Talkeetna among the places to be for king salmon fishing

Some of the best abundances of king salmon will be found in the Talkeetna River/Clear Creek area over the coming weekend. This is a catch and release fishery, restricted to single hook artificial lures.

There are often a few sockeye salmon showing up in catches at the Talkeetna River during the second week of July. In specific areas the sockeye can be kept — be sure to check the fishing regulations before you go. For more information contact Margo or Rhett Nealis with Phantom Tri River Charters in Talkeetna at 733-2400.

Eklutna Tailrace fishery

The tailrace remains open to king salmon fishing with bait, multiple hooks, and 24-hour per day fishing allowed. I’d imagine the fishery has slowed considerably by now, but sockeye salmon should also be showing up, and I would expect anglers are already catching a few.

Chum salmon and silver salmon should be available at this location soon.

Little Susitna River — A short window of bait fishing

By emergency order the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) opened the Little Susitna River to bait fishing from its mouth to the Parks Highway Bridge from 6 a.m. July 6 through 11 p.m. July 13. Fishing hours remained restricted in this area to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily through July 13. Most of the king salmon are now above the weir located at river mile 32.5 and most of the fish are getting dark to say the least. There are still a few chrome king salmon located primarily below the weir. A few chum salmon and silver salmon are also starting to show up in the lower river as well. Some sockeye salmon have been available since May, but few are taken by anglers. Expect mainly fair fishing in the lower river, however, the use of bait has already increased catch rates, somewhat. I and other Mat-Su anglers are thankful for this opportunity to fish bait on one of the Mat-Su’s most popular salmon fisheries — such a regulation change would not have happened without the Little Susitna River weir and ADF&G employees monitoring salmon escapement numbers at this location.

Cottonwood Creek

Some Cottonwood Creek sockeye salmon should become available over the coming weekend. This fishery is a weekend only fishery and legal salmon fishing is only allowed in a short area near the stream mouth. I’ve done well in this area in the past primarily with flies. It is close and easy to get to. Fishing the early morning hours or timing the tides usually pays off.

Parks Highway streams

Parks Highway streams are now closed to all fishing in the areas where king salmon fishing was allowed over the past weekend. These stream sections will open back up starting on July 14. Of particular note: Bait fishing will be allowed on many of these streams starting July 14. I know some Mat-Su anglers are looking forward to a chance to fish these stream with bait, and there will be chum salmon, pink salmon, and likely a few silver salmon available at these location by July 14. Popular bank fisheries include the mouths of Willow Creek, Kashwitna River (Susitna Landing), Sheep Creek, and Montana Creek. Popular boat fisheries along the Parks Highway include Little Willow Creek, Kashwitna River, and the lower portion of Sheep Creek. Note: Regulations differ on some of the streams located between Willow and Talkeetna, so check regulation for the streams you intend to fish before going out the first time.

Mat-Su Valley’s stocked lakes provide better catches

For anglers looking for less crowded fishing conditions and more consistent catches, the Mat-Su Valley’s many stocked lakes may provide considerably better catch numbers than the Mat-Su Valley salmon fisheries over the coming week. The stocked lakes provide good opportunities to catch fish up to the 20-inch range, although a person may need to do some research and prospect fishing to find locations with the larger fish. A good place to start is talking with one of the fine public employees at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and ADF&G also has a recorded fishing report at 746-6300. They can suggest places to catch specific species or sizes of stocked fish. Another top source for information about stocked lakes is 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla 373-5434. Sportsman’s Warehouse in Wasilla also has a fishing reports board as you enter their store.

Personal use dip netting coming soon

The Kenai River dip net fishery will be starting soon. Only Alaska residents can participate in this fishery and a permit (available at ADF&G offices) is required. This is one of the more popular dip net fisheries for residents of the Mat-Su Valley. The Chitna personal use fishery near Glennallen is already in progress. The Fish Creek personal use fishery in the Mat-Su Valley only opens when sufficient sockeye salmon can be projected by ADF&G to pass the Fish Creek weir. If the Fish Creek fishery opens this season expect that to occur sometime during the later part of July.

Fish On!

Andy Couch is a member of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee and the Matanuska Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission.