2021 Yukon River Salmon Summer Fishery Announcement #9 District 6 Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Schedule

Districts Affected: Upper Yukon Area

The 2021 Chinook salmon run size is forecasted to be smaller than the 2020 run and may not be strong enough to meet escapement objectives. When run forecasts are this weak, regulations require that salmon fishing be closed on the first pulse. In accordance with the preseason management strategy to take a conservative approach this season, subsistence and Personal Use fishing will be closed during the trickle and first pulse of the Chinook salmon run. This is intended to protect Chinook salmon while more information about the timing and strength of the run is collected.

06/16/2021
Last edited 01/25/2022
Contact Information

Deena Jallen, Area Management Biologist

(907) 949-1320

Toll free fishing schedule and counts: (866) 479-7387

In Fairbanks fishing schedule hotline: 459-7387

Based on swim speed and the arrival of fish in the lower river, the first Chinook salmon should be reaching District 6 early next week. At this time no large groups of summer chum salmon have entered the river. Selective gear openings will be considered when summer chum salmon are more abundant.

Due to the conservation concern for Chinook salmon, 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets will be restricted to a maximum length of 60 feet effective when subsistence salmon fishing closures begin.

Subsistence Management Actions

Subdistricts 6-A, 6-B, and Old Minto Area (from the mouth of the Tanana River upstream to the Wood River, including Manley, Minto, and Nenana):

Subsistence fishing is currently open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

Effective 8 p.m., Monday, June 21, salmon fishing is closed. Fish wheels and gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh are not allowed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

Kantishna River:

Subsistence fishing is currently open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets.

Effective 8 p.m., Monday, June 21, salmon fishing is closed. Fish wheels and gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh are not allowed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

Upper Tanana Area (the Tanana River from the confluence with the mouth of Volkmar River on the north bank and the mouth of the Johnson River on the south bank upstream to the Tanana River headwaters):

Subsistence fishing is currently open 24 hours a day, seven days per week with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels.

Effective 8 p.m., Monday, June 21, salmon fishing is closed. Fish wheels and gillnets larger than 4-inch mesh are not allowed. Gillnets of 4-inch or smaller mesh may be used to target non-salmon but are restricted to 60 feet or shorter length.

While any salmon caught in 4-inch or smaller mesh gillnets may be kept, if it appears salmon are being targeted with this gear, it could be further restricted. Fishermen are reminded to set this gear in areas where non-salmon species are abundant to avoid incidentally harvesting Chinook salmon.

Personal Use Management Actions

Subdistrict 6-C Salmon (Personal use fishery from the regulatory marker at the mouth of the Wood River upstream to the downstream mouth of the Salcha River, which includes the communities of Fairbanks, North Pole, and Salcha):

Personal Use salmon fishing is open with 7.5-inch or smaller mesh gillnets and fish wheels for one more 42- hour period from:

6 p.m. Friday June 18, to 12 p.m. (noon) Sunday, June 20

Effective 12 p.m. (noon), Sunday, June 20, Personal Use salmon fishing will close and periods are cancelled until further notice.

Subdistrict 6-C Whitefish and Sucker Personal Use Fishing

Personal Use whitefish and sucker fishing with gillnets and fish wheels follows the Subdistrict 6-C Personal Use salmon fishing schedule and will close at 12 p.m. (noon) Sunday, June 20 until further notice. Fishing with other gear for whitefish and suckers in this area remains open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, subject to permit stipulations.

The Emmonak office will be open to the public Mondays to Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays. ADF&G Emmonak office: (907) 949-1320.

This is an announcement by the ADF&G in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Emmonak USFWS office is not open. To reach the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yukon River Subsistence Fishery Manager call 351-3029.

Announcements will be shared on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YukonRiverFishingADFG

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