Upper Copper - Upper Susitna Drainage Fishing Spots

This region marks the headwaters of the Susitna and Copper Rivers, the two major rivers of southcentral Alaska. All five salmon species can be caught in this region, as well as many excellent places for trout and burbot. Lake Louise offers trophy class lake trout while Paxson/Summit Lakes offer similar action for lake trout and burbot. The upper Copper, Gulkana, and Klutina Rivers offer excellent salmon opportunities, while the Gulkana is also a popular destination for whitewater rafting. As with most interior regions, arctic grayling abound in most bodies of water.

Available Species: King Salmon, Silver Salmon, Red Salmon, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Lake Trout, Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike, Burbot, Whitefish

Hot Spots: Paxson Lake, Summit Lake, Copper River, Klutina River, Gulkana River, Tonsina River, Crosswind Lake, Lake Louise

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Fishing Spots

34 miles south of the highway.

Walk in pub­lic fish­ing access to Sil­ver Lake and Van Lake; you’ll find won­der­ful scenery and good rain­bow trout fish­ing in both lakes.

14 mile west of the highway.

North Side of Road, Lake & out­let excel­lent for large grayling.

Short hike down steep hill to South; Sum­mer Fishery.

.5 miles north of road

Pull-off’s present; best fish­ing at outlet.

Spring fish­ery & BLM Campground.

Small pull-off, short hike down to out­let; sum­mer fishery

Park­ing Spot on the North side of the high­way. Fol­low the cat track 2 miles North. 

This Alas­ka State Fish and Game stocked lake pro­vides a qui­et and pic­turesque lit­tle stop for the fish­er­man or camper. There’s a good chance you’ll have the lake to yourself.

Pull-off present. 14 mile trail

Creek Par­al­lels road & offers excel­lent fishing.

Access stun­ning views of Land­mark Gap Lake by hik­ing the Land­mark Gap Trail North.

This swift, glacial­ly-fed riv­er deliv­ers one of the top sports salmon fish­eries in the Cop­per Basin, with pro­duc­tive bank­side fish­ing for famed Cop­per Riv­er reds and decent oppor­tu­ni­ties to land a big king salmon. You’ll find good park­ing and direct access to pub­lic ease­ments along the riv­er in Cop­per Cen­ter. Many pro­fes­sion­al guides also oper­ate in the community.

An alter­nate, and much more dif­fi­cult, option involves start­ing on the Tan­gle Lakes along the Denali High­way, and pad­dling south, portag­ing from one lake to anoth­er to a point where the Mid­dle Fork begins.

Fish for rain­bow trout at this small lake acces­si­ble via a 14 mile trail off of the McCarthy Road.