Fishing for kings remains slow

MAT-SU — Anglers are running out of time to haul in a king, but even though the last day to fish for the chinook in most Mat-Su Valley waters is just more than two weeks away, local sport fishery biologists are warning anglers to continue to be patient.

“Fishing (for kings) has been pretty slow,” Sam Oslund, a fishery biologist in the Palmer office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said on Thursday. “There may be fish, but you’ll have to work for them.”

Oslund said Dave Rutz, the area management biologist at the Palmer office, reported quite a few fish during a visit to Montana Creek on Thursday. Sheep Creek has looked ok, she said, and the fishing in Willow Creek — typically a king hot spot in late June — has been a disappointment this season.

“In Willow Creek there’s just a few fish,” Oslund said. “The water looks pretty muddy.”

Oslund said anglers are still catching a few kings out of the Little Su, but the Eklutna Tailrace has been very slow.

The Parks Highway area streams are open to weekend-only fishing, and all fishing for king salmon in that zone will close on July 13.

Fishing on such waters such as the lower section of the Kashwitna River, Willow Creek, Little Willow Creek and Montana Creek is only open from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Monday for the next two weekends, according to the ADF&G Mat-Su area fishing report.

Fishing for kings on Willow Creek above the Parks Highway bridge is closed.

On the Little Su, fishing is closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day, and bait is also not allowed.

Fishing for kings has been slow, but the chinook aren’t the only species in the water.

Anglers continue to have success fishing for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and grayling in area lakes and streams.

“It’s business in usual in the rainbow world,” Oslund said.

Oslund called the local lakes, “a saving grace,” for anglers.

Despite what happens on the creeks, Oslund said there’s plenty of opportunity to catch a nice in one of more than 80 Valley

lakes.

Mat-Su fishing tips, courtesy of the ADF&G

• Pike fishing is excellent in June, according to the ADF&G. There is no bag limit for pike.

• Fishing for kings on the Talkeetna River typically peaks this week. Fishing is reportedly fair.

•Finger, Carpenter, Loberg, Marion, Irene, Canoe and Lynne lakes have been recently stocked.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.