First documented ocean-run salmon arrive in the Mat-Su Valley

When I talked with Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fisheries biologist, Sam Ivey on Tuesday he mentioned the department had counted the first 9 king salmon and 1 sockeye salmon through Little Susitna River weir over the 3-day Memorial Holiday weekend. Ivey also mentioned that Deshka River spring water flows had subsided enough that he was anticipating the Department could have Deshka River weir installed by Thursday June 1. This is a bit later than normal start date for counting at Deshka River weir, but Ivey mentioned the anticipated counting start date was still early enough for king salmon passage upstream through Deshka weir to be considered a complete king salmon escapement count. Anglers interested in viewing ADF&G’s most recent daily and cumulative salmon passage numbers through Little Susitna and Deshka River weirs should visit and use the web link on this webpage: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

ADF&G’s Tracy Smith told me the cool weather, late spring, and resulting cold water may have delayed king salmon entry into Mat-Su streams. I did hear a couple of reported catches of small ocean-run kings from Mat-Su locations during the past week, and more and larger king salmon should be caught before this column is published — however — king salmon anglers should also keep in mind that the Department’s pre-season projections were calling for fewer king salmon returning to streams throughout the area north of Anchor Point, known as Upper Cook Inlet.

I took one of my guide boats out for a check run on a Mat-Su lake on Saturday and caught two nice rainbow trout and a smaller landlocked coho salmon in a matter of minutes. The following day I guided a group of visiting anglers who fished 8 hours in search of the all-day-elusive king salmon. We spotted what looked to be a few smallish ocean-run salmon, but were unable to get a single hookup.

The best Memorial Holiday king salmon catches I heard of occurred south of many Mat-Su fishery locations at the Kenai Peninsula’s Kasilof River and at lower Ship Creek in downtown Anchorage — where full-sized fish in the 20 pound or larger size range were harvested on Monday. Similar-sized king salmon should be available and caught from Mat-Su locations this coming weekend and the following week. Catching one will still be a considerable angling challenge for most Mat-Su anglers — as many Alaskan residents have never even hooked a king salmon. Feeling the power of these large fish pulling at the end of the line can be addicting, however, and peak season king salmon fishing will be here before long.

Hooligan Fizzle?

When I talked with a staff member from Deshka Landing on Tuesday he said people looking for hooligan near Deshka Landing this past weekend had not found any abundances of hooligan. Frontiersman outdoor columnist Howard Delo relays similar experiences from his forays near the Willow Creek / Susitna River confluence where he had experienced good success during Memorial Weekends past. I heard expressed by 4 different sources, the thought they may have missed the hooligan abundance this year — or perhaps there simply was no hooligan abundance in this portion of the Susitna River drainage during 2023.

Talkeetna Trout, Dolly Varden, and Grayling

The best Mat-Su Valley stream fishing report I have heard this year came from Cole Justice with Phantom Tri-River Charters in Talkeetna on Tuesday. Cole said every trip they have had in the past week had good catches of rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, or arctic grayling. He said even over the holiday weekend fishing pressure had been light with good catches being made. He credited the cool weather with keeping the Talkeetna River system flowing at a lower rate with good clarity throughout the early season even with some rain in the Talkeetna area. Cole mentioned they are doing guided charters, drop off and pick up trips, and also drop off trips with rafts who may then fish and float their way back to Talkeetna. Give Phantom Tri-River Charters a call at 907-733-2400 if you would like to learn more. They have a variety of trip options for both residents and visitors.

More Trout and Pike

A.J. Hays with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle told me streams along the Parks Highway north of Willow had dropped and cleared recently, and people had been making some good trout and grayling catches downstream of the Parks Highway. A.J. also mentioned people making good catches of stocked trout in lakes throughout the valley, and of northern pike from Nancy Lake and Big Lake. The best early-season lake pike fishing may slow as the pike start moving away from their shallow water spawning congregation areas before long. A.J. mentioned that Big Lake was starting to get busy with boaters — and he expected that lake to be especially busy with boat traffic on weekends — those who can, may want to fish busy locations at less busy times (weekdays).

Dan Suprak with Alaska Chinook Charters told me about running a Susitna River drainage northern pike trip where his group had good numbers of bites and also saw plenty of northern pike chasing their lures all the way to the boat before turning away without striking. The group saw, but were unable to catch a particularly large pike. Dan is thinking the pike may become even more aggressive in specific slow water areas as the waters warm up a bit in the coming week.

Fish On and Good Luck!

Andy Couch posts his website daily fishing reports at https://www.fish4salmon.com/alaska-fishing-reports/