Knik River’s king salmon peak — weak

In last week’s fishing column I mentioned mid-June as peak timing for boat anglers attempting to harvest king salmon in the lower Knik River, below Eklutna Tailrace. I also mentioned a rising Knik River water level with increasing turbidity can slow the Knik River king salmon boat fishery starting about June 20. In guiding 3 king salmon fishing trips to the Knik River (with Saturday June 15 the most recent ) my guests caught one king salmon each trip. I also saw a few smallish salmon surface each trip, and watched other boaters catch 2 or 3 additional king salmon during each of those 3 guided trips. On the first trip my 3 guests had a total of 5 bites, but on my second guided trip 1 of 2 guests got the only bite, and during the third trip 1 of 3 guests got the only good bite. I can not say the low level of fish-catching action surprised me — but as a guide and angler, I am always hoping for more. I’ve talked with multiple charter operators who have experienced similar levels of low harvest success from the Knik River king salmon fishery. Our recent hot weather has been melting glaciers, raising both the Knik River water level and the river’s turbidity level. King salmon will continue to be caught from the Knik River below Eklutna Tailrace, but by the time this column publishes on Friday June 21, I suspect both king salmon catches from the Knik River and boat angling pressure at this location will have fallen off for the 2024 season.

Eklutna Tailrace King Salmon —“Peaking”

With the rising and muddied Knik River, a higher percentage of king salmon will now make it past the river boat fishery, as the salmon migrate upstream into the more confined waters of Eklutna Tailrace. While hot weather reduces clarity in the tailrace, it will remain cleaner than the Knik River, with increasing numbers of king salmon concentrated in a smaller area. For those reasons, I expect king salmon harvests at Eklutna Tailrace may now top king salmon harvests from the Knik River for the remainder of 2024. With king salmon returns appearing weak throughout most of Upper Cook Inlet, and aligned with Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADF&G’s) preseason projection of poor returns, many anglers fishing the tailrace may not catch a king salmon, however, the opportunity to catch a king salmon, at this location, may now be significantly better than earlier in the season. Bait, multiple hooks, and a 24-hour-per day fishery remain in effect at the Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River king salmon fishery.

Addressing Alaska (and Mat-Su) King Salmon Conservation and Recovery

Some people have suggested that stocking more hatchery-produced king salmon smolts in more locations is a strategy ADF&G might use to return Alaska’s king salmon populations to their former abundance — however — considering diminishing Cook Inlet hatchery king salmon returns to a fraction of 1%, combined with the high cost of raising king salmon smolts, may lead to an entirely different conclusion. ADF&G has identified poor marine survival during the king salmon’s first year in saltwater as likely one of the most significant factors in Alaska’s declining king salmon populations. Since the department identified poor marine survival more than a decade ago, and since near total reductions of inriver harvests, along with greatly reduced commercial harvests of returning adults have not stopped king salmon declines throughout much of Alaska — could it be time for ADF&G to start managing for better survival of our official state fish in the ocean environment? — rather than repeating the inadequate practice of only managing the decades-long decline of adult king salmon returning from the ocean?

King Salmon Responsibilities

Significant reduction in trawl fishery king salmon bycatch off the Alaska coast, combined with significant reduction in competition for food with Alaska’s massive hatchery pink salmon releases could possibly stop the decline of wild Alaska king salmon, and allow recovery for the “State fish” thousands of Alaskans have depended on for decades. Such actions would better follow Alaska’s Sustainable Salmon Fisheries Policy (SSFP) by better sharing Alaska’s king salmon conservation burden with the human practices that more likely cause / continue the problem of poor marine survival of wild Alaska king salmon. For Alaskans who believe current state and federal king salmon management practices are inadequate and unacceptable, NOW is the time to contact your legislators, Alaska Board of Fisheries members, North Pacific Fisheries Management Council members, and other policy makers with that message — before wild Alaska king salmon populations decline further and require more drastic conservation measures, over a longer period of time, to ensure recovery. Everyone paddles the canoe — if we desire king salmon recovery, rather than “managed” king salmon decline.

Fishery Harvest Opportunities Beyond the Mat-Su Valley — Road Trips

Copper River. Subsistence and personal use salmon fisheries for sockeye salmon and king salmon have been producing significant salmon harvests for Alaska residents from the Copper River near Chitina. My wife, two friends, and I made a dip net trip to this location recently, and returned with reasonable salmon harvests of both species. The Copper River drainage is also providing the only road-accessible sport king salmon fishery, I know of, that allows targeted wild king salmon harvest from a south central Alaska freshwater fishery. Favorable water conditions have provided decent sport fishing opportunity Copper Valley’s Gulkana River, with king salmon spread throughout the legal fishing area as evidenced by early king salmon counts through ADF&G’s Gulkana River salmon tower counting location, 9 miles upstream of the Sourdough boat launch: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

Russian River. The popular Russian River sockeye salmon fly fishery is now open in the Cooper Landing area on the Kenai Peninsula, with good sockeye passage occurring through the weir (see link location above). Liberalized sport fishing opportunities often occur for this fishery during the later part of June / early July — so anglers may want to check ADF&G Emergency Orders prior to a Russian River fishing trip. As many Alaskans know, popular fishing areas may be crowded near the Russian River / Kenai River confluence, but walking further upstream along the Russian River may provide decent sockeye salmon harvest opportunities with less crowded fishing locations.

Halibut. Late June / July saltwater trips from Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Deep Creek, or Homer often provide more favorable (less rough) saltwater fishing conditions along with some of the better sport halibut catches of the summer. For that reason, if you are considering a charter trip, but have not yet made a reservation, you may have to contact multiple businesses to find boat space. Some charters from these locations may combine fishing opportunities for ling cod (starting July 1), rockfish, or salmon. My sister’s family recently made a do-it-yourself trip, launching from a Kenai Peninsula beach, and achieving good catches of both halibut and pacific cod.

Kasilof River Personal Use Salmon Fishery. Although abbreviated for king salmon conservation reasons, the Kasilof River personal use set net fishery was scheduled for a brief opening starting at 6 a.m. on June 20, followed by opening of the Kasilof River personal use dip net fishery on Saturday June 25. Personal use fisheries are for Alaska residents only, and an Upper Cook Inlet personal use fishing permit is required at this location, along with recording of harvests on the permit before concealing fish from view or leaving the fishing site. Fishery regulations are provided with permits which are available from ADF&G’s online licensing page: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=residentfishing.main

Good Luck and Fish On!

Although Andy Couch is a member of the Mat -Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee, thoughts expressed in this column are his own.