Mat-Su Angler’s Fishing Corner: Weekend begins with king salmon fishing closures

Effective Friday at 6 a.m. the Alaska Department of Fish and Game closed the entire Susitna River drainage to all king salmon fishing (including catch and release) from June 22 to July 13.

Also effective Friday at 6 a.m. ADF&G closed the Little Susitna River to all king salmon fishing (including catch and release fishing) from June 22 to July 13.

Effective Monday June 25 to Saturday June 30 ADF&G closed the newly established Yentna River subsistence king salmon fishery from June 25 to June 30.

Finally effective Monday June 25 ADF&G closed the Northern District commercial set gill net fishery from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on June 25. The commercial closure comes with the ADF&G caveat that the next regular Northern District commercial period on Thursday June 28 is expected to be open.

All of these changes were made in response to low returns of king salmon counted primarily in the Deshka River and Little Susitna River, but also in response to lower numbers of king salmon throughout Upper Cook Inlet. The Deshka River weir count through June 19 is 3,983 king salmon, while the Deshka River king salmon escapement goal is 13,000 to 28,000 king salmon passing the weir.

At this point in the season the department is figuring the run is approximately half over, and well short of attaining the goal. In addition, as predicted by the department’s preseason projection for the Deshka River king salmon return, the run seems to be made up primarily of 4-year-old and younger king salmon, which are primarily male fish with most of them similar in size to an average silver salmon. Therefore, even if the 13,000 fish minimum escapement threshold were to somehow be attained, with a low percentage of female king salmon, future production from this year’s escapement has the potential to be lower than average.

While catch and release king salmon fishing at Deshka River at times produced good catches for low numbers of anglers participating in the fishery, the Little Susitna River had very low catch levels throughout the time open to king salmon fishing. For a portion of the season, and only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, the Little Susitna River was open to king salmon harvest. As a participant in that fishery, and looking at the harvest figures posted daily at the Alaska State Parks exit survey at Little Susitna River Public Use Facility, I know a harvest of less than 50 king salmon was recorded by that survey. Even if the actual harvest was twice that figure, a legal sport harvest of approximately 100 king salmon from all of the Mat-Su’s king salmon fisheries that target wild fish is dismal. Combine that with the thought that the Northern District commercial gill net fishery was not allowed to fish during their four scheduled king salmon openers, and 2018 should have, by far, the lowest legal harvest of wild king salmon in Northern Cook Inlet waters in 40 years.

I’ve already had several people ask me if this situation will be declared a fishery disaster, as occurred in 2012. I have yet to hear from any elected officials about such a declaration, but there can be little doubt that the low return of king salmon to Northern Cook Inlet in 2018 has negatively affected many Mat-Su businesses that normally benefit from a more robust king salmon fishery. I’m not just talking guiding businesses, but also lodging, dining, tackle sales, fish processing and shipping, gas sales, campgrounds and RV parks.

Eklutna Tailrace/Knik River

The fishery for hatchery king salmon continues uninterrupted at this location.

There are lots of people participating, but the fishery is open under standard regulations, with bait and multiple hooks allowed. The season limit at this location remains at five king salmon per year, and the fishery is open 24 hours per day.

According to Sam Ivey with ADF&G, the king salmon catching at the tailrace has picked up with some king salmon caught on a daily basis. With all the other Mat-Su Valley king salmon fisheries now closed, I would expect a bit more participation from guides on the Knik River now that there is no other king salmon option in the Mat-Su.

Like other locations, a significant number of fish from the Tailrace have been silver salmon-sized fish this year, but I know of several 20-pound king salmon that have been taken here as well. Spinners or bait are two of the favorite ways of catching fish at the tailrace. When the water visibility is down, most of the fish are caught on bait. One participant told me the water level was extremely high on Wednesday, however, if I would suspect the water level could fluctuate back down with less rainy weather.

Stocked lakes for trout, char, and landlocked salmon and pike fishing are other options that Mike Hudson at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle and Jason Perrego with Alaska Lakes Guide Service both mentioned as consistent producers that are mostly unaffected by emergency salmon regulations.

According to Hudson, some of the Parks Highway tributary streams to the Susitna River have started dropping, and if weather does not go back to rain they could be in good fishable shape for trout and grayling by this weekend.

Good luck and fish n!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide and also a member of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. You can read his daily fishing reports at fish4salmon.com