Low Mat-Su king salmon numbers force managers to consider options

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Sport Fisheries Management staff met Tuesday morning June 14 to discus what action to take after Deshka River king salmon passage measured only 99 fish for the period June 1 — 12. The Department had already restricted king salmon fishing throughout the Susitna River Drainage and Little Susitna River to catch and release fishing only, with artificial single-hook lures. The day /evening before ADF&G’s meeting, however, 505 king salmon swam past Deshka River weir — increasing the season total by 500% in a single 24 hour period to 604 king salmon. Water flow levels for both Susitna River and Deshka River have been dropping significantly lately, and that may further complicate king salmon migrations. Biologists would like to see well over 2000 king salmon past the weir by June 14, however, the sudden surge in king salmon migration encouraged Department staff to watch king salmon weir passage a few additional days before making any additional management adjustments. According to Assistant Area Management Biologist, Samantha Oslund, ADF&G staff will meet again on Friday June 17 to once again evaluate Deshka River king salmon escapement and consider possible management action. An emergency order could be issued as early as Friday, so Mat-Su king salmon anglers should check the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website for possible emergency order(s) before venturing forth on their next king salmon fishing adventure. Note: After earlier restrictions subsequent ADF&G emergency orders have already closed sport king salmon fisheries on the Kenai River through June 30, Kasilof River through July 15, Ninilchik River , Anchor River and Deep Creek, Upper Cook Inlet saltwaters North of Bluff Point through July 15. Southcentral Alaska Sportfishing emergency orders can be seen here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R2

Little Susitna River King Salmon

ADF&G’s Little Susitna River salmon counting weir has been at least partially flooded, with turbid water further complicating counts of salmon passage. I guided a Little Susitna River king salmon fishing trip on Tuesday, however, and high Little Susitna River flows had subsided enough that the weir appeared to be in good salmon counting condition once again. So far Little Susitna River salmon passage counts are 17 king salmon and 215 sockeye salmon through June 13, 2022.

Because Little Susitna River had been so high and turbid for such a long period of time, my Tuesday trip was the first guided fishing trip I ran on Little Susitna River this season. There was only one other boat on the river during the time we fished, so I suspect king salmon effort and catches on Little Susitna River have likely been very low to date. During the trip my two guests each hooked one king salmon, and one of the fish was caught. I expect water conditions may continue to drop and clear at Little Susitna River — until the next significant rainfall event occurs. With questionable escapement data from Little Susitna River, there is also potential that this fishery could see an additional emergency management action — especially if king salmon counts through Little Susitna River weir don’t start to climb. ADF&G fish counts can be seen here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

Eklutna Tailrace / Kink River King Salmon This fishery for hatchery produced king salmon will remain open with bait and multiple hooks and harvest allowed, although reports I’ve heard recently sound like this fishery remains slow as well. Dan Suprak with Alaska Chinook Charters told me he guided a trip where a couple of guests caught king salmon this week in the Knik River side-channel below the tailrace, but after those two fish his remaining guests only had one additional bite, and Dan only saw one other boat of anglers catch a king salmon that day. Samantha Oslund with ADF&G told me Eklutna Powerplant was scheduled to increase Eklutna Lake water flow through the plant and down the tailrace starting on of after June 16. She believed additional water flow should help both the tailrace and Knik River side-channel king salmon harvests.

Trout Fishing

For those looking for fish catching action and splendid scenery Oslund suggested driving north on the Glenn Highway and fishing one of the stocked lakes for rainbow trout and grayling — she mentioned fishing pressure is often very light at these locations. A local stocked lake Oslund mentioned as producing good catches of rainbow trout is Anderson Lake.

Parks Highway Trout Fishing

A staff member at Willow Creek Resort told me Willow Creek water levels were dropping and as that trend continues they expect the trout fishing and grayling fishing to improve on Willow Creek. Camping spaces have been available at Willow Creek 907-495-6343. Holly at Susitna Landing told me the Kashwitna River had been dropping as well, but remained muddy and they consequently had not had much fishing effort at Susitna Landing. Holly mentioned the boat launch had been dredged and is in good condition. People wanting to camp at Susitna Landing may want to call in advance for a reservation or to check on the availability of camping spaces 907-748-0095.

Pike Fishing

I talked with Corey Berg and Dan Suprak who had both fished or guided for Susitna River drainage pike this past week with similar results. They caught a limit number of smallish northern pike. In the areas they were fishing this may indicate that people had been harvesting most of the pike —- which would likely be good for nay populations of small salmon that may be rearing in the same waters. Areas that receive less fishing pressure (are more remote or harder to get to) or less known often produce larger fish. An exception to this rule might be Big Lake — which although it may not have lots of prime pike habitat it does have solids populations of other fish species that pike prey on. Big Lake is often busy with boaters and jet skiers this time of year — so early morning fishing may be the ticket to better fishing success.

Good Luck and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide who primarily targets ocean-run salmon during the summer months. You can read his daily fishing reports on his Fishtale River Guides website: https://www.fish4salmon.com