Fish on!: The coming of June means the coming of salmon season -- and the religion of fishing in Alaska

Story by Bonnie Quill, Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau

It is getting close to that time of year we wait anxiously for -- fishing.

To many Mat-Su Valley residents and visitors it is not just a recreation or sport but a religion practiced all summer. From the avid fly-fisherman to the casual bankside angler, the Mat-Su Valley is rich with fishing opportunities for everyone. Pull off the side of the road or charter a small plane to a remote lake in a spectacular setting.

We have world-class fishing and it is attracting both in-state and out-of-state visitors to our area. Recent state research revealed many visitors return to fish in Alaska. Nearly 50 percent of polled repeat visitors said they would like to go freshwater fishing on their return trip to Alaska.

The Mat-Su Visitor Center, located at Mile 35.5 Parks Hwy., has volumes of information of where to fish. Staff can assist anglers who want a charter or guide service. Fish and Game regulations are available, and tips about hot fishing holes are often whispered. This year the Visitor Center will be selling tickets to the Mat-Su King Salmon Derby.

The popular derby, sponsored by the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, runs from May 24-July 7, and includes fishing waters in all the Susitna River drainages and the Little Susitna River.

There is an impressive list of weekly and overall derby prizes, too. Derby tickets are $20 for adults for the entire entire derby, $5 for an adult one-day ticket and $5 for a youth entire-derby ticket.

Local guide and Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau member Andy Couch, who operates Fish Tale River Guides, offered advice on where to bank fish during the derby for a prized king salmon.

"During the early run, which begins during May, I would suggest fishing the lower Little Susitna and at the mouth of Willow Creek. Later in the run, in mid-June, I would fish some of the Parks Highway streams for the larger kings," Couch said.

Hiring a guide service doesn't guarantee your limit. It improves your chances though, since these anglers live on the water for nearly three months and they become experts on the salmon's habits. They know what tackle works best and when, and they try to make sure their clients are satisfied at the end of the day.

"Rarely do my clients get skunked, but if they do I will keep them longer on the river to increase their chances," admitted Couch. "I would say the average time an angler has to put in to catch a king salmon is between six and 12 hours. On average, in six hours, half of the boat has caught a king."

Of course, there is always the person who catches a king on the first cast, and the unlucky angler who arrives at the end of the day without a bite. Couch also mentioned the Deshka River fishery and its popularity.

Accessible by boat, the Deshka River has a very high return rate.

The date of June 8 has already been set for bait opening, and expect a lot of fish to be harvested that day -- and plenty of people on the river, too.

To get an up-to-date fishing report from home you can log on to the MSCVB Web site and click on the "Fishing Report" right from the home page. Fish on!