The following is a month-by-month summary of angling opportunities and related activities expected for the season ahead and is based on present and historical information and data. Updates may be issued if conditions warrant it. Scroll down to see what is in store for the respective time frame. Remember, however, that every year is generally slightly different than the year before in respect to exact run timing of salmon and peak fishing times but for resident and saltwater species should be very close to what is forecasted. Only in rare cases may the timing be off by more than 10 days.
APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER–MARCH
SPRING (April — May)
Summary: Spring, like elsewhere in Alaska, is a time of transition and angling opportunities will reflect this as trout and grayling enter spawning streams after ice-out, char in the large, deep lakes of the region stir to life, and the salmon are just starting to nose into coastal waters. Lakes are generally still locked solid in ice through April and even most of May in many parts of Copper Valley; lowland lakes should be ice free by early May, however.
APRIL
Saltwater
It is very early for much of anything for surf-casters wanting to attempt Port Valdez, with the only really worthwhile catches being made in deeper, offshore locations in outer Valdez Arm and adjacent waters of northern Prince William Sound. Feeder kings will be cruising in some areas but getting to them without a boat or some other form of watercraft is an exercise in futility, although an occasional fish might be found around the city deepwater ferry dock. Bottomfish, such as certain cod and flounder species, are available casting from the dock or harbor area. Sea-run char filtering out from the Lowe River drainage will be present along beaches, points, and stream mouths in small numbers during the month but the bite should pick up closer to May as more fish arrive.
Freshwater
All lakes in the Copper Valley will have sufficient ice still to allow for safe access to choice fishing spots. Resident species typically offer fair to good opportunities. Rainbows and landlocked salmon are plentiful in stocked lakes along portions of Glenn Highway and McCarthy Road and often give a good account of themselves early in the season. The larger and deeper highland waters have ample supply of lake trout and burbot; try Paxson and Summit lakes but do not expect fast action yet. Spawn-bound grayling start showing around the mouths of some smaller and warmer streams in the valley — usually those around Glennallen — towards late April. Depending on if there is an early or late spring, success is largely hit and miss but can at times be quite good. Decent angling for overwintering sea-run char can be had in parts of the Lowe River in Valdez. The Keystone Canyon area is a local favorite as fish concentrate here but dollies can be had anywhere on the river downstream to tidewater this time of year. If water conditions allow, tributary Robe River will yield some char that are migrating down from Robe Lake. There are no freshwater opportunities for anadromous salmon yet anywhere in Copper Valley or Valdez Arm.
MAY
Saltwater
Surf-casters in Valdez will still have a tough time connecting with salmon this month. A few hatchery kings begin returning the last week of May to a release site in the old part of the town but do not expect any consistent catches just yet. A watercraft of sorts is still the best option to access deeper and more productive locations in the outer arm. Reds bound for Robe River do pass by beaches in the area in mid- to late month but are rarely targeted by anglers. Although very early in the season, a pink salmon or two usually show up in late May off the city ferry dock or Allison Point near the fish hatchery. Light-tackle users sometimes encounter productive fishing for sea-run Dolly Varden in the port, generally at the mouth or intertidal sections of clearwater streams; Solomon Gulch Creek is worth a try.
There are no halibut or other large saltwater species available from shore yet. However, boaters heading to more remote locations in the outer arm and Prince William Sound do very well in May. Anglers casting from the city ferry dock often experience fair catches of cod and flounder.
Freshwater
If the water still runs clear, the Lowe River in Valdez will have some good opportunities still for sea-run char. Otherwise, zero in on the mouths of small, clearwater tributaries emptying into the middle or lower sections. Most of these fish will have moved out of the area and into the briny by mid-month. Robe River can experience good catches of char the first half of the month. Additionally, the first red salmon of the season will begin entering Robe the latter part of May and peaking in June. But for some truly fast-paced, light gear action, go to one of the many small tributary streams of Copper, Gulkana, or Tazlina river drainages, such as Tolsona, Mendeltna, and Sourdough creeks, for potentially outstanding grayling fishing. A few of these stream will also contain rainbow trout — or even steelhead — this time of year. During a normal season, expect the peak of grayling migrations to occur in early to mid-May in the majority of locations, yet not until late in the month for spots in higher elevations. Also, lakes that are in the process of shedding ice (usually smaller waters) yield excellent fishing for stocked rainbow trout and landlocked salmon. Note, however, that most larger and deeper lakes in this region often remain locked in ice through May and often well into June. Summit and Fielding lakes, for example, usually has ice lasting up until the middle of June.
Historically, this month is not synonymous with much opportunities for salmon in the Copper Valley. A smattering of early-run kings and reds are always present at the mouths of Gulkana, Klutina, and Tonsina rivers by Memorial Day weekend (with only a few fish found upstream of the road crossings) and will not be in any measure of abundance for another week or ten days at least. Please note that the Klutina and Tonsina do not open to king fishing until July 1. In years experiencing an early spring and ideal water conditions, anglers can do quite well for reds on the Klutina starting the last week of this month, with limits of salmon even possible with some skill and patience.
SUMMER (June — August)
Summary: Spring, like elsewhere in Alaska, is a time of transition and angling opportunities will reflect this as trout and grayling enter spawning streams after ice-out, char in the large, deep lakes of the region stir to life, and the salmon are just starting to nose into coastal waters. Lakes are generally still locked solid in ice through April and even most of May in many parts of Copper Valley; lowland lakes should be ice free by early May, however.
JUNE
Saltwater
Those anglers booking charters or having access to a boat in Valdez will find good opportunities for feeder kings, halibut, and rockfish in more remote and deeper locations in this area. Closer to town, however, the fishing is considerably slower for larger game species with most catches being bottomfish such as cod, flounder, and sculpins, but things are looking better for surf-casters as the month progresses. A small hatchery return of kings is available at the head of the port near the old town district of Valdez but only fair catch rates are expected during mid-month as the run peaks. Reds, pinks, and chums are present in small numbers throughout the port and only reported as incidental catches until the last week of June when pinks begin seeing a significant uptick in the Allison Point/Solomon Gulch Creek area with fair to good action possible. Good fishing can also be had in spots for sea-run char, primarily beaches, points, and mouths of clearwater streams.
Freshwater
This is the month when salmon fishing finally busts lose in the Copper Valley. The big news is usually the swarm of early-run reds ascending the Klutina River starting about the second week; expect excellent action through the rest of the month and on into the first part of July. Nearby Gulkana also hosts an early showing of reds at the same time but the action is generally not as intense yet can be very worthwhile in the rights spots on the river. The bonus about fishing the Gulkana is that there will be kings available as well as resident species (trout, grayling). A float trip down this semi-wilderness river in June is an experience not soon forgotten. While Tonsina River may have some reds present, the main run arrives later in the season, in latter part of July. Again, the Klutina and Tonsina remains closed to king fishing until July 1. Farther to the south, in Valdez, the Robe River has fair angling for a small run of reds in June and an occasional king might be present too.
Grayling fishing continues to be hot in many rivers and larger streams throughout the valley but numbers of fish has subsided in some smaller creeks as the spring spawning period has ended and water volume has dropped significantly after the spring snowmelt. Hiking in to or floating the Gulkana is a safe bet as the river hosts a tremendous grayling fishery even by Alaska standards. Catching and releasing a hundred or more grayling per day is not unusual. Smaller rainbow trout is available in several of the tributaries of Gulkana and Tazlina rivers. Lake fishing can be outstanding, particularly in stocked lakes containing landlocked salmon and trout; waters along Lake Louise Road, in and around Glennallen, and along McCarthy Road are recommended. For lake trout and burbot, check out Paxson, Summit, Tangle, and Fielding lakes up the Richardson and Denali highways. Right after ice-out (usually in early to mid-June), anglers can experience some of the best lake trout fishing of the open-water season. There will also be some decent opportunities for rainbows and grayling in some of them.
Dip netting in the Chitina district of the Copper River opens in early to mid-month; ADF&G will announce opening date. Excellent catch rates for reds is normal for June and there will be smaller numbers of kings to be had in addition.
Fish & Wildlife
Beginning in late June and lasting well through July, viewing migrating and spawning red salmon can be excellent near the outlet of Summit Lake. There is a viewing platform present with interpretive signs.
JULY
Saltwater
Anglers visiting Valdez in July will certainly not be disappointed. Surf-casters enjoy a tremendous run of pink salmon, one of the largest in the state, with 25 million or more fish in some years. Fish on every cast action is very common at the run peaks during the second and third weeks of the month, with bag limits being a generous six salmon per day. Most anywhere in the port will yield great pink fishing but the best spots are along Dayville Road by Allison Point and Solomon Gulch Creek. While there may be a greater mass of pinks present overall later in July and first part of August, the consumptive quality is not as good as earlier in the season and anglers may have to sort through a lot of blushed salmon before finding a bright one. There will also be an increasing number of summer run chums available but considered more of an incidental catch as they are heavily outnumbered by pinks. A few reds and even a king or two are still present, more so in the first week than later on in the month, and the first silver of the season is usually caught near Allison Point by late July. Sea-run char can be found in various locations within the port up until mid-July when these fish begin ascending salmon spawning streams in search of food.
Anglers looking for a break in the pink action may look into trying out for halibut, lingcod (season opens July 1), or rockfish. Although these gamesters are generally not caught from shore in any numbers in Valdez, they do offer fabulous deep sea opportunities by boat farther out in the arm and throughout Prince William Sound. Surf-casters tempting their luck off beaches in town are much more likely to come across a variety of smaller bottomfish, such as codfish, flounders, and sculpins. However, an occasional halibut (less than 20 pounds) or lingcod may be caught from the city ferry dock and the vicinity of the small boat harbor.
Freshwater
As early-run salmon have peaked in most waters in Copper Valley, there are still some viable catches to be made on sections of the Klutina River as well as upper portions of the Gulkana River, particularly the first week or ten days of the month. The Gulkana supports very productive action for both king and red salmon at this time, while the Klutina is best for reds (some kings will be present). Expect fishing in both drainages to range from fair to excellent. But as the month progresses, anglers will notice an increase in the number of large kings coming into the Klutina and Tonsina rivers as the late runs arrive. (The king season on the Gulkana, however, closes on July 20.) Both of these waters offer great potential for trophy fish with catches exceeding 50 pounds being common; do not be surprised to find kings up to 60 pounds or more during the peak of the runs in late July and August. While the behemoth kings tend to steal the show, there will be late-run reds coming into the Klutina and Tonsina rivers (as well as Gulkana) starting the last week of the month. They tend to be not quite as heavy in numbers as those earlier in the season but good action may be had still. The Gulkana run is mainly hatchery-produced fish and peaks later on in August. In Valdez, the Robe River is the only drainage open to salmon fishing in that area and supports a strong run of pinks the latter half of July; there will be some chums and a few late-arriving reds mixed in.
While fishing for trout and char typically slows down in mid-summer throughout the Copper River region due to warm water conditions, there is a great many opportunities available for grayling. The upper reaches of roadside streams as well as numerous cooler high-elevation lakes support excellent catches in July. The Tangle Lakes area is renowned for its superb grayling action. In general, the best fishing is in the early morning and evening hours. Dolly Varden are arriving in Valdez-area waters, with very good possibilities on the Robe River and the mouths of clearwater streams draining into the Lowe River in late July and on into August.
Dip netters will find plenty of opportunities in the Chitina area this month. Although the strong runs of early summer have largely finished, there are still some very productive catches ahead for late-run reds as well as kings with peak days during mid- to late July.
Fish & Wildlife
Excellent salmon viewing becomes available in this month and wildlife such as bears and sea lions are common in roadside locations. In Valdez, pink and chum salmon enter Crooked Creek in large numbers in late July on into autumn and there will be common sightings of black bear along the stream. On the opposite side of the port, at Solomon Gulch fish hatchery near Allison Point, great viewing of pink salmon in all stages of the life cycle can be had starting mid-month and continuing through August and into September. Interpretive signs on salmon and the fish hatchery are present. Close observations of sea lions feeding on these salmon is very possible right below or near viewing platforms. To the north, along the Richardson Highway, staging and spawning red salmon are seen near the outlet of Summit Lake all month long.
AUGUST
Saltwater
With the pink run having peaked in Port Valdez and the silvers yet to make an appearance in any numbers near town, the first part of August can be slow fishing for those wanting to bring home their catch. Certainly, the water will be choked full of salmon but it takes both time and considerable effort in order to weed out bright specimens from the mass of heavily blushed and spawning pinks. They key to increased success may be to avoid the Allison Point area and the fish hatchery and focus on deeper waters around the city ferry dock and the breakwater near the small boat harbor. By mid-month things begin to change as the pinks start to thin out a bit and fresh late-run chum salmon arrive in good numbers right in front of town and in the boat harbor and there will always be silvers in the mix as well. As late August rolls around, the silver run will be near its peak and good catches are reported, especially from the city dock. The Allison Point area will produce some salmon also but tend to turn on right around the first of September. A few Dolly Varden remain in the port but the majority of the fish will have left for freshwater.
Surf-casters aiming for bottomfish do fair to good for codfish and flounders with occasional catches of small halibut and lingcod. As always, a boat is needed to reach more productive, offshore waters in the sound.
Freshwater
Roadside anglers still desiring to challenge king salmon can do so on the Klutina and Tonsina rivers. These waters remain open to king fishing until August 10, making them the last viable freshwater king fisheries in this region of the state. The runs are at their peak in quality right around the first of the month but produce excellent catch rates right up to the season closure. Most kings caught will be somewhat blush to one degree or another so anglers practice catch and release in order to find salmon fitting their own value of personal consumption. Most king fishers use boats to reach prime spots but anglers can do very well hiking into some of these locations as well. Expect some very large specimens to be taken, often weighing between 40 and 60 pounds. The Gulkana River is closed to king fishing in August but will have good to excellent opportunities for other species, such as late-run reds, rainbow trout, and arctic grayling. The reds generally peak in numbers during mid-month but continue to offer decent sport well into September most years. There will also be red salmon available in the Klutina and Tonsina rivers in August with fair to good angler success; the Tonsina supports a small — yet productive — run of silver salmon late in the month, one of the very few locations in Copper Valley for this species. In Robe River outside Valdez, silvers begin appearing around the first of the month and build to a peak a few weeks later, normally the final week of August until mid-September; catch rates range from fair to excellent.
As temperatures begin to cool off in late summer, fishing for resident species will pick up noticeably in both lakes and streams for trout, char, and grayling. From mid-month on through the fall, anglers can expect excellent success for rainbows on the lakes around Glennallen and along the McCarthy Road with some large specimens available. In addition, some very fine rainbow action can be found on middle and upper sections of the Gulkana River and there will even be a few early steelhead showing up. Likewise, grayling will be busy on the Gulkana River, Tangle Lakes, and the many smaller lakes and streams on the Denali Highway. Late August is a good time to target lake trout in Summit, Paxson, Fielding, Long, and Tangle lakes, and do not forget the numerous hike-in fisheries along Denali Highway, such as Landmark Gap and Glacier. These latter locations are low-use and often yield excellent success. In Valdez, the Robe River is full of spawning pinks through most of August and anglers will find very good Dolly Varden action at that time.
The Chitina dip net fishery remains a good producer of late-run reds in August with a number of silvers blending in the catch after about mid-month. Kings and steelhead also enter this fishery; know the current regulations and/or restrictions on these species before attempting harvest.
Fish & Wildlife
It is almost difficult not to find a spot to view salmon in August, this being especially the case in Valdez. Clearwater streams are loaded with fish and both brown and black bears will be present, providing for awesome photo opportunities. In some years, it is not unusual to spot more than a dozen animals per day; Crooked Creek on the outskirts of town and the tiny creeks and ponds along Dayville Road are perfect locations to see both salmon and bears in action. Solomon Gulch Creek receives a massive return of pink salmon all month long, while Crooked and Abercrombie creeks has strong runs of both pinks and chums and a few reds during August and first week or two of September. Pinks and chums may also be observed right in the Valdez boat harbor when the water is more clear, along the shoreline, in latter part of August and September.
FALL (September — October)
SEPTEMBER
Saltwater
It is a tradition for many anglers to go to Valdez for Labor Day weekend in their quest for silver salmon. The hatchery return to Solomon Creek will be at a peak and fishing is often intense and exciting as schools of silvers patrol the surfline at Allison Point to the head of the port. The boat harbor and city ferry dock are two other prime locations, the former being a popular spot for snaggers. A liberal bag limit of six per day ensures the popularity of this fishery and draws crowds as far away as the Lower 48 states and even Europe. Good to excellent catch rates prevail here for surf-casters; some spots are good for fly-fishing enthusiasts as well. However, the bounty is generally short-lived as hatchery cost-recovery operations targeting these fish begin right after the first weekend in September, substantially cutting harvests for anglers arriving late for the party. Even so, silvers will be available in reduced numbers through the month and into October. An occasional bright pink may be hooked this month but most of these small salmon are in the last parts of their spawning process or already died. Late-run chums are harvested within the boat harbor and the city dock in September and a few bright and semi-bright specimens can be encountered until almost October some years.
Surf-casters targeting saltwater species report fair results this time of year. Bottomfish like cod, sculpin, and flounder are most prevalent but a rare halibut, lingcod, or rockfish may be taken. A few lingcod have been lured in the boat harbor right around the fish cleaning station, including a 50-pound specimen.
Freshwater
Good silver salmon fishing is available up until mid-month on the Robe River in Valdez as well as at the mouth of Little Tonsina River in the Copper Valley. While the Valdez salmon are usually chrome, the Tonsina silvers tend to be blushed to one degree or another. The Robe run, however, has more longevity with bright specimens present up to November. Other autumn salmon opportunities include late-run reds on the Gulkana River; these are mainly hatchery fish and offer fair to good catches through mid-September, primarily on the middle section below Paxson Lake, and bound for the release site on the upper river near Summit Lake. A few fresh stragglers continue to be present in this fishery the remainder of the month and well into October.
Lakes and stream fishing is at a peak in September for resident species. Water temperatures have cooled and the fish are engaged in a feeding frenzy in preparation for the winter ahead. Rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, and grayling are very active most anywhere found and even lake trout of respectable size (10-20 lbs.) can be located without much issue in more shallow, near-shore areas of larger and deeper lakes, such as Summit, Paxson, Tangle, and Fielding. The smaller lakes around Denali Highway can be very good bets as well for lake trout. Burbot is another species that offer good catches from now on through the autumn and winter months. Whitefish can be very abundant in some waters as they are in the process of preparing for their spawning season. Some of the flowing waters in the Gulkana and Tazlina drainage sport great grayling fishing towards the end of September as fish are migrating downstream in concentration to overwintering areas. Gunn, Tolsona, and Mendeltna are just a few. Hit it right and fish on every cast is very possible.
Dip netting is still permitted on the Copper during all of September but success range from poor to mediocre to quite decent depending on the day, location, and time of the month, the catch a combination of late-run reds and silvers, the former being more common the first half of September and the latter after mid-month. Occasionally, dippers will find a very late king or steelhead in their net.
Fish & Wildlife
The first half of September is a superb time to view spawning pink and chum salmon in and around Valdez with the added bonus of seeing bears. Solomon Gulch Creek by the fish hatchery off Dayville Road will have pinks spawning in the very early part of the month. Crooked Creek in town will have good numbers of pinks and chums up through the middle of the month with the latter species being present until October. Also, the northern shoreline of the boat harbor features late-spawning chums through September and into October. The fish hatchery channel right below Summit Lake on the upper Gulkana River will be thick with spawning reds in late September until mid-October.
OCTOBER
Saltwater
In any normal year, the surf-casting opportunities in Valdez during October are very slim; the salmon runs have by all practical means ended, sea-run char are in streams feeding and spawning, and bottomfish of all species are migrating into deeper water for the winter. A few old chums and bright silvers may be spotted cruising the shoreline in the boat harbor and around Allison Point–overall it is just hit and miss. Smaller codfish, flounders, and sculpin may persist still off the city dock. Not so widely known, however, is the fact that in seasons when the hatchery silvers were “absent” or “missing” back in September, they sometimes may show up in large numbers as late as the middle of this month. For the very few anglers attentive enough, some good fishing may be had. This is not a frequent occurrence and does not seem to have a pattern to it, yet it does happen. Boaters braving the elements of wind, freezing rain, sleet, and snow do experience some good days on the water in the outer parts of the arm and in the sound, with success on feeder kings, smaller halibut, lingcod, and rockfish as well as the other non-sporting species.
Freshwater
Persistent Valdez anglers trying their luck on the Robe River are able to find a few chrome silvers at the confluence with Lowe River. These are a mix of fish heading up the Robe or to smaller clearwater tributaries farther upstream on the Lowe. Do not expect the quality of fishing as found in August or September, yet a steady flow of salmon this time of year is a good thing. Prepare to release some dark fish, especially if exploring the middle or upper reaches of Robe. Anglers are reminded that the Lowe River and its tributaries are closed to salmon fishing year-round. In the Copper Valley in the Tonsina drainage, a few remnant silvers will be present in the Little Tonsina River. Catches of bright or semi-bright fish are still possible but there are many more blush or spawning silvers this late in the season. Up the highway, the Gulkana River red run has concluded for the most part with only a few stragglers still arriving.
With freeze-up imminent, a frenzy of last-minute activity may be occurring on some streams as the last push of fish migrating from the summer feeding grounds on the upper reaches of these waters migrate in dense schools through the lower sections on their way to deeper lakes and rivers to spend the winter. Anglers timing it just right are in for some superb action for grayling and trout but usually, however, the migrations have finished by mid-month. On rivers such as the Gulkana the season may be slightly extended, all the way into November if water conditions are suitable, with excellent catches of rainbows and grayling. A small run of steelhead is present in the Gulkana for added excitement. Lakes and ponds do begin to freeze over in October and the trout, landlocked salmon, char, and grayling fishing can be anywhere from just fair to exceptional in what open water there is left. Big schools of whitefish may be encountered too. Autumn is a fantastic time to hook larger than average fish in lakes casting from shore as they are often found in relatively shallow water.
The dip net season on the Copper historically ends on September 30.
Fish & Wildlife
For those still in the mood to view the final phase of the salmon life cycle, a few opportunities remain yet. On the upper Gulkana River near Summit Lake, a good number of spawning late-run reds can be observed the first couple of weeks this month with a few specimens filtering through up into November. In the Valdez area, a few ripe chums and silvers will be present in Crooked Creek with the latter also observed in Solomon Gulch Creek and inside the fish holding channels at the hatchery. Some bears are still around foraging for salmon in the waters along Dayville Road.