Mat-Su kings late and in low numbers

After guiding several king salmon fishing charters to both Deshka and Little Susitna rivers starting May 24, two guests in my boat finally landed the first two king salmon from my charter boat June 3 from the Little Susitna River.

On June 6, I was guiding on the Deshka River when anglers in two other boats managed to catch king salmon. I suspect a few additional king salmon may have been caught, but if so, I’m also convinced the number is very small. As of the start of June, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game had counted a total of only two king salmon through Little Susitna River Weir, and through June 5, Deshka River Weir has not yet been installed because of unusually high water volume at the weir site.

According to Alaska Department of Fish and Game Biologist Samantha Oslund, preliminary harvest figures from the Northern District commercial set gill net fishery showed a harvest of 367 king salmon for the June 3 period. Certainly a rather small catch, which raises the questions are the Mat-Su king salmon returns simply late as a result of the late river ice breakup and colder-than-normal water temperatures, or are the returns even smaller than the department was forecasting to start the season?

King salmon angler participation has been light at both Little Susitna River and Deshka River up until this point, but will likely build sharply now that word is being circulated about some king salmon being caught. ADF&G was pushing to get the Deshka River Weir installed perhaps by June 6, but water volume may still be on the high side. With documented low harvests in the guided sport fishery and commercial set net fishery, getting an accurate escapement count for both Little Susitna River and Deshka River returns would be most helpful in fishery management aimed at achieving king salmon spawning escapement goals for both of these important king salmon streams.

Currently, both king salmon returns are running low and significantly behind past yearly averages, but the fish are just starting to arrive, and many king salmon anglers are hoping a rapid change may still occur.

Elsewhere in the Mat-Su near the road system, all other king salmon fisheries targeting wild king salmon have already been restricted to catch-and-release king salmon fishing.

The relatively small fishery for hatchery king salmon at Eklutna Tailrace provides the most liberal king salmon harvest regulations in the Mat-Su Valley at this point, with 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-per-week fishing and the use of bait and multiple hooks allowed.

Eklutna Tailrace is also the only Mat-Su location where the annual king salmon limit remains at five fish per season.

Maintenance to Little Susitna River Access Road

Last week I reported on the two terrible mudholes on the driving route to Little Susitna River Public Use Facility. I am happy to report that a Mat-Su Borough road maintenance crew attempted to fill the mud holes with gravel and access was much better last weekend; however, the road was only reasonably drivable on one lane and the borough had posted multiple signs that read, “Proceed at Your Own Risk.” Hardly an acceptable access solution to reach one of the borough’s most popular road accessible fishing, boating, hunting and camping sites.

Mat-Su Borough’s Deshka River Campground

High waters had partially flooded the borough’s campground near the Deshka River’s confluence with the Susitna River flooding at least two picnic tables and fire rings, and soaking one portable outhouse in at least two feet of floodwater. In addition, the borough’s two floating docks with fish cleaning and hanging stations have yet to be installed. Granted, king salmon return numbers are down and so is angler participation, but Deshka River is the only Mat-Su location where wild king salmon harvest is being allowed every day of the week, and the Department of Fish and Game outlook calls for a harvestable surplus of perhaps 10,000 king salmon from this location in 2013. While I have not talked with anyone from the borough about the Deshka River campground, docks and cleaning stations, I wonder if the borough will be doing anything to maintain and provide public use of these facilities in 2013?

With the recent down turn in wild king salmon production and the resulting emergency fishing regulations issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game this year, Little Susinta River is the only Mat-Su location where people can drive a highway vehicle and specifically harvest wild king salmon. At least, since that is what the regulations specify, all Alaskans and nonresident visitors should have that opportunity.

Over Memorial Day weekend that opportunity was sorely lacking.

Trout fishing update

Tom Hilty with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla reports that lake fishing for stocked trout and char has been reasonable good, but stream fishing for trout has been rather poor as a result of high muddy runoff in most local streams (specifically the popular streams from Willow Creek north along the Parks Highway where catch-and-release fishing is allowed for rainbow trout at this time). If cooler temperatures continue for a few days and muddy runoff subsides, the trout, grayling and char stream fishing could pick up in these locations. Be sure to check regulations before fishing streams, as only certain ones are open to fishing at this time.

Alaska summers are always too short, so it is time to make the most the Mat-Su fishing opportunities that are available.

Andy Couch owns and operates Fishtale River Guides (fish4salmon.com) and is a member of the Mat-Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission.