Little Su open to use of bait

PALMER — Just more than a week after reinstating the annual king salmon bag limits, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opened the Little Susitna River to use of bait from the river’s mouth upstream to the Parks Highway.

Anglers can use bait now until the end of the king salmon finishing season, July 13, according to a press release issued by the department. Allowed use of bait began Wednesday at 6 a.m.

Late last month, the department announced it was reinstating the annual limit of five king salmon over 20 inches in length. The department also opened the fishery seven days per week through the end of the season.

As of July 5, about 4,300 king salmon had passed the weir on the Little Susitna, according to the department. The upper end of the management target was 4,000, and the department is now projecting that 4,800 kings will pass the weir.

King salmon fishing on the Little Susitna is open each day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. through July 13.

For more information, contact the department’s local office at 746-6300.