Kids land some whoppers at Fish Creek

FISH CREEK — “Wow! Look at that one!” exclaimed 5-year-old Waco Kossler.

“Yeah, that’s a big one,” agreed mom Becky Kossler.

Along with 7-year-old Kage, the Kosslers were among a small crowd of people on hand to admire the catch of 7-year-old Cole Belanger. Moments earlier while standing in the middle of Fish Creek just west of Knik-Goose Bay Road, the Wasilla boy pulled a healthy 20-pound coho salmon from the water.

“We just go here, so we haven’t caught anything yet,” Belanger said just minutes before about how the fish were biting. But with the first fish on the line, the energetic tyke was excited about what comes next.

“We’re going to cook it and eat it!” he said, adding that’s his favorite part of fishing.

Local families like the Belangers, and those visiting to experience an Alaska summer — like the Kosslers, from Oregon — enjoyed the sunshine swift-moving waters of Fish Creek Saturday for the first day of the state Department of Fish and Game’s youth-only fishery weekend. From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., yesterday and today, anglers age 15 and younger can fish for all species except king salmon.

Youth-only fishing days at Fish Creek have become a popular event, said Cole’s father, Alex Belanger.

“We took the day off to just come out fishing,” he said. “There are some people who have caught some nice fish. This is a great fishery for kids because it’s safe, and even if they fall down they can get back up easy.”

He also wishes Fish and Game were out with education materials they the agency has done in the past.

“Usually, Fish and Game has a booth set up for this,” Alex said. “It’s a real fun event and a lot of educational stuff, but this year they didn’t have anything.”

While the Belangers were wading down the middle of the creek looking for fish, the Kosslers were busy getting their gear ready, along with friends also visiting from Oregon, Jenelle Vanderford and her children — Iszabelle, 8, and Austin, 6 — and Jodi Hulsey.

While Fish Creek is open to kids this weekend, it’s been a favorite spot for the Belangers to wet a line or two, Alex said.

“This is one of our favorite places to fish on the weekends,” he said, then added to help protect his “secret” spot, “but don’t put that in the newspaper.”

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2269 or greg.johnson@frontiersman.com.

What: Fish Creek Youth-Only Fishery

When: Today, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: From Fish and Game markers at the mouth of Fish Creek and 1-4 mile upstream of Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Get there: Access is at Mile 16, Knik-Goose Bay Road.