Right now: 5 for Arctic grayling, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours
Arctic grayling, hour by hour
Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.
512 pm
5
5
53 pm
15
15
156 pm
15
15
159 pm
15
15
15Sun
15
15
153 am
15
15
156 am
15
15
159 am
15
15
1512 pm
15
15
253 pm
25
25
256 pm
25
25
159 pm
15
15
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out
Right now
Water
No reading
Arctic grayling range 39–60°
Wind
0 mph
From the
Flow
1.23 ft gauge height
rising
Light
Daylight
Sunset 4:10 pm
Sky
Slight Chance Light Snow
22% chance of rain
Air
23°F
NWS hourly forecast
Barometer
Rising
Measured, last 3 hours
Moon
5% lit
Waning crescent
What’s biting
Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Alaska non-tidal regulations for these waters.
No water reading here right now. Arctic grayling bite in 39–60° water, best near 50°.
Why
Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Arctic grayling is here May–Sep. River up 28% in 24h — turning off-color. Holds 1–12 ft down.
Keep
1 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Chena River downstream of the marker 300 feet below the dam: Arctic grayling are catch-and-release April 1–May 31, then 1 a day, 1 in possession, no size limit. Above the dam they are catch-and-release year-round. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.
No water reading here right now. Chum salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.
Why
Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Chum salmon is here Jul–Aug. River up 28% in 24h — turning off-color. Holds 2–15 ft down.
Keep
3 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tanana River area: chum and coho salmon are 3 a day in combination, 3 in possession, no size limit. Treble hooks may not be used for salmon. Above the marker 300 feet below the Chena River dam, salmon fishing is closed. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.
Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.
Water
No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.
Why
Chinook salmon is here Apr–Oct. Strong post-front high — bite typically shuts down. River up 28% in 24h — turning off-color. Holds 15–150 ft down.
Keep
20" minimum · no harvest
Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. King salmon fishing in the Tanana River drainage, including catch-and-release, is closed in 2026 by emergency order. Do not fish for kings. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.
Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works
Emergency orders in effect
Alaska changes limits and seasons in season. These ADF&G orders cover the Tanana area and override the limits below where they differ.
The river through Fairbanks, fished from the Chena River State Recreation Site and the city parks for Arctic grayling. ADF&G counts its king and chum runs, and the USGS gauge in Fairbanks reads live flow.
Below the dam: Arctic grayling are catch-and-release April 1–May 31, then 1 a day. King fishing, including catch-and-release, is closed in the Tanana drainage in 2026. Only one unbaited single-hook lure or fly, except a single treble-hook lure for species other than salmon and bait on hooks with a gap over 3/4".
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
12 pm
3 pm
6 pm
9 pm
Sun
3 am
6 am
9 am
12 pm
3 pm
6 pm
9 pm
Salcha River37 mi · AlaskaNo window clears the bar
29Sit it out
Questions people ask
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Chena River (Fairbanks)?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Chena River (Fairbanks) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Chena River (Fairbanks)?
Chena River (Fairbanks) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Arctic Grayling, Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Chena River (Fairbanks)?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Chena River (Fairbanks) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Chena River (Fairbanks) have?
Chena River (Fairbanks) has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Below the dam: Arctic grayling are catch-and-release April 1–May 31, then 1 a day. King fishing, including catch-and-release, is closed in the Tanana drainage in 2026. Only one unbaited single-hook lure or fly, except a single treble-hook lure for species other than salmon and bait on hooks with a gap over 3/4".
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Chena River (Fairbanks)?
state agency regulations apply at Chena River (Fairbanks). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Chena River (Fairbanks) tidal water?
No. Chena River (Fairbanks) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
Press / anywhere to search. Towns list the closest spots.
