Mat-Su Valley plagued by poor king salmon returns

Two days before this column’s deadline I drove to Eklutna Tailrace arriving about 6:30 a.m. As I was puttering toward the parking area I noticed an angler fighting, then landing, a chrome king salmon of about 12 — 15 pounds near the fish cleaning table. At the same time there was another person cutting up a salmon on the cleaning table. There were plenty of spaces in the parking lot, and relatively few anglers fishing, so I parked, grabbed my fishing gear, and found a place to cast near the pedestrian bridge. The water was high enough that there were not too many good places to stand and cast, but seeing king salmon surface both above and below the pedestrian bridge and downstream toward the mouth of the tailrace I kept fishing this same area for probably 45 minutes. I did not get any bites nor did I see anyone else hook another salmon. I spent at least another 45 minutes fishing several spots between the pedestrian bridge and where the tailrace flows from under the old Glenn Highway, but did not get any bites nor see anyone else hook a fish in this area, either.

On July 4th I towed my guide boat to Little Susitna River Public Use Facility and test fished for early-arriving silver salmon and chum salmon. I puttered several miles downriver before starting to fish right after 6 a.m., then I casted and drifted and puttered for several miles without seeing any sign of an ocean-run salmon. Later I decided to try some spots upriver of the landing, where on previous years my charter guests have caught the first chum salmon of several years from my guide boat. Upstream of the landing, but below the weir, I caught one rainbow trout, hooked and lost another rainbow trout, caught 2 small male king salmon, hooked one fish which I lost soon after the hookset (so could not identify) and saw one king salmon surface. All the fish caught were unhooked and released without removing them from the river. I then drove through the weir sanctuary area and spoke to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) weir technician and asked if he had seen any salmon other than king salmon passing the weir. That day he had already counted over 200 king salmon and 1 sockeye salmon. Through July 4 ADF&G staff had not yet counted any salmon, other than king and sockeye, past the weir.

Good news — king salmon passage has increased to the point that ADF&G may attain the lower end of their Little Susitna River king salmon spawning escapement goal (2,100 — 4,300 fish). Through July 4, ADF&G had counted 2,049 king salmon through Little Susitna River weir. Often times late-arriving king salmon at Little Susitna River, in particular, can be mostly small male fish.

Without decent king salmon returns there is very limited opportunities in the Mat-Su Valley to catch ocean-run salmon species before July 14. For that reason Mat-Su anglers may want to fishing stocked lakes for trout or take a road trip for a significant salmon harvest opportunity.

July is Personal Use Dip Netting Month in South Central Alaska — Kasilof — Peaking

Kasilof River south of Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula currently has an abundance of sockeye salmon, and because of restrictions to conserve late-run Kenai River king salmon, the Kasilof River sockeye salmon goal range is projected to be exceeded for the season. ADF&G on Tuesday issued emergency order #2-RS-1-45-22 expanding the area for shore dip netting from ADF&G markers on the beach outside the river’s terminus to the Sterling Highway Bridge and for boat dipping from the ADF&G beach markers to ADF&G markers approximately 3 miles up the river. This expanded area regulation runs from 12:01 am July 7 — 11:59 p.m. August 7, In addition now is near peak run timing for Kasilof River sockeye. Kasilof River, therefore, may provide the best personal use dip netting harvest opportunity this weekend and for the coming week. Only Alaska residents can participate in personal use dipnet fisheries and a fishing license and household personal use permit are required — regulations can usually be obtained with a permit at select ADF&G offices (including the Palmer office) or on the ADF&G website. King salmon must be released. The limit is 25 salmon per head of household and 10 more salmon for each additional household member.

I’ve mentioned the Copper River fishery at Chitina in earlier articles. The Chitina Subdistrict continues to produce good catches, and can provide a less-crowded dip netting opportunity — legal fishing days and hours can be checked by calling the Glennallen ADF&G office. This fishery was allowing a harvest of one king salmon per household in the last ADF&G news release I read — you might want to check and see if regulations have changed before harvesting that king salmon. There is a charge for this particular permit, but there is a free-to-use primitive campground on the far side of the Copper River.

Kenai River Personal Use Dipnet Fishery Opens July 10 -31, but the best sockeye salmon abundance is later arriving in the Kenai River. Dip netting near the start of the season, at this location, can take considerably more time to catch the desired amount of salmon. King salmon must be released. There are charges for beach / river access and boat launching.

Lower Susitna River is open only July 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and only accessible by boat or airplane for most people. This fishery often starts even slower than the Kenai River. No king salmon harvest allowed. Expect to see plenty of pink salmon by July 20. The boat launch fee at Deshka Landing is $40, and you should plan on bringing enough gas to boat at least 40 — 50 miles.

Fish Creek may open 7-days per week by emergency order (dependent upon sockeye salmon escapement) through July 31. This is a small fishing area off Knik-Goose Bay Road, but well participated in, close to home for Palmer — Wasilla core area residents, and road accessible. Mostly a sockeye salmon fishery — king salmon must be released.

ADF&G and others have posted informative videos about salmon dip netting on YouTube. People new to dip netting can also learn by watching or talking with more experienced dip netters. Quality dip nets are available at several Mat-Su Valley locations including Sportsman’s Warehouse, Three Bears, Wal-Mart, and 3 Rivers Fly & Tackle, and large nets with longer handles run about $150 — $200. They can sometimes be found at garage sales, but are often in short supply starting about mid or late July. You may also be able to borrow one or more nets from a friend, however if you are planning to participate this year, it is time to secure a net if you do not already have one.

Mat-Su in the Coming Week

July 13 is the last day of gear restrictions aimed toward conserving king salmon on both Little Susitna River and Susitna River drainage. At Little Susitna River downstream of the Parks Highway multiple hooks will be allowed, with artificial lures only from July 14 — August 5. Many locations along the Susitna River drainage open to bait fishing and multiple hooks on July 14 (be sure to check regulations for specific locations).

Good Luck and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide who primarily targets ocean-run salmon during summer months. You can read daily fishing reports on his Fishtale River Guides website: https://www.fish4salmon.com