Roadtrippin’ 2024: In search of the next Fishing Report around the Yukon River

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - While staying at the Yukon River Camp on the Dalton Highway last month, the Alaska News Source sports team went out in search of the next Fishing Report.

Although the mighty Yukon River was in their backyard, they were reminded of the suspension of Chinook salmon for commercial, sport, domestic, and personal use fisheries in the mainstem Yukon River.

However, there were other fishing opportunities nearby.

”I would say there’s a good dozen creeks between Yukon River and Coldfoot that you’d be able to access easily by pulling over on the side of the road and parking,” Yukon River Camp resident Jeffery Groenke said, naming Jim and Hess creeks among the popular locations.

While any salmon caught in a nearby creek or stream will need to be released immediately, there other types of fish to reel in.

”Once you get here, you are going to go for grayling ... whitefish, sheefish, Arctic char, Dolly Varden,” Groenke added.

“Most of these creeks, fly fishing is the most popular method. When you’re on the Yukon and the larger rivers as well as the Koyukuk, I see a lot of gillnets.”

Groenke noted spinners are a popular pick for sheefish fishermen on the Yukon.

In a mid-May interview, Groenke said the rivers take a while to thaw completely.

”Can’t fish yet because there is still ice floating in the rivers, in the creeks and the streams,” Groenke said last month. “Especially on the Yukon, we have driftwood, you can very easily top your boat. We have a couple more weeks before we can start playing on the water.”

While we returned to Anchorage with an empty cooler, there will be more Fishing Reports in Southcentral this summer to reel in some big ones.

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