Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show ongoing over weekend

The biggest happening I know of in the Mat-Su Valley, this weekend, as mentioned in the past two fishing columns, is going on at the Menard Center in Wasilla on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This show brings significant visitors and economic impact to the Mat-Su Valley. With snow and ice conditions quickly deteriorating — and open water on most rivers possibly weeks away — I expect a large gathering of valley residents and visitors from Anchorage and several business owners from the Kenai Peninsula. For additional information on the show visit: https://matsuoutdoorsmanshow.com/show/

For those who may be looking for my business booth at the show this year — You may find me walking around and seeing the show during a day or two — however I did not purchase a booth for my fishing charter business this year with the knowledge that the entire Susitna / Yentna River drainage and the Little Susitna River is closed to sport king salmon fishing during 2024. I hope to guide some sightseeing / trout /grayling / pike fishing trips during the first half of the summer (through July 13), but those species don’t have the glamour and followers of the official state fish. I remain hopeful that future management changes might return the health and abundance to wild Mat-Su and state-wide king salmon populations enjoyed during most of my fish guiding career.

Howard Delo’s Outdoor column this week provides a good checklist for boat owners in preparing for another season on the water. Plenty of the items in Howard’s column are also on my list for getting my guide boats ready for another season. Even though snow is still on the ground at our house, getting all of some of the chores done now makes it much easier — and quicker to get out and enjoy the open-water lakes and rivers when the time arrives.

What To Expect From Additional Mat-Su Salmon Fisheries in 2024

One of the still big unknowns is how much Federal fisheries management will allow the Cook Inlet drift gill net fleet to fish throughout the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) located in the center of Upper below Kalgan Island. The regulation package for that fishery is scheduled to be released on May 1 — at which point it may be easier to understand if federal salmon management for 2024 is likely to be similar, more liberal, or more conservative than what has occurred for commercial drift gillnetters under state management during the last 4 - 5 years. Stay tuned for an update, in this column, around or after May 1.

Coho salmon returns into Northern Cook Inlet and Mat-Su streams have been lower than average during the past 5 year period, and a five-year average is often considered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) as the standard most often used for projecting the next year’s coho return. Since last year (2023) appeared to be the poorest coho salmon return to Northern Cook Inlet streams since 1999 — therefore, a return to an average coho salmon run over the past five-year period could be a significant improvement compared to last year.

Sockeye Salmon returns were strong at Larson Creek (Susitna River drainage) and Fish Creek last season, but poor at Little Susitna River and Jim Creek. Fish Creek near Knik - Goose Bay Road has been the largest and most consistent sockeye salmon producing system for inriver harvests (personal use dip net and sport) over the past five years. That consistency leads me to expect a solid sockeye harvest opportunity may likely occur, at least at the Fish Creek location. ADF&G forecasts call for returns of 303, 400 sockeye to the Susitna River drainage and 86,690 sockeye to Fish Creek during 2024.

Pink Salmon often return in stronger numbers to the Susitna River drainage on even numbered years like 2024, so there is likelihood of a solid pink salmon return mainly to the Susitna River drainage during the last half of July and into early August. Expect to catch better quality pink salmon from the Susitna drainage during July.

Chum Salmon returns to Northern Cook Inlet streams have not been particularly robust over the past 5 years — so I would expect a similar return in 2024. Note: Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River will both likely provide some good chum salmon catching and harvest opportunities during the 2024 season — the difference between excellent and so - so chum salmon seasons is often in the duration of the “good fishing” or run.

Hope to see you at the show, and Fish On!