The pedestrian bridge over at Eklutna Tailrace is located near the southeast corner of the lower parking lot. Photos by Andy Couch/For the Frontiersman
The Eklutna Tailrace king salmon fishery is located across the Old Glenn Highway from the Eklutna Power Plant. It is road accessible by taking the Glenn Highway south toward Anchorage from the Palmer — Wasilla core area. After crossing the Knik River heading south, take the Old Glenn Highway exit and drive approximately 3 miles east until you see the sign for the Eklutna Tailrace fishery parking lot on your left or just a little further down the highway you will see the power plant building on your right and there is another less used parking lot on the left side of the highway.
Wild flowers grow along the tailrace, and observant anglers may also see ducks, bald eagles, moose, beaver, or even a bear when fishing at the tailrace. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanThe tailrace is the water outflow from Eklutna Power Plant (through the trees on horizon). Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanThe Eklutna Tailrace king salmon fishery is located across the Old Glenn Highway from the Eklutna Power Plant. It is road accessible by taking the Glenn Highway south toward Anchorage from the Palmer - Wasilla core area. After crossing the Knik River heading south, take the Old Glenn Highway exit and drive approximately 3 miles east until you see the sign for the Eklutna Tailrace fishery parking lot on your left or just a little further down the highway you will see the power plant building on your right and there is another less used parking lot on the left side of the highway. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanOn the east side of the parking lot across the highway from the power plant are some portable outhouses, a garbage disposal, and the footpath following the tailrace to its confluence with the Knik River. Salmon anglers may fish any of the waters along this path 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, with multiple hooks and bait. All species of salmon may be legally harvested at this location all year long. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanThe Cook Inlet Aquaculture fish hatchery building is located about a 1/3 of the way along the tailrace between the power plant and the Knik River confluence. The pilings are part of an old weir structure that was previously used to collect salmon for egg takes for the next generation of hatchery fish — currently all of the egg takes that support stockings at Eklutna Tailrace are done at Ship Creek in Anchorge. Since eggs are no longer collect at the tailrace this makes all of the hatchery king salmon and coho salmon returning to Eklutna Tailrace available for sport harvest throughout the year. This year’s plantings of coho salmon smolt has already occurred at the tailrace. King salmon smolt will be held in raceways outside the hatchery building and imprinted there before being released by mid-June. Andy Couch/For the Frontiersmanhere is a fish cleaning table available near the Tailrace confluence with the Knik River. When the Knik River rises from glacier melt later in the summer, anglers may need boots to wade to the fish cleaning table. Fish remains are usually discarded into the river -- be sure to put such waste far enough into the current that it washes downstream. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanCarlos Jimenez with a Eklutna Tailrace king salmon he caught while casting a spinner on Saturday June 1, 2019. Picture taken in the lower parking lot near the tailrace confluence with the Knik River. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanThe Cook Inlet Aquaculture fish hatchery building is located about a 1/3 of the way along the tailrace between the power plant and the Knik River confluence. The pilings are part of an old weir structure that was previously used to collect salmon for egg takes for the next generation of hatchery fish -- currently all of the egg takes that support stockings at Eklutna Tailrace are done at Ship Creek in Anchorge. Since eggs are no longer collect at the tailrace this makes all of the hatchery king salmon and coho salmon returning to Eklutna Tailrace available for sport harvest throughout the year. This year's plantings of coho salmon smolt has already occurred at the tailrace. King salmon smolt will be held in raceways outside the hatchery building and imprinted there before being released by mid-June. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanThe Tailrace confluence with the Knik River side-channel is often the most popular place for anglers to fish, however the entire stretch between the confluence and the pedestrian bridge is heavily utilized when salmon are abundant in the tailrace. Andy Couch/For the FrontiersmanEklutna TailraceA chair or 5 gallon bucket to sit on are standard equipment for many anglers at the Eklutna Tailrace fishery. Often there is considerable fishing that occurs between bites. Andy Couch/For the Frontiersman
