Large River · Glacial Till · Yukon

Yukon River (upper, Whitehorse area)

Yukon River (upper, Whitehorse area) terrain map
Terrain map

The upper Yukon around Whitehorse is accessible northern fly water — a big, cold, lake-fed river with Arctic grayling, lake trout and pike.

Species

About as good as it gets

River high but settled. Fish are looking up — bigger flies, confident takes.

The water temperature is around 7°C, about where the grayling want it, sitting at a steady height, running clear.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for arctic grayling
Ideal
7°C est.ideal 4–14°C
0°14°28°
The full read · show the working · for arctic grayling · confidence 75%
How the 85 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity85 × 18%15.3
Feeding Time95 × 13%12.4
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity50 × 12%6.0
Conditions total= 85
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Conditions
●Live gauge
Level
29.24 m
Water temp
6.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
6°C
Wind
NW 1 km/h
Dead calm
Pressure
1024 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.9 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 4 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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How to fish it · for arctic grayling
When
Midday window — grayling feed best from late morning into early afternoon.
Where
Work runs and glides — grayling shoal in the bottom third of the water column.
Method
Tight-line nymph the bottom third with weighted patterns.
Kit
10 ft #3 rod, floating line, long leader to 4 lb fluoro for nymphs.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
1
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
American March BrownHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Chinook CLOSED (Yukon River moratorium); grayling/laker/pike C&R/limits
  • Verify current Yukon regulations.
Directions
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About this water

The upper Yukon around Whitehorse is accessible northern fly water — a big, cold, lake-fed river with Arctic grayling, lake trout and pike. It once carried one of the longest Chinook salmon migrations on earth, but those kings are now severely depressed and closed to fishing; we carry the salmon as present-only and direct anglers to the grayling, lakers and pike instead. Clear lake-fed reaches make for pleasant, accessible northern fishing.

Under the surface

The upper Yukon around Whitehorse and the Southern Lakes is a big, cold, lake-fed river holding Arctic grayling, lake trout and northern pike, with Chinook (king) salmon historically running far up the system. Clear in its lake-fed reaches and sizeable, it offers accessible northern fly fishing for grayling and lakers — though the once-great Chinook run is now severely depressed and closed to fishing.

Wading: Big cold river, strong current

  • Glacial till
  • Partly confined
  • Large river
  • Glide
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 June → 30 September
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