Coho ho! Mat-Su salmon on time

Years ago when I worked creel census on the Little Susitna River for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game we told anglers that peak silver salmon timing on the Little Susitna River below the landing was the last week of July and peak timing for the area directly upstream of the landing was the first week of August.

Fast forward 35 years and it is the last week of July with solid numbers of coho (silver) salmon in the Little Susitna River below the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility Boat Launch and Campground. Silver salmon numbers are still somewhat skinny going through the Little Susitna River Weir (330 through July 24) however expect them to climb more rapidly in the first week of August. My expectation is that Little Susitna River bait fishing will open on August 6 this year as scheduled in regulation, for the first time in three years.

My last several trips with guests have had each person catching a limit of silver salmon, and most of those silvers have been clean, ocean-bright, and fat. Before harvesting limits of silver salmon (two on Little Susitna River) guest have also been catching some hard fighting chum salmon and a few pink salmon.

Fish Creek dipnet fishery

The Fish Creek personal use fishery opened July 24. When I talked with ADF&G sport fish area management biologist, Sam Ivey, he mentioned how productive the Fish Creek personal use fishery has been. This fishery is located about 16 miles out Knik-Goose Bay Road. Only Alaska residents are allowed to participate and a personal use dip net permit is required for each household participating. The permits are available at the Palmer and Anchorage ADF&G offices. The fishery is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, but only through July 31. Sam said the sockeye salmon are in great shape at this time and dip netters are also harvesting a few coho salmon as well.

Deshka River coho

When I talked with Dan Suprak of Alaska Chinook Charters on Wednesday (907-748-0095) he reported that his guests and limited on large fat silver salmon at Deshka River the past two morning in a row (Tuesday and Wednesday). Dan mentioned that bait had not been producing particularly well near the Deshka’s confluence with the Susitna River, but that size 4 spinners were producing silver salmon for his guests. There are also large numbers of pink salmon migrating through this area as they head further up the Deshka and they have provided some fun catching opportunity as well. The salmon limit on Deshka River is three fish per day ( all of which may be coho salmon). Bait and multiple hooks are allowed in the area where most salmon fishing occurs. Deshka River weir counts show 270 coho salmon and 27,195 pink salmon through July 24.

Willow Creek

A.J. Hoffman of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla (373-5434) told me he had been out fishing Willow Creek a couple evenings in a row and that salmon fishing and salmon numbers were solid. Most of the fish are currently chum and pink salmon, but he said some silver salmon were also being caught and silver salmon currently seemed to be located primarily in the confluence area with the Susitna River, while chum salmon and pink salmon were spread in abundance further up the Creek. Some of the best fishing at Willow Creek can be accessed at this time by bank anglers through the Alaska State Parks campground and parking area located at the end of Willow Creek Parkway (turn West off Parks Highway near mile 70). Parking and Camping fees are charged.

Susitna Landing

Joe Rouswell reported one individual catching six coho salmon off the bank at the landing on Tuesday of this week. A few boaters have also been out and catching silver salmon. This spot is a bit further up in the Susitna River drainage, and may provide some decent fishing over the weekend in a rather uncrowded setting. This is a great camping area with larger campsites than found in other campgrounds. There are also electrical hookup sites for RV campers. Expect coho salmon numbers to build over the weekend and into next week. Chum salmon and pink salmon are also available at this location. Turn west off Parks Highway at approximately mile 82.5 onto Susitna Landing Road and drive straight to the landing. Parking and camping fees are charged.

Montana Creek

Further up the Parks Highway anglers have been catching mostly chum salmon, pink salmon, and a few early arriving silver salmon, according to Sam Ivey.

Talkeetna River Drainage

Margo Nealis with Phantom Tri River Charters (907) 733-2400 said their guests have been catching pink salmon, chum salmon, and some sockeye salmon. They have not caught any silver salmon yet. According to Sam Ivey the early showing of sockeye salmon into Larson Creek in the Talkeetna Drainage has been encouragingly strong, although those early numbers could drop off as has occurred in other locations.

Jim Creek

Ivey said anglers have been catching a few sockeye and silver salmon near the confluence of Jim Creek and the Knik River, and expects this fishery to take off over the weekend. Through July 24 only 1 sockeye salmon had migrated past the Jim Creek weir.

Eklutna Tailrace

I know some sockeye salmon and silver salmon have already been taken from this location, but I have not heard any recent reports. Sam Ivey did not have any specific new information from the tailrace. Salmon migrate past this location on their journey up the Knik River drainage and some like to hold near the confluence of the Tailrace with the Knik River In addition a hatchery run of coho salmon returns to the Tailrace each year. Parking access is free at this site.

After an extremely poor king salmon season, salmon fisheries for the other four species returning to Mat-Su streams show encouraging early season numbers. For the most sought after of these four species I am expecting a strong silver (coho) salmon sport fishery throughout Mat-Su locations for the 2018 season.

See you on the water and Fish On!

Andy Couch is owner/guide of Fishtale River Guide. You may read his daily fishing reports at http://www.fish4salmon.com