North Slope Management Area
Fishing Opportunities

The Ivishak River flows west and north from within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to its confluence with the Sagavanirktok River near the Dalton Highway.  The river is cold and clear, and supports an overwintering population of Dolly Varden that migrate upriver from the Beaufort Sea beginning in late August.  Fishing is generally slow in August, but becomes very productive by early to mid-September.  The river can be accessed by jetboat by launching into the Sagavanirktok River just downstream from Pump Station 2.  Travelling by jetboat is relatively easy upstream to the Echooka River, and then becomes tricky with multiple braided channels and shallow water.  The river also makes a great float trip by accessing the upper river with rafts or inflatable canoes or kayaks, and there are usually air service operators working out of Happy Valley in late August.

Dolly Varden will normally respond to pink, orange, and silver colors, and both streamers and spoons and spinners produce good catch rates.  The current is fairly swift, so sinking line works best on fly rods, and lures of an ounce or more are best.  Most fish will average 1-4 pounds, with anything over 6 pounds considered large.  Arctic grayling can also be caught, especially in the lower river, with flies, jigs, and smaller spinners.

From Fairbanks, access to the Ivishak River launch site is a 10-hour drive north on the Dalton Highway, approximately 400 miles.  Last stop for services (gas, food, and lodging) on the Dalton Highway is at Coldfoot, approximately 240 miles north of Fairbanks.  Jetboats can be launched into the Sagavanirktok River off of a spur dike east of the Dalton Highway at milepost 40.9.  There is no improved launch, and 4-wheel drive is recommended.  From the launch site, it’s about 6 river miles upstream to the mouth of the Ivishak River, and another 10 river miles to the mouth of the Echooka River.  The river is navigable by shallow-draft jetboat about another 27 miles upstream of the Echooka River, but the boating is very challenging due to multiple channels and shallow water. 

The river can be floated from a gravel bar strip about 35 air miles east of Happy Valley downstream to the Sagavanirtktok River and Dalton Highway Bridge, making for trip of around 70 river miles.  The upper river is extremely braided and shallow, and only small rafts or inflatable canoes or kayaks are recommended.  It’s best to shuttle a vehicle from Happy Valley to the Sagavanirktok River access prior to flying in.  There are normally air service operators working out of Happy Valley in the last half of August, but charter service may have to come from Prudhoe Bay or Coldfoot during September.

Arctic Grayling
Dolly Varden

Begin: August 237
Ends: September 268

Before you go fishing please check the regulations.