Traditional king salmon peak weeks

When people ask me about the best time to catch king salmon on the Deshka River and Little Susitna River I mention the second and third weeks of June as the times that have traditionally been the best weeks of success for my guided fishing trips.

This is also the time when peak numbers of king salmon are most often available in the lower easily accessible sections of these two streams. With all that said, there can be considerable variance depending upon run timing and river conditions on any specific year. In the 35 years I’ve been guiding fishing trips I’ve experience some odd ball years where my guests’ peak king salmon success has occurred as early as the last week of May and as late as the second week of July.

King salmon numbers have been steadily increasing at Deshka River with weir passage numbers averaging more than 200 fish per day from May 28 to June 6. In the next week or two numbers should leap to another level with some daily weir passages likely to exceed 1,000 fish. With a five-fish seasonal king salmon limit, harvest allowed seven days per week, and bait allowed in fishery, the Deshka has been attracting the largest number of participants of any Mat-Su Valley king salmon fishery. Unless a shortage of king salmon passing the weir causes the fishery to be restricted this trend will likely continue for the entire season. Peak fishing near the Deshka River confluence with the Susitna River will likely occur within the next week after this article is printed.

Little Susitna River

King salmon weir passage numbers at Little Sustina River stands at 146 fish through June 6 since the weir was installed on May 9. While king salmon harvest is allowed seven days per week on Little Susitna River, the seasonal king salmon limit from this stream has been restricted by emergency order to two fish, and only artificial lures are allowed.

Anglers have been harvesting modest numbers of king salmon on a daily basis from the “Little Su.” Most if not all of the Little Susitna River king salmon harvest at this time has occurred out of the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility campground and boat launch. I prefer the lower angler participation in this fishery, however, I expect more anglers effort targeting increasing king salmon numbers at this location during the next couple weeks.

Parks Highway tributary streams

Anglers continue to catch king salmon in the steams crossing the Parks Highway between Willow and Talkeetna.

Kenny Mortensen, owner of Riverside RV Park in Houston, told me that a couple of his relatives caught king salmon this past week from the mouth of Willow Creek and saw other anglers catch king salmon from that location as well. Joe and Marilynn Rouswell, operators of Susitna Landing, mentioned that fishing had slowed at that location as a result of high water starting Sunday, but also said the water has dropped and cleared somewhat since that time and they expecting better king salmon catches once again. Mike Hudson of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla mentioned that the rainbow trout spawn is mostly over and he is expecting better fishing for rainbow trout along the Parks Highways steams as well.

Remember that king salmon fishing and rainbow trout fishing is restricted to catch and release only in these streams at this time. Such regulations significantly reduce angler participation and create fisheries where anglers enjoy less crowded and less competitive fishing conditions, especially for king salmon.

Peak king salmon fishing at these locations usually occurs later in June and early July.

Eklutna Tailrace

I have not heard any reports of king salmon harvested from the Tailrace yet this year, however, in the past my relatives and I have harvested king salmon by this time in June, so I expect some king salmon must now be available at the tailrace. If there are very many kings around people should see some action or see the big fish surfacing within an hour or so of fishing.

Talkeetna River

Rhett Nealis of Phantom Tri River Charters in Talkeetna has been experiencing a phenomenal fishery for rainbow trout, arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden that was interrupted by high clouded water in the Talkeetna River, however, Rhett mentioned the water has once again been dropping and clearing and his charter guests have once again been catching these resident species form the mainstream Talkeetna River. Rhett said while a few king salmon may now be present in the Talkeetna drainage there are not many. He said the only king salmon his guests have caught was a jack, but when the kings arrive in significant numbers his trout anglers will start hooking into them. Phantom Tri River Charters is also guiding king salmon fishing trips to the Deshka River at this time.

Northern pike

A couple people this past week asked me if my guests were still catching northern pike. With the increase in available number of king salmon we have simply not been spending any time in the slow weedy waters that pike prefer. For those that prefer a less crowded fishery, now would is a good time to fish for pike in sloughs and shallow lakes of the lower Susitna and Yentna River drainages. When fishing around weeds some of the weedless frogs and topwater lures preferred by bass angles in the southern states can keep anglers fishing more instead of spending more time removing vegetation from their hooks.

I’ve also always had good success catching pike with inline spinners, although in weedy conditions I tend to prefer casting to less vegetated areas.

Pike fishing regulations in the Susitna River drainage are on the other extreme from king salmon regulations — by regulations anglers are not allowed to release live northern pike, and may harvest as many as they like.

Good luck and fish on!

Andy Couch guides Alaska salmon fishing trips on the Deshka and Little Susitna Rivers. By visiting his website you can read free daily fishing reports at http://www.fish4salmon.com/