Fishing near Badger, Alaska
Census-designated place, Fairbanks North Star Borough. Census 2020 residents: 19,031.
- 5 milesChena Lake
- 8ramps within 60 mi
- 4rivers within 60 mi
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Alaska: where anglers from Badger go
Badger sits in Fairbanks North Star Borough as a census-designated place, home to 19,031 people when 2020 was counted. From the Census point, Chena Lake lies 5 miles southeast and ranks first among lake pages. For big water near town, Harding Lake leads at about 2,260 acres of mapped outline.
With a trailer, Chena Lakes Recreation Area is the nearest mapped ramp at 5 miles. Chena River is the nearest moving water on the site, 7 miles off. Quartz Creek Trail, roughly 45 miles away, has bank or harbor access.
Population from the 2020 Census (TIGERweb), places and boroughs from the Census 2023 Gazetteer, read November 14, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
Alaska reservoirs within reach of Badger
| Lake | From Badger | Size | Access sites | ADF&G lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chena Lake | 5 miles southeast | about 241 acres of mapped outline | 0 | rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling |
| Cushman Lake | 10 miles west | no size printed | 0 | Arctic grayling, northern pike, king salmon |
| Olnes Pond | 22 miles northwest | no size printed | 0 | burbot, Arctic grayling, rainbow trout |
| Harding Lake | 29 miles southeast | about 2,260 acres of mapped outline | 0 | lake trout, burbot, Arctic char |
| Little Harding Lake | 31 miles southeast | no size printed | 0 | rainbow trout, northern pike |
| Mosquito Creek Lake | 35 miles southeast | no size printed | 0 | rainbow trout |
Acres as the ADF&G lake layer lists them, read November 14, 2026. Lakes with no ADF&G acreage print their USGS mapped outline instead. Record from the ADF&G Sport Fish Lakes Database (SF_Lakes), read November 14, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Moving Alaska water within a drive of Badger
- Chena River7 miles, 4 USGS gauges, goFishAK entry
- Chatanika River31 miles, 1 USGS gauge
- Tanana River32 miles, 1 USGS gauge
- Salcha River57 miles, 1 USGS gauge
Creek numbers around Badger
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Chena R Bl Moose C Dam Ak | 17.38 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:00 pm |
| L Chena R Nr Fairbanks Ak | 14.86 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:00 pm |
| Chena R At Fairbanks Ak | 0.83 ft gage height | Nov 15 3:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 15, 2026 3:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stream record from the ADF&G Anadromous Waters Catalog (2026 layer), read November 14, 2026. A catalog entry is a use record, not a fishing-quality claim. Streamflow and level from USGS National Water Information System; many Alaska gauges report only in the open-water season.
Plotted Alaska fishing spots near Badger
Launch or access details as published in the ADF&G goFishAK layer (ADF&G titles it a draft), read November 14, 2026. Census place point.
The skiff launches nearest Badger
- Chena Lakes Recreation Area5 miles, Chena Lake, launch ramp
- Piledriver Slough Canoe Launch8 miles, water not named, launch ramp
- Graehl Park Landing10 miles, Chena River, launch ramp
- Tanana Lakes Recreation Area Boat Launch11 miles, Cushman Lake, launch ramp
- Chena River Canoe access at the Peger Bridge/Pioneer Park12 miles, Chena River, launch ramp
- Chena Pump Wayside Boat Launch17 miles, Tanana River, launch ramp
- Flat Creek Slough Boat Launch19 miles, Chena River, launch ramp
- 28 Mile River Access20 miles, Chena River, launch ramp
Access sites a drive from Badger
- Quartz Creek Trail45 miles, Little Champion, Champion, and Quartz Creek tributaries of Beaver Creek., angler access trail
Launch or access details as published in the ADF&G goFishAK layer (ADF&G titles it a draft), read November 14, 2026.
Recent ADF&G plants near Badger
| Lake | From Badger | Date | Species | Fish | Size as printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chena Lake | 5 miles | Oct 06, 2026 | Chinook salmon | 3,216 | 8.8 in. / 4.3 oz. |
| Chena Lake | 5 miles | Oct 05, 2026 | Chinook salmon | 3,443 | 9.3 in. / 5.0 oz. |
| Chena Lake | 5 miles | Oct 05, 2026 | Chinook salmon | 4,634 | 9.3 in. / 5.0 oz. |
| Cushman Lake | 10 miles | Oct 06, 2026 | Chinook salmon | 6,073 | 8.8 in. / 4.3 oz. |
| Cushman Lake | 10 miles | Oct 06, 2026 | Chinook salmon | 2,887 | 8.8 in. / 4.3 oz. |
| Cushman Lake | 10 miles | Oct 05, 2026 | Chinook salmon | 2,465 | 9.3 in. / 5.0 oz. |
| Olnes Pond | 22 miles | Aug 26, 2026 | rainbow trout | 1,553 | 11.8 in. / 10.4 oz. |
| Olnes Pond | 22 miles | May 19, 2026 | rainbow trout | 1,494 | 10.2 in. / 6.7 oz. |
| Olnes Pond | 22 miles | Aug 25, 2025 | rainbow trout | 1,477 | 11.2 in. / 9.0 oz. |
| Harding Lake | 29 miles | Sep 22, 2026 | lake trout | 8,904 | 5.3 in. / 1.0 oz. |
Stocking events from the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking search, 2026 events read November 14, 2026. The search returns past stocking events, not a forward schedule.
Heading lines near Badger
Rules and fees are the 2026 edition: ADF&G prints "Effective until the 2027 summary is issued" on every 2026 booklet, and no 2027 booklet exists. Emergency orders supersede the booklet. For water near Badger, find the booklet first, then check for a heading of the water itself. A resident annual sport fishing license is $20 and a nonresident annual license $100 Many 2026 king salmon rows say the fishery was closed in 2026 by emergency order; the text is as printed, so check the current emergency orders.
Southeast booklet Southcentral booklet Southwest booklet Northern booklet
- Harding LakeHARDING LAKE, Tanana drainage: Open year-round to sport fishing.
Rules as printed in the 2026 ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary (booklet). Effective until the 2027 summary is issued; emergency orders supersede the booklet (ADF&G emergency orders). Read November 14, 2026. Prices from the ADF&G license price list, read November 14, 2026. Licenses run from the purchase date through Dec. 31 of the calendar year; no 2027 price list is published.
Alaska fly shops and bait stores near Badger
Gear stores within reach of Badger, Alaska
- Alaska Fly Shopfly shop, Fairbanks, 13 miles
- Two River Rodsbait and tackle shop, Fairbanks, 15 miles
Booking a Alaska guided day at Badger
- AK Fish Charterscharter, Fairbanks, (907) 799-4569
- Alaska Adventures Unlimitedfishing guide, Fairbanks, (907) 455-6120
- Alaska Fishing and Raft Adventuresfishing guide, Fairbanks, (800) 819-0737
- Alaska Private Guide Servicefishing guide, Fairbanks, (435) 890-8328
- Arctic Grayling Guide Servicefishing guide, Fairbanks, (907) 479-0479
- Goodhand Fishing Charterscharter, Fairbanks, (907) 479-5562
Yellow Pages, chamber and DOT&PF listings; miles only where the listing has an exact point, read November 14, 2026. No guide is called licensed or registered.
Alaska places mapped beside Badger
Alaska towns sharing water with Badger
- North Pole3 miles, 2020 count 2,243
- Fairbanks8 miles, 2020 count 32,515
- Steele Creek9 miles, 2020 count 6,437
- Farmers Loop12 miles, 2020 count 4,704
- Eielson AFB13 miles, 2020 count 2,610
Alaska reservoirs worth a detour from Badger
- Chena Lake5 miles
- Cushman Lake10 miles
- Olnes Pond22 miles
- Harding Lake29 miles
- Fairbanks North Star Boroughborough page
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Basing a Alaska fishing trip out of Badger
Where is the nearest Alaska lake to Badger?
Chena Lake, about 5 miles southeast.
How far is the nearest goFishAK ramp from Badger?
Chena Lakes Recreation Area, 5 miles away, on Chena Lake.
Is walk-in Alaska fishing mapped near Badger?
Quartz Creek Trail, 45 miles away (angler access trail).
Which Alaska shops near Badger stock tackle?
Alaska Fly Shop, one of 2 listings nearby.
What borough or census area is Badger in?
Fairbanks North Star Borough.
What does an ADF&G license cost for Badger?
A resident annual sport fishing license is $20 and a nonresident annual license $100
Which Alaska town pages are near Badger?
North Pole (3 miles), Fairbanks (8 miles) and Steele Creek (9 miles).
Is there an Alaska daily cap near Badger?
Limits depend on the booklet area, the species heading and any heading printed for the water; the four booklet pages on this site give the headings, and king salmon rows lean on emergency orders. Rules and fees are the 2026 edition: ADF&G prints "Effective until the 2027 summary is issued" on every 2026 booklet, and no 2027 booklet exists. Emergency orders supersede the booklet.
Which Alaska river page is nearest Badger?
The closest river page is Chena River, 7 miles from the town point.
Does ADF&G plant fish close to Badger?
SF_Lakes lists chinook salmon at Chena Lake on Oct 06, 2026, 5 miles from town.
Make Badger your Alaska fishing base
Check a lake's heading before keeping fish.