Mat-Su coho fishing slow at best

Years ago when I worked as a fisheries technician for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the fisheries biologists considered the last week of July as peak of the season fishing below the Little Susitna River Public Use facility boat launch for coho or silver salmon on the Little Susitna River.

If we’ve already been seeing peak of the season silver salmon fishing below the Little Susitna River boat launch, then look out, because the fishing has not yet kicked into gear. A few coho limits are being taken, but it is mostly plenty of fishing for very little catching. Coho salmon fishing has been slow enough that several Little Susitna River salmon guides (including myself) have been guided fishing trips upriver in hopes of guests catching some of the more abundant chum salmon and pink salmon. I’m extremely thankful for the solid chum salmon abundance that has provided some good salmon catching opportunities. Silver salmon escapements through Little Susitna River weir has been consistent with other years, so there is still hope that the silver salmon fishing may pick up before long, but it needs to happen soon. The coming weekend is scheduled to be the last weekend before Little Susitna River bait fishing opens on August 6. Rain during the past few days has cooled water temperatures and made for easier boating along the Little Susitna River.

Deshka River needing water

I talked with two friends who guide on the Deshka River on Wednesday and learned that water conditions are once again low and warm and the fish are not biting much. Both of my friends mentioned that there are schools of silver salmon swimming around near the confluence of Deshka River and Susitna River, however, it is anyone’s guess as to whether those fish will be biting on not on any specific date. The better action at the Deshka River mouth often occurs early in the morning or on wet cooler days. Sometimes the good action only last about an hour on the Deshka, so the early bird often gets the worm at this location. Through July 26, only 197 coho salmon have migrated past the Deshka River Weir located approximately 7 1/2 miles upstream from the river mouth.

Parks Highway and north along the Susitna River

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weekly fishing report there are plenty of pink and chum salmon available in the Susitna River tributary streams north of Willow, however, according to my guide friends it has at times been difficult to get these fish to bite as well. I have yet to hear of any solid fishing reports for silver salmon in these streams, however, if good silver salmon fishing is to occur at the stream mouth confluences it should like start in the next week. Bait is allowed at most of these locations, but anglers should check specific regulations for the fisheries they intend to participate in before going. With even decent numbers of silver salmon present, the ability to use bait can greatly improve success rates. This is even more true whenever water conditions are high and/or off-color. Joe Rouswell of Susitna Landing reported that anglers seem to be moving around from spot to spot along the Parks Highway searching for a location with better salmon catching opportunities. So far the fishing has been spotty for silver salmon.

Fish Creek sockeye and coho

With only 23,021 sockeye salmon upstream of the Fish Creek weir through July 26, there is a real possibility that the Fish Creek personal use dip net fishery may not open at all during the 2016 season. The coho migration through the weir finally picked up a bit with a total of 203 passing the weir through July 26. Remember this small salmon fishery does not open to Youth until the first weekend of August and does not open to adults until the second weekend in August. This fishery is also scheduled to only be open on weekend for 12 hours per day.

Check the regulation booklet carefully before going to this location.

Jim Creek sockeye and coho

With only five total silver salmon passing the Jim Creek Weir through July 26, the start to the 2016 season is nearly identical to the start of the 2015 season when this system failed to attain its coho salmon spawning escapement goal. Sockeye number through the Jim Creek Weir have been considerably better with 756 sockeye swimming past by July 26. Expect more sockeye action than coho action at this popular fishery during the coming weekend. Silver salmon numbers should build quickly during the month of August.

Kenai River personal use dip net fishery

Talking with several other fishermen, the common theme from this fishery has been that a person may need to put in several days of effort to harvest a personal use limit of sockeye salmon from the Kenai River. Lots of sockeye have already swum upriver in the Kenai River, however, commercial fishing effort in Upper Cook Inlet to harvest surplus Kenai River sockeye salmon has been intense in 2016 and the best fishing occurs only after a reasonable number of sockeye make it past the commercial users. This fishery ends after the last day of July. A permit is required and only Alaskan residents are allowed to participate.

Good luck this coming weekend and Fish on!

Andy Couch is a member of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee and the Matanuska Susitna Borough FIsh and Wildlife Commission, and is a Mat-Su Valley salmon fishing guide.