Mat-Su silver salmon updates

“You have come to the ultimate place to sport fish — Alaska! Whether you fish primarily to fill your freezer or pantry or for sport, our state is tailor-made for sport fishing in both fresh and marine waters.” — Gov. Bill Walker is quoted in the 2017 Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet.

It is ironic that in 2017, when Upper Cook Inlet commercial fisheries have already harvested more than 236,000 silver (coho) salmon through Aug. 15, silver salmon sport fisheries in Northern Cook Inlet have so far shown no indication of a large coho salmon abundance. At this point in the season, even if coho salmon were to make a dramatic late push into Mat-Su Valley and other Northern Cook Inlet streams, forgone sport harvest opportunities, caused by large commercial coho harvests, in late July and early August can not be overcome.

School kids have already started classes in the Mat-Su and Anchorage students will soon follow. Summer visitor numbers area already in decline, and some competing hunting seasons have already opened and more will soon follow. The small economic boost from Central District-wide drift gillnet coho salmon harvests in late July and early August pales in comparison to the huge economic loss and future economic losses for Northern Cook Inlet businesses dependent upon healthy coho salmon sport fisheries.

Will anyone in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) commercial division be held accountable for the history of such poor decisions?

ADF&G commissioner to meet with Mat-Su Fish and Wildlife Commission

Commissioner Sam Cotton has agreed to meet with members of the Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission to discuss ADF&G Upper Cook Inlet salmon management decisions made during the 2017 season. The meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Matanuska -Susitna Borough Assembly Chambers and the public is invited to attend. Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair, Terry Nininger is planning on an opportunity for Cotten and ADF&G staff to discuss decisions with the commission followed by an opportunity of the public to participate with questions.

Recent Mat-Su coho salmon fishing conditions

Deshka River water levels have once again jumped up following rains this past weekend. Ben Allen of Miller’s Riverboat Service told me there were large schools of silver salmon near the Deshka River/Susitna River confluence on both Monday and Tuesday.

Allen reported seeing lots of anglers catching silvers at this location on Monday, but less catching on Tuesday. Upriver on the Deshka he said the fish were migrating quickly, but his guest were able to make good catches both days. According to ADF&G biologist Sam Ivey, the minimum escapement number of coho salmon has already passed Deshka River weir as of August 15.

Joe and Marilynn Rouswell at Susitna Landing reported good silver (coho) salmon catches from boaters at Susitna Landing and at Little Willow Creek for the past several days. Water is still muddy at Susitna Landing, but anglers have been catching silver salmon, trout, and some pink salmon mostly on salmon eggs.

ADF&G biologist, Sam Ivey, told me catchable numbers of silver salmon have finally arrived at Talkeetna River, and some decent catches have been made in the main river near the boat launch.

Little Susitna River coho salmon escapements upstream of the weir have jumped up for two days since weekends rain raised the river water level.

Ivey mentioned on Tuesday he would want to see that trend continue for several additional days to ensure meeting the Little Susitna River coho salmon escapement goal. As of Aug. 16 the Little Susitna River remains closed to bait fishing because of lack of sufficient numbers of coho salmon. Ivey mentioned he was monitoring weir counts in hopes that the fishery could at some point have the opportunity to use bait before the end of the season.

Ivey is hopeful that a late push of coho salmon may yet provide better than average Mat-Su Valley coho salmon fishing in 2017. So far, he has yet to see any coho escapement numbers to indicate such a large push of coho salmon into Mat-Su streams. At least the recent trend in weir counts is finally improving, with attainment of the minimum coho goal at Deshka River, Fish Creek getting back on track to attain the goal, recent upticks in coho numbers through the Jim Creek weir, and a couple days of increased coho salmon escapement counts at Little Susitna River.

Summers are short in Alaska and the salmon only run for so long, so if you would like to harvest some prime Mat-Su silver salmon, now may be the week to do it.

Fish on!

Andy Couch owns Fishtail River Guides and is a member of the Matanuska Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. The views presented in this column are his own. You may want to visit his website at http://www.fish4salmon.com