Fishing Interior
Alaska
Fishing the Land-locked Heart of Alaska
The Interior of Alaska is a land of limited fishing diversity
but of nearly unlimited fishing excitement. The area is limited because
of the lack of different aquatic habitats. Since there is no saltwater
nearby, the fishing is limited to rivers, streams, lakes and sloughs.
Which in turn limits the amount of species available in the Interior
region.
However, don’t let the lack of species and habitats lead you to
think this is not a good fishing destination. Hemmed in by the Brooks
Range in the north and the Alaskan Range in the south, the Interior
region boasts some fantastic fishing for Salmon, grayling and pike.
Also, it is unique in that it is the only place that you can drive to
a sheefish fishery.
If you are coming to Alaska to experience all there is to experience
in the state, this may not be the best destination though. If you would
like more of a sampling of what the state has to offer, try the Southeast,
Southcentral, and Southeast regions.
Interior Alaska Species
Diversity really is low in the Interior. Even Sockeye
and Pink Salmon fail to reach the area. Add to this the lack of any
saltwater in the area and your target species are limited. But for one
species, the sheefish, this is the only place that a road angler can
get to them.
King Salmon
Silver Salmon
Chum Salmon |
Lake Trout
Char
Rainbow Trout |
Sheefish
Northern Pike
Grayling |
Rivers of the Alaska Interior
The rivers are the main attraction when fishing the Interior.
The entire Interior is drained into the mighty Yukon River which is
one of the largest drainages on the continent. Because of the distance
from the sea, running salmon are only fresh for a short period of time
before turning to their spawning and post spawning conditions. Here
are some of the fishable rivers in the area.
Upper Chandalar
River
Jim River
Prospect Creek
Melozitna River
Nowitna River
Tozitna river
Ray River
|
Beaver Creek
Dall River
Charley River
Chatanika River
Fish Creek
Chitanana River
Cosna River |
Kantishna River
Nenana River
Salcha River
Goodpaster River
Tanana River
Koyukuk River
Porcupine River |
Lakes of the Alaska Interior
The interior of the state is dotted with lakes and sloughs. Many contain
fishable populations of pike, trout and grayling. The ADFG keeps many
of the area lakes stocked for recreational fishing opportunities. A
short list of the lakes includes,
Old John Lake
|
Bob Johnson Lake
Twin Lake |
Tangle Lakes |
Climate of the Alaska Interior
The Interior has the most extreme temperatures in Alaska.
In the winters, the landlocked interior is brutally cold, often staying
-20 degrees fahrenheit for weeks and can reach below -70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The summers can be very hot, even into the 100’s. I have personally
experienced mid nineties and 95 degrees is as uncomfortable in Denali
National Park as anywhere else.
One good thing about the Interior is that it tends to experience more
sun and clear skies that most other areas of the state.
Resources/Lodging
The Alaska Interior is pretty well blessed with facilities
and infrastructure for the visiting fisherman. Fairbanks is large enough
to have plenty of grocery and other stores. Also with the popularity
of Denali National Park and other areas, there is a fairly established
tourism industry in the area to cater to visitors.
Arctic Grayling Guide Service
– www.wildernessfishing.com. A unique guide service that uses
jet boats to get you into remote areas of Interior streams. They offer
grayling, king salmon, chum salmon and silver salmons on either guided
day or unguided overnight, cabin-stay fishing trips.
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