. I've no problem catching pike, burbot, trout, char and grayling if that's all there is.

P.S. Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I finished my Spring semester at school (made the Dean's Honor list with straight As) and went straight into the Summer semester (and the three week minimester). Maintained my 4.0 GPA thus far, but it's been keeping me preoccupied. Taking College Algebra now so it's quite a bit of work. Hope everyone is doing well. Solstice is almost here so I know youse guys are stoked...

I believe that there is a small run of salmon on the China, but later in the season. Also, while they may be fun to catch, these salmon are half-dead by the time you can catch some. A lot of people drive on the Richardson near Salcha Marine, and this area may be a lot better for catching some salmon. But again, I would not eat them

[rwjoyak]

Several of the local lakes (Chena, Harding, Birch, Quartz) are stocked with silver salmon. You can also catch silvers and kings on the Salcha River, with the kings running in July. See Salcha River Alaska King Salmon Run Escapement Chart for a graph of fish counts from the July 2009 run. Plus there's king salmon fishing on the Chena River during the July run - see Chena River Alaska King Salmon Run Escapement Chart. As these two references mention, most king fishing is done near the mouth of both rivers. Less salmon upstream plus the further up they go the more beat up they get.

Unless you're taking summer courses, you won't catch any kings on days off from class, cause they aren't around during other times of the year.

Also check out Interior Management Areas Fishing Reports - Sport Fish Division - ADF&G for the latest fishing report. And you can follow the link back to the main ADF&G page to read about fishing regs, licenses and other info. The main page of the above references, ALASKA OUTDOOR JOURNAL - Real Time Information on fishing Alaska's king salmon, sockeye, silver salmon, halibut, Kenai rainbow trout, grayling, arctic char and halibut., also has a bunch of fishing info, including fish stories (real ones) and photos.

[UAFBoundYankee]

Thanks for the posts, everyone. I figured that was the case with salmon in the Interior. My best bet would probably be to head down SE Alaska way to have the best odds, eh? The Copper River is in SC Alaska? Hmm...

Blue, thanks for the compliment. It's been hectic trying to cram as much Math as I can before I fly to Alaska. Good news is I'll only have to take Calculus I and then I'll be done with math. lol How's everything out your way?

[warptman]

Drive south on the Richardson and you will get into good fishing in the Gulkana and Tazlina Rivers. You can fish on your own or take a rafting trip with any of the numerous guides there.

Copper River Salmon

Copper River fishing guides for Salmon and lodge packages in Alaska.

Copper River Alaska - Fishing Guides Copper River Alaska

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by UAFBoundYankee

Thanks for the posts, everyone. I figured that was the case with salmon in the Interior. My best bet would probably be to head down SE Alaska way to have the best odds, eh? The Copper River is in SC Alaska? Hmm...

Blue, thanks for the compliment. It's been hectic trying to cram as much Math as I can before I fly to Alaska. Good news is I'll only have to take Calculus I and then I'll be done with math. lol How's everything out your way?

For fishing with a rod go toward the Kenai Peninsula. The Copper is best for dip-netting since you won't be able to see the fish in the murky water. However, there should be real good salmon fishing at the Gulkana (right under the bridge at the Richardson), 10 minutes before you reach Glennallen. It's a long way, and the fishing rules are strict, but you can fish at night when most people are tired and sleeping. But lookout for bears in that area

Now, when warm during the day, the gnats and other bugs will drive you crazy unless you have lots of bug spray, a brim hat, and a face net. Some black flies there won't be scared by bug spray.

Further down the Richardson on the way to Valdez, there will be a couple of rivers where you can fish for salmon, a few minutes after passing the road to Glennallen. One of the Rivers is the Tazlina. Whatever you do, don't fall in that water. That green color river (glazier water) has a fierce current!

Ray

[UAFBoundYankee]

=) Thanks for the info, Ray. Remind me to buy you a beer when I get to F'banks. Just curious, but about far a drive is that from F'banks?

[warptman]

It's a good 4-5 hour drive down from Fairbanks. The speed limit is 55, but everyone drives way over that.