Holiday king salmon blast

With this weekend being the 4th of July holiday celebration there is still time for anglers to experience the thrill of landing a large Mat-Su Valley king salmon from several locations.

For those most interested in the experience of catching one of Mat-Su’s largest salmon the Talkeetna River could be the spot.

Margo Nealis of Phantom Tri River Salmon Charters (733-2400) told me as of Wednesday morning the Talkeetna River had good visibility and their charters have been catching kings on morning, afternoon, and evening trips. She mentioned lots of larger fish now showing up in the fishery with one young guest hooking into a salmon estimated to top 50 pounds recently.

Estimated is the word, as the Talkeetna River / Clear Creek fishery is being managed on a catch and release basis this year, and king salmon may not be removed from the water. A guide will hold the fish in the water with the guest for a photo before release.

The first week of July is usually prime time for catching the large fish on the Talkeetna River drainage, and king salmon angling on Susitna River and Chulitna River tributary streams upstream of the Talkeetna River also remains open to catch and release king salmon fishing. Be sure to check fishing regulations and emergency king salmon fishing regulations before planning on fishing a specific location.

For those wanting to harvest a Mat-Su king salmon, the Eklutna Tailrace fishery off the Old Glenn Highway continues to provide the most liberal harvest situation. The word I’ve received from relatives fishing that location is that some king salmon are still being harvested, but the catching seems to be falling off as another king salmon migration will be mostly over before long.

Mike Hudson of 3 Rivers Fly Tackle (373-5434) told me king salmon fishing has remained good over in the Lake Creek area of the remote Yentna River drainage where king salmon harvest is allowed on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only through July 13. Mike also mentioned a strong damsel fly fishery going on for rainbow trout in Mat-Su Valley stocked lakes with some anglers catching up to 40 trout per day.

Stop by his shop to see the gear that is producing and learn more.

Deshka River continues to provide a seven-day per week king salmon harvest opportunity, and although the king salmon spawning escapement range was attained back on June 17, king salmon passage through Deshka River weir has been on a steady decline since then with only 32 king salmon passing the weir on July 1.

This fishery still provides an opportunity to catch and harvest king salmon and to use bait when fishing for king salmon, the caveat is unless one is fishing a considerable distance above the weir there are simply fewer king salmon still available below the weir.

Little Susitna River

The river was closed to all king salmon fishing by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on June 20. Since that time the Little Susitna River king salmon weir passage has risen steadily to 2,367 fish as of July 1.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Regional Supervisor, Tom Vania emailed me on July 2 that the Department would be reopening this king salmon fishery. At that time he provided no additional details as to specific regulations, but the emergency order notice was sent out by ADF&G e-mail at 4:04 p.m. on Wednesday July 2.

With an ADF&G measured surplus of harvestable king salmon, ADF&G decided to reopen the fishery to king salmon harvest seven days per week through July 13 starting July 4 at 6 a.m.

The two-king salmon annual combined limit for the Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River remains in effect. Artificial lures with multiple hooks will be allowed. As with other lower river king salmon fisheries I would expect king salmon fishing on the lower Little Susitna River to be tailing off for the season, but it should still provide an opportunity to try harvesting an ocean-fresh fish.

Upriver on the Little Susitna may provide a better catching opportunity as most of the run is likely far upstream of the weir by now.

4th of July camping opportunities

For those who like the Parks Highway tributary streams of the Susitna River fishing for species of fish other than king salmon is allowed on portions of the streams where king salmon fishing is not normally allowed.

The areas where king salmon fishing is normally allowed will be closed to fishing through July 13 and then reopen to all species other than king salmon on July 14.

Jeff Boatright at Susitna Landing (495-7700) is hoping for a strong turnout of campers at Susitna Landing over the holiday weekend with beautiful sunny weather at present. Those wanting to fish can easily drive to the portions of streams open to fishing while camping and relaxing at the landing.

I’ll be guiding king salmon trips over the holiday weekend, but I am also hopeful of catching a king salmon of my own in my spare time. Good Luck to all.

Andy Couch owns and operates Fishtale River Guides www.fish4salmon.com and is a member of the Matanuska - Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission.