Last chance for king salmon is near

With the Little Susitna River closed since June 17, and this coming Saturday, Sunday and Monday the last open days for fishing the Susitna River tributary streams between Willow and Talkeetna this coming weekend will be one of the last big opportunities for many easily accessible Mat-Su king salmon fisheries.

According Alaska Department of Fish and Game Fisheries Biologist Samantha Oslund, last weekend provided decent king salmon fishing near the mouths of several Susitna River tributaries, including Willow Creek, Sheep Creek and Montana Creek. Oslund also mentioned the department attempted to count king salmon in Willow Creek and only saw a very few kings upstream from the mouth.

While not necessarily unusual (king salmon often wait until late in the season to migrate very far up these relatively small clear streams) it does leave some question as to how good sport king fishing will be over the holiday weekend. It also is a question if regulation changes adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries this past winter will be adequate to provide enough king salmon escapement into these streams to attain established spawning escapement goal ranges. Those changes include shortening the season by one weekend and limiting the hours one can fish for king salmon on these streams from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, consistent with regulations for most other Mat-Su Valley king salmon fisheries.

One thing many sport fishermen appreciate about more conservative regulations for these fisheries is that they have allowed the fisheries to remain open through the July 4 weekend. ADF&G and public anglers should consider similar proactive conservative regulations for the Little Susitna River king salmon fishery as well — with the thought that it could be much more beneficial for that fishery to remain open throughout at least the entire month of June rather than closing approximately at the season’s halfway point;

Talkeetna River

king salmon

Conversations I’ve had with three individuals with Tri River Charters out of Talkeetna, and all have indicated there has already been some good king salmon fishing along the Talkeetna River at and below the Clear Creek confluence. Peak king salmon catches often happen during the last week of June and first week of July, so Talkeetna River/Clear Creek may be one of the better options for anglers looking for king salmon over the holiday weekend. Tri River Charters mentioned they have availability for both drop-off and charter king salmon fishing, (907) 733-2400. This fishery is scheduled to remain open through July 13 on a seven day a week basis.

Eklutna Tailrace

Although I’d heard very little positive information about this fishery off the Knik River, I noticed some Alaska Outdoor Journal Internet reports today of people catching king salmon at this location. It may have been a bit late developing, but it seems that the king salmon are now available. This fishery remains open on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week. Because these are primarily hatchery king salmon, regulations encourage harvest with no king salmon season closing date at this location, and bait is allowed.

Remote king salmon

Fly-in and boat-in king salmon fishing is also available on tributaries of the Yentna River. Although I have not heard many reports from these fisheries, they provide a remote opportunity that many Mat-Su residents have not experienced.

Still water fishing

Mat-Su Angler’s Club President Julie Busch told me how much she enjoyed the club’s fishing outing on Finger Lake, where some fish over 20 inches were caught, and fishing was relaxed with little competition for good spots. The club has another still water fishing outing scheduled for July 9 at South Rolly Lake. Contact Busch at 892-7543 for additional information and sponsorship opportunities.

The angler’s club monthly meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., July 14 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla, and the kid’s casting clinic is scheduled for July 15 at the same location. Availability is limited to the first 40 kids to sign up with space for 20 kids in the morning and an additional 20 kids in the afternoon. This is a good opportunity to introduce kids to fishing. Contact Busch at the above phone number or the sports center for more information.

Deshka River

With the closure of Little Susitna River, Deshka has been busier than usual this year, often with more fishing parties out on the river than available holes to fish below the weir. Most of the angling pressure occurs below the weir because of shallow water and large rocks that discourage most boat traffic very far above the weir. Low warm water has also recently slowed down the king salmon bite on this stream; however, decent numbers of king salmon continue to pass Deshka River weir, with 211 of the season’s total of 16,076 passing the weir on June 28. Fishing at the mouth has slowed considerably, but bait fishing will remain open for Deshka River king salmon on a seven-day per week basis through July 13.

Andy Couch owns and operates Fishtale River Guides (fish4salmon.com), is a Mat-Su Anglers Club member (matsuanglers.org) and member of the Mat-Su Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Sportsmen’s Committee. Email this column at sports@frontiersman.com if you have Mat-Su fishing questions or information readers may find useful.