Some Mat-Su silver salmon fisheries waning

After an exceptional escapement of 8,802 silver salmon past the Little Susitna River weir through August 5, 2015, silver salmon passage has fallen off considerably with only an additional 2, 828 silvers swimming past the weir from August 6-18. During that time period the sport fishery opened to bait fishing and an emergency order liberalized the bag limit from two to three silver salmon daily. There can be no doubt that lots of sport anglers (particularly boaters) got out and enjoyed the expanded fishing opportunity on the Little Susitna River. The past two weekends saw very crowded fishing and boating on the river, and good harvests of silver salmon as well, but through Aug. 16, total silver salmon passage through the weir remained greater than occurred 2014 through the same date.

Angler effort started falling off considerably on Aug. 17, however, numbers of available silver salmon seem to have fallen off as well, and silver salmon weir passage has finally started to lag behind what occurred last year. In 2014 nearly half of the annual silver salmon weir passage of 24, 211 silver salmon occurred after Aug. 18, but silver salmon seem so sparse in the lower river at this time, that I’m thinking the next 3 weeks will likely yield far less silver salmon harvest and escapement from the Little Susitna River in comparison to 2014. Even downriver in the intertidal area a large percentage of the remaining fish are getting dark in color and bites are difficult to get. In addition, my guests guided harvests have recently consisted of a large percentage of male fish, with a significant portion of those fish being smaller and likely younger fish.

All are indications to me that the fishery may be winding down much earlier this year.

Ayrshire Road improvements

The past couple days I notice that road improvements for Aryshire Road on the driving route to Little Susitna River seem to have started. Talking with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s Scott Sanderson last fall and this summer I learned that a portion of Aryshire Road is scheduled to be paved. This will be a welcome improvement to many people traveling this heavily used road, and it seems like the road improvements will be made after most of the angler effort is done for the season.

Talking with Jeff Boatright up the Parks Highway at Susitna Landing, he reported that catch numbers and angler effort have both fallen considerably at that location as well. In addition, he mentioned a larger percentage of smaller fish and net marked fish of those that were caught. I’ve been working extra long hours attempting to help guests find and catch silver salmon since the weekend and simply have not had enough time to talk with many of my other contacts, but I would imagine results are similar in other locations. Larry Cline of Gigglewood Lakside Inn told me of catching silver salmon at Sunshine Creek this week, and although it sounded like more fish were available at that location further up the Susitna River drainage, he reported a mix of darker fish in the catch.

With the back end of the season seeming to be week, those most interested in fishing for and catching silver salmon in the coming week may want to consider locations further up in the drainages that are still enjoying the strong early season passage of fish. Floaters I talked to on the Little Susitna River reported large numbers of fish up near Houston with one lady telling me she caught her first silver salmon ever, and a whole limit of silvers in that location on their float.

Other fisheries

Jim Creek, in the Butte area, is a location that has also had a good return of late silver salmon in the past that anglers may want to check out. Remember, however, that this fishery is now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays each week.

Further up the Susitna River drainage I would suspect peak silver salmon fishing for the season may now be occurring at Talkeetna River and Clear Creek. A call during business hours to Phantom Tri River Charters (733-2400) in Talkeetna should answer that question.

It is now time to enjoy a more relaxed fishing atmosphere on most of the Mat-Su Valley’s popular silver salmon fisheries.

Good luck and fish on!

Andy Couch has guided sport fishing trips in the Mat-Su Valley for over 30 years. Visit his Fishtale River Guides website at www.fish4salmon.com