In September Mat-Su angling shifts from salmon to resident freshwater species

The change in fishing focus is reflected in the Susitna River Drainage fishing regulations that require single-hook artificial lures in all flowing waters starting Sept. 1. This will certainly slow down coho salmon catch rates in waters where anglers are still pursuing this prized sport fish. When I talked with Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Fisheries Biologist, Samantha Oslund, this week, she suggested there are likely still good coho salmon catching opportunities to pursue in the coming week further up the drainage in areas like Sunshine Creek or the Talkeetna River drainage. For boaters or pilots willing to run aways up the Yentna River drainage Moose Creek, Lake Creek, and the Talachulitna River are often holdouts that can have good coho salmon fishing through the first week of September. Remember, however, single-hook artificial lures are now required at all of these locations.

Parks Highway Trout and Coho

Oslund, Wesley with 3 Rivers Fly & Tackle in Wasilla , and Holly Peterson with Susitna Landing all mentioned that trout fishing has been good lately in the Susitna River tributary streams north of Willow. Oslund specifically mentioned fishing beads to catch the trout and alluded that anglers may want to experiment to find the right size/color combination. She mentioned one angler had been sending her pictures recently of rainbow trout from this area in the 24-inch range. This is primarily a catch and release trout fishery, and regulations vary in specific stream sections, so check regulations for the waters you intend to fish before harvesting trout. September with colored fall foliage is usually a beautiful time of year to fish, with light fishing pressure from other anglers. Anglers may also catch coho around select confluence waters — one fly sources up the Susitna drainage told me the Susitna River had risen about 2 feet recently, with one tributary stream where he lives still quite fishable and another closely location flooded out by the high Susitna River water. Holly Peterson mentioned fishing pressure had been light at Susitna Landing the entire summer season, however, anglers had been catching silver salmon at that location, earlier this week, when this column was written.

Stocked Lakes

A friend of mine told me about catching a five-fish trout limit with fish ranging from 15 to 17 inches in length from a somewhat remote Mat-Su Valley lake stocked by ADF&G. He mentioned not seeing another angler while he was fishing, which is not uncommon on many of the stocked lakes this time of year. With all the rain we’ve had recently lake waters remain cool and clear — excellent conditions for catching trout feeding in the shallows.

Dan with DT-6 Fishing Excursions told me he had switched his trips from focussing on salmon, to catching northern pike, rainbow trout, and arctic char until Mat-Su waters start freezing up. Dan has some eye-candy fish photos on his business website and Facebook page, and also on the Mat-Su CVB website. Warning: looking at these photos may make you decide to go fishing on Dan’s boat!

Little Susitna River Coho Salmon

Charter operators fishing the Little Susitna River from Little Susitna River Public Use Facility in the Pt Mackenzie area have been getting guests into good numbers of coho salmon, with two -fish coho limits common. However, most of the fish at this location have been developing a darker blush or reddish hue as they mature toward spawning. As many Mat-Su residents know this is the location where I have done most of my salmon guiding — however I recently had a positive Covid test — so I have suspended reservations for any of my salmon charters at this time. Miller’s Riverboat Service and Berg’s Frontier Fishing Guides will both be running Little Susitna River charters during the coming week and have boat availability for those interested in a September guided salmon fishing option. Both duck and moose hunters are also out looking to harvest some of Alaska’s bounty at this location. Most of the hunting action along the river has been occurring downstream from the boat launch and most of the coho salmon have been getting caught on the upstream side of the launch. This is a heavily used location, so a reminder to all participants to stay safe.

Late Season Coho from the Bank: Eklutna Tailrace

Samantha Oslund mentioned she had been hearing some reports of coho salmon catches being made at Eklutna Tailrace early in the morning. This is a drive up fishery, with no charge for parking, located along the Old Glenn Highway. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed year-round, and the fishery is open 24-hours per day. Newly arriving fish are the most likely ones to bite and get caught, so one the most popular fishing spots is near the confluence of the Tailrace and Knik River. The limit for the tailrace is 3 salmon — all of which may be coho. Since these are all hatchery fish, and since ADF&G does not use them for egg take purposes this is the one location in the Mat-Su Valley that I feel no qualms about encouraging coho fishing into October. There are all early run fish, however, so the number of chrome fish will continue to decrease as it gets later int he season.

Jim Creek

I grew up near Bodenburg Butte, and my younger brother and I caught plenty of coho from this fishery. One year my brother continued fishing and catching chrome clean coho near the Jim Creek / Knik River confluence through the end of September. The driving route has always been rough, but this location may have some prime fish into later September. Remember it is open 5 days per week from Wednesday — Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fishing hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bait and multiple hooks remain legal at this location.

Fish Creek

I have always been intrigued by how late coho salmon continue to migrate up Fish Creek out along Knik-Goose Bay Road. If you take a look at count numbers from some of the past years when ADF&G ran the Fish Creek weir into September you will see what I mean. Fishing pressure has dropped significantly, but this location will likely continue to provide some good coho catches in the intertidal zone. Note: fishing is only allowed on Saturdays and Sundays and only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m daily. You can see looking at the old weir counts that coho salmon migration can be sporadic this time of year and one never knows when the next surge of coho will push up Fish Creek.

Good Luck and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide who focuses on ocean-run salmon during summer months.