Salmon fishery updates

In the week since I wrote a fishing column I have guided anglers fishing for king salmon on 5 days and personally fished for king salmon myself on the other two days. I fished the Eklutna Tailrace one day, the Deshka River one day, and guided on the Deshka River 4 days and Knik River 1 day. I can now report that king salmon have been caught at each of those locations, but the only place my guests caught a king salmon was Deshka River. People have been catching king salmon daily at Deshka River, although on my boat catches have been rather few and far between. Most of the king salmon surfacing near Deshka River / Susitna River confluence have been smaller fish up to about 8 pounds. My guests have caught a few larger king salmon between 15 — 30 pounds, and we also watched other anglers catch a few larger king salmon, but most fish we saw caught have been smaller king salmon up to about 8 or 10 pounds. We mostly fished spinners and watched other people fishing spinners at Deshka River, but plugs were also producing some king salmon. Although Deshka River water level has been higher than normal, there is good clarity and cool water temperatures. Deshka River was too high for installation of ADF&G’s Deshka River salmon counting weir until after Memorial Day weekend — with hopes that it could be installed this week. Some people have expressed to me a concern that large numbers of king salmon may have already migrated up the Deshka River past the weir site by the time the weir is installed. From examining past years’ Deshka River king salmon escapement counts during May, my observation is if ADF&G is able to install the weir before this column is published, then likely a few hundred king salmon, at most would have swam past the weir site without being counted. A reminder that any king salmon caught at Deshka River and the remainder of the Susitna River drainage must, by regulation, be released.

Knik River / Eklutna Tailrace

While I and my guests have not caught any fish at this fishery yet — I know of a few king salmon being caught by Fisherman’s Choice Charters’ guests in the Knik River side-channel below the tailrace, and Mike Hudson with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle told me they had received reports of king salmon being caught in the tailrace over Memorial Day weekend. Bait, multiple hooks, and king salmon harvest are allowed at the Knik River / Eklutna Tailrace fishery. When I was at the Tailrace on Tuesday of this week for an hour and a half I did not see any king salmon surface or get hooked, however, the Knik River side-channel was high enough that it seemed entirely reasonable king salmon would feel comfortable migrating up the side-channel and into the tailrace.

Little Susitna River

Through Monday May 30, 13 king salmon had migrated past Little Susitna River weir. I have heard a few reports, from a reputable source, of king salmon that were caught and released downstream of the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility Boat Launch. The hot weather has swollen the Little Susitna River, and water has been quite turbid for several days now. High and turbid water is challenging fishing conditions for even experienced Little Susitna River anglers, so fishing pressure has been low at this catch and release location.

Chitina Personal Use Fishery Opening Delayed

Although not in the Mat-Su Valley, the Copper River subsistence and personal use fisheries are utilized by many Mat-Su anglers and other Alaska residents to harvest fresh salmon during the first half of the summer. The Copper River Flats Commercial fishery opened as scheduled for its first two commercial openings, was closed one period, and then already had a third opening. Harvest data posted on the ADF&G website showed on May 16, 19, and 26 commercial openings a total of 7,476 king salmon and 93,773 sockeye salmon were harvested, however ADF&G sonar counts have been running significantly below management objectives every day since sonar counts started on May 17, 2022. When I talked with ADF&G sport fishery biologist, Mark Summerville in Glennallen on Tuesday he told me, because of low sonar salmon counts, the Chitina District personal use dip net fishery start date would be delayed until noon on Saturday June 11 — and then opened for only 24 hours before a closure. Stay up to date on this fishery by calling the recorded message information line at 907-822-5224

It is easy to understand how commercial harvesters and processors may benefit from harvesting as many salmon as possible, early in the season, when prices are high. How does excessive early-season commercial harvest, that can and has caused restrictions and closures to personal use, subsistence, and sport fisheries benefit the state as a whole? Would there be more benefit and more consistency for more Alaskans if ADF&G commercial management operated on a conservative basis, only allowing Copper River commercial harvest when the department’s cumulative inseason sonar management objective was being met?

Good Luck and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley sport fishing guide and the questions at the end of this column are his own.