Experts direct anglers north

MAT-SU — King salmon anglers searching for chinook might want to look north.

Catch rates on the Talkeetna River have improved steadily in recent days, as have those on some Parks Highway tributaries, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The department is predicting fair to good fishing on the Talkeetna River, Talachulitna River and Lake Creek, as well as the smaller Yentna River tributaries, over the weekend.

“We’ve been seeing some fish at Clear Creek and Lake Creek, so that’s a good thing,” area sportfish biologist Dave Rutz said earlier this week.

Anglers looking for a fishing spot should keep in mind that Willow Creek, Little Willow Creek, Kashwitna Creek, Montana Creek and the rest of the Susitna River Unit 2 streams are closed to fishing on weekdays, but will be open this weekend beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and running through 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Lake Creek’s profile got a big boost recently, when Japanese angler Shigeru Narita hauled in a 60.3-pound king salmon to take over first place in the $10,000 Mat-Su King Salmon Derby. Narita caught his big fish June 23 while anchored in the mouth of Lake Creek.

Fishing with guide Rick Pederson of McDougall Lodge, Narita hooked his fish on a chartreuse and green K-15 Kwikfish, according to McDougall owner Leslie Manners.

If Narita’s lunker remains in the top spot through July 13, he’ll pocket $10,000 in cash.

Narita took over the top spot from Palmer’s Mark Edwards, who fell to second but still leads the pro class division with a 54.5-pound king caught in Willow Creek. Palmer’s Curt Ensminger is in third place overall with a 51.4- pound king, hauled in from the Little Su.

Wasilla Chamber of Commerce executive director Cheryl Metiva said the number of fish getting weighed-in for the derby has started to tilt toward streams in the upper Susitna Valley.

“Right now they’re starting to hit up at the Talkeetna,” Metiva said.

Tommy Smith leads the youth division with a 48.7-pound king caught in Sheep Creek on June 22.

While the fishing on some northern Mat-Su streams has begun to peak, things remain slow on the Deshka and Little Susitna Rivers, according to Rutz.

“The Little Susitna is doing almost average, just a little bit below,” he said.

The Deshka River remains closed due to poor returns. Rutz said that there have now been more than 5,000 kings counted upstream on the Deshka, but he’s still pessimistic about the river reaching the lower end of its escapement goal.

“I don’t think we’ll make it,” Rutz said.

The department was forced to close the Deshka in mid-June due to the poor run.

Fishing close to the Palmer-Wasilla area is also reportedly slow, with poor fishing expected at the Eklutna Tailrace near the Butte. Rutz said anglers fishing there should try Vibrax-type spinners or eggs.

While king fishing has picked up as the summer has progressed, fishing Valley-wide is st ill far from red-hot, and Metiva said that has been having a bit of an impact on ticket sales for the derby.

“It’s definitely affecting the derby,” she said. “It’s a good derby, but not off the charts.”

Metiva said she’s worried about the impact the slow season is having on fishing guides in the area.

“It’s hurting everybody,” she said.

Still, Metiva noted that there’s still time for king fishing to pick up, and she’s hoping for a big Independence Day weekend.

“We’ll see what happens,” she said.

Anglers not interested in seeking out king salmon could have better luck. According to the ADFG’s weekly fishing report, area lakes and streams should produce good catch rates for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. The department also suggests going after pike, which can be found in good numbers in the Nancy Lakes system, as well as Long Lake, Memory Lake and Prator Lakes, all of which are road-accessible.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com