Yet despite their numbers, the sockeye is often frustrating to catch. The fish refuses to strike lures fished with conventional techniques. Anglers will flog the water for hours, without so much as a pass. But they will take flies on a regular basis in the Kenai and Russian rivers, Newhalen River, and Kvichak, Gulkana and Nushagak rivers, so take a good supply in a variety of colors. Grayling Despite the popularity the rainbow and landlocked silver have enjoyed over the past several years, the Interior's most popular sportfish is the Arctic grayling.
Interior waters offer plenty of grayling fishing opportunities.
The Chena River, which runs through Fairbanks , is a large producer of grayling. Try the Chatanika, Salcha, Goodpaster, and Delta Clearwater rivers. Lakes and rivers of the Brooks Range, and small streams along the Richardson, Elliot, Steese, and Denali highways also offer good grayling fishing. If you find the fishing slow, smart anglers walk either a half-mile up or downstream from where the stream intersects the road for best success. The Goodpaster River, which offers excellent grayling fishing is accessible by boat via the Delta Clearwater or Tanana rivers.