KING CRAVING

By GREG JOHNSON
Frontiersman

MAT-SU — Ice and snow is quickly melting away, days are growing warmer and longer, and the hibernating urge to land a big king salmon is awakening.

As outdoors enthusiasts start thinking about mothballing snowmachines and untangling their tackle, sportfishing is not far from taking center stage again in the Valley and Alaska. And with 3,000 rivers, 3 millions lakes and more than 6,600 miles of coastline in the 49th state, there’s no shortage of places to drop a line.

For many fishermen, a winter spent cooped up indoors or jigging a line through a small hole in the ice is about to make way for the drive to catch a king. Although king season technically started in January, fishermen won’t start trying for Alaska’s signature prize for another three to four weeks, said Andy Couch, a member of the Mat-Su Angler’s Club. Couch also owns Fishtale River Guides and is a member of the Mat-Su Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Sportsman’s Committee.

As the ice breaks up and the rivers start flowing clear, there are a few things fishermen need to account for to be ready for the first kings swimming upstream into the Valley, he said. The most important is to be familiar with recent state Department of Fish and Game regulation changes.

“There certainly are some regulation changes out there,” he said. “I put together a little Web deal on them (online at fish4salmon.com). The one that would probably mess people up the most is the Parks Highway tributaries of the Susitna River, from Willow to Talkeetna River.”

All those streams are now hour restricted, meaning they can be fished only from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. during king season, which runs through mid-July. That’s a change from years past, when those streams could be fished 24/7, he said.

“That’s going to affect people,” Couch said. “The king escapement was down, so they’re making some changes, but at the same time, making those changes so they don’t affect people too much. I think this is going to reduce the harvest and maybe crowd things up a little more, but at least people will be able to fish.”

Another change for those streams comes after the Fourth of July — the weekend of July 9-11 — where they’ll be closed.

Conversely, the Department of Fish and Game is continuing to be aggressive in trying to control the growing pike population, Couch said. Pike are considered to be an invasive species, and in some locations have all but decimated king salmon populations.

“The regulations for Alexander Creek are no limit, no size,” he said. In fact, if you catch a pike there, it’s illegal to throw it back into the creek live. “That’s where the king salmon run has been wiped out to the point that it’s closed (to fishing for kings).”

Because Eklutna Tailrace is hatchery stocked, it’s open year-round, 24 hours a day for kings.

Want to land a king?

Like the old axiom of how one gets to Carnegie Hall — practice, practice, practice — anyone wanting to land a big king has to follow suit, Couch said — fish, fish, fish.

Many fishermen come out of the winter season with a hankering to land a 50-pound or larger king. The secret to doing just that?

“Well, one of the big secrets is you gotta fish a lot,” he said. “I say that because, if you look at the number of 50-pounders, there aren’t a ton. You have to put in your time and put in some time where 50-pounders are being caught.”

In nearly 30 years of guiding fishing trips, Couch said he’s never weighed a king in over 60 pounds. Locally, one of the best places to find a big king is near the mouth of the Deshka River. Farther up river, however, the chances fade.

“If you go up more than about a mile, your chances of catching big fish there go way down,” he said.

Another factor that may affect summer fishing in the Valley is the rising cost of fuel, Couch said. Some may decide not to drive as far, which could crowd some of the more central streams. Others, however, won’t be swayed no matter the cost.

“After a long winter in Alaska, people are flat-out ready to do something outside, and they’re going to do it regardless,” he said. “I’ve got quite a few fishing charters booked already, and most of the year the charters are booked by local people.”

As for being ready for that first opportunity to go after some kings, Couch said many of the basics are pretty mundane, like having the proper tackle. Rather than try to stock tackle for every type of fishing, he recommends fishermen decide what they’re going after, then check with their regular sporting goods store for the best equipment suited for the job. As for making sure you have a current fishing license, it couldn’t be easier, he said.

“There’s no excuse for getting busted for not purchasing a license anymore, because you can buy them online and print them out on your home computer,” Couch said. “It’s good for two weeks until your regular license arrives in the mail.”

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