2015 Mat-Su salmon fishing winds down

During a Tuesday conversation I had with Margo Nealis of Phantom Tri River Charters in Talkeetna, I came to the realization that nearly all Mat-Su salmon fishing has now dropped off to the point that commercial guides are calling it a season. Margo reported they were still guiding a few trips and catching salmon, but the fish caught had to be picked over carefully in order to find some good ones to keep. Talking with Ben Allen of Miller’s Riverboat Service, and from my own experience, we both noticed the same trend. Even some of the freshly arriving sea-lice fish our guests had been catching were maturing with lighter colored meat. Although Ben and I had both been guiding trips a couple weeks after many others had called it quits for the season, we both decided to end our summer salmon fishing tours with trips we ran earlier this week.

ADF&G pulls Deshka and Little Susitna River weirs

I stopped by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Palmer on Wednesday and learned that department staff were pulling the Deshka River salmon counting weir that day. The department had earlier removed the Little Susitna River Weir back on August 27. Removal of those two salmon counting weirs is just one more indication that specific salmon runs are nearing completion for the season. The Fish Creek and Jim Creek weirs continue to count salmon with over 1,600 silver salmon passing the Fish Creek weir from September 4-9.

If one were looking to catch some salmon at this point in the season, Fish Creek may be a hotspot, however, one may want to try it sooner rather than later, as returning numbers of silver salmon at that location have dropped off dramatically after Sept. 15 on the past few years.

The Jim Creek fishery has been closed by an ADF&G emergency order because of a lack of returning silver salmon.

Mat-Su lakes provide fish-catching opportunities

Some of the best fishing-catching opportunities are now located in the many stocked lakes throughout the Mat-Su Valley. At most of these locations fishing pressure has dropped off significantly so those few anglers venturing out on the lakes should have most locations to themselves. ADF&G has detailed information about what species are available at a number of stocked lakes throughout the Mat-Su Valley. Trout fishing in streams is another fall fishing opportunity, although most of the fish at this point are scattered throughout the drainages.

As water levels start dropping trout will concentrate more in lower stream locations or near the confluences of tributary streams with the Susitna River.

With the changing of the seasons and drop off in salmon numbers I’ll be shifting my focus toward pursuing a fall moose, so this will likely be my last regular weekly fishing column for 2015. Thanks to all the readers of this column and the support and information some of you have provided.

Good luck and fish on!

Andy Couch has guided sport fishing trips in the Mat-Su Valley for over 30 years. Visit his Fishtale River Guides website at www.fish4salmon.com