Deshka River king harvest

As most Mat-Su anglers likely know by now, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened the Deshka River to king salmon harvest with the use of multiple hooks and bait a week ago on Friday June 18. I’ve guided at least one king salmon fishing trip to Deshka River each day since it opened. A solid number of king salmon were harvested the first couple days, but the number of king salmon being caught near the Deshka River/Susitna River confluence has declined greatly since those first couple days. Upriver with minimal rain the water has been dropping and is getting quite shallow with very narrow travel lanes through several riffles. Those lanes are shallow and narrow enough that I don’t like to run them — even with a custom designed boat for running extra shallow water.

The Deshka River king salmon escapement past the weir climbed to 13, 172 fish through Monday June 21, and will only keep going up for the remainder of the season. There can be good numbers of king salmon migrating upstream overnight and in the morning, however, afternoons often seem nearly deserted of salmon in the lower river. With the opening of bait fishing, cured salmon roe has certainly accounted for most of the salmon harvest, although people continue to catch some king salmon on artificial lures as well. With the opportunity to harvest fish with bait, I expect solid numbers of anglers will likely continue fishing Deshka River through this next weekend. Our recent cool cloudy weather has certainly helped maintain Deshka River king salmon catch rates to some extent, but unless we get a good soaking rain by this weekend I would expect catch rates to continue dropping — and especially in the lower deeper water near the Susitna River confluence.

Little Susitna River King Salmon

I had been hoping a couple thousand king salmon might have migrated past Little Susitna River weir by now, but through Monday June 21 only 302 king salmon had swum past Little Susitna River weir. Talking with ADF&G fisheries biologist Samantha Oslund, A.J. at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle, and others I’ve still been hearing of catch rates of better than 2 king salmon per person from Little Susitna River. This remains a catch and release fishery and single hook artificial lure are required by emergency regulation, but I expect anglers will likely continue to catch decent numbers of king salmon downstream of Little Susitna River Public Use Facility Boat Launch at least until a major push of kings migrates upstream of the weir. There is lots of space in the campground and this has remained an uncrowded fishery for the entire season so far. Fishing is allowed from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily during the king salmon season — which ends after July 13.

Eklutna Tailrace/Knik River

Samantha Oslund had been out to the tailrace for the Kid’s Day last Saturday and said king salmon have been getting caught near the tailrace/Knik River confluence, but also upstream toward the Old Glenn Highway. She mentioned being there on a bright sunny afternoon and seeing some fish surface in different places all along the tailrace. These fish are being fished on the entire time they are in the tailrace, however, and some of them have become quite reluctant to bit. When a king salmon is caught, however, a lot of them have been nice sized fish over 20 pounds. Usually the Knik River gets high and muddy enough around June 22 that fishing success in the Knik River river side channel below the tailrace drops off dramatically. With our recent run of cool cloudy weather I suspect better than normal king salmon fishing conditions could be present through the June 26 / 27 weekend.

Parks Highway and Talkeetna River King Salmon

Fishing for king salmon at locations along the Parks Highway north of Willow remains restricted to catch and release fishing. Single-hook artificial lures are required, and the fishery runs from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The streams along the Parks Highway will only remain open to targeted catch and release king salmon fishing for the next two Sundays and Mondays, while the Talkeetna River drainage is open 7 days per week through July 13. A.J. with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle would caution anglers that many streams are still higher than normal with spring run off so be cautious and careful when wading. A.J. said many of these streams have been fishing fairly well for trout and grayling, but that after the water drops a bit they should be even better. Water levels will likely continue to drop as the summer progresses unless interrupted by significant rainfall. Although I’ve talked with ADF&G staff, 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle staff, the operators of Susitna Landing, and a bank angler I know who owns a cabin in the area — I have yet to hear any good reports of king salmon catches in this area — however these next two Sunday / Monday fishing opportunities should provide the peak king salmon fishing for the entire season along the Parks Highway. The last week of June and the first week of July likewise usually provides the best opportunity of the entire season to catch king salmon in the Talkeetna River drainage.

Sockeye Salmon

A few sockeye salmon have been available in Little Susitna River for quite a while in June as evidenced by Little Susitna River weir counts, however this past week I finally heard of a couple of them being caught by sport anglers. In addition, Samantha Oslund told me of a sockeye salmon that was recently caught in Eklutna Tailrace up by the salmon hatchery. When caught legally, up to 3 sockeye may be harvested per day. When I talked with Oslund on Monday she mentioned that Fish Creek near Knik Goose Bay Road is now open to fishing, and wondered if anglers might be able to find some early sockeye at that location as well. It would be very early in the season, but might be worth some exploring. Sockeye salmon are also being caught out in Upper Cook Inlet commercial fisheries at this time.

Mat-Su Lakes Water Remain Cool While Fishing Remains Hot

A.J. and Oslund both mentioned how well some of the Mat-Su Valley stocked lakes continue to produce fish for sport anglers. Cool summer weather has only helped this trend and it is bound to end at some time. In the meantime good catches have been occurring in the Kepler -Bradley Lake system, in Lucille Lake in downtown Wasilla, and Finger Lake. AJ also mentioned angler continuing to catch some nice sized northern pike from Big Lake. Many of these lakes have much lower fishing competition than the two areas where king salmon harvest is presently allowed in the Mat-Su Valley.

Good Luck this weekend, and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a 35-year Mat-Su Valley salmon fishing guide. You may read his daily fishing reports on his Fishtale River Guides website at https://www.fish4salmon.com/alaska-fishing-reports/