Traditional start of king season

Although the Deshka Landing website reported a 2016 Mat-Su king salmon harvested on May 5, and even though numerous Mat-Su king salmon anglers have already been attempting to catch king salmon, the upcoming memorial weekend marks what many consider the traditional “start,” of king salmon fishing in Mat-Su rivers where there may be a reasonable chance of catching Alaska’s official state fish.

Even with an early spring breakup and warm summer-like weather, coupled with the counting weir instillations on May 9 at Little Susitna River and May 12 at Deshka River, king salmon passage through May 24 has only been 14 fish at Little Susitna Weir and 213 fish at Deshka weir.

Deshka River King salmon catching in open waters downstream of each weir has picked up to where an average of slightly more than one king salmon per trip was harvested from my guide boat in the past week. That’s certainly not hot fishing, but at least we either caught or saw king salmon each day. With a memorial weekend forecast for warm beautiful weather, except many more anglers than king salmon getting caught at both of these popular locations over the weekend.

As of May 25, I was already seeing the staking out of popular memorial weekend camping spots along the Deshka River. If you go, be prepared to see plenty of boat anglers joyriding in their boats after a slow morning of fishing. That is a fun way to enjoy a warm summer-like afternoon, but it does make afternoon fish catching even more difficult.

Parks Highway streams

For the Parks Highway streams between Willow and Talkeetna, Joe and Marilynn Rouswell at Susitna Landing (495-7700) reported better water conditions as of May 25 with anglers catching some early arriving king salmon. By emergency regulation as of May 1 all king salmon fishing in Susitna drainage waters upstream of Deshka River is regulated as catch and release only. The Susitna Landing boat dock was installed this week providing easier access for those launching from this location. To date more boat launches out of the landing have been made by spring bear hunters rather than anglers.

For those looking for quiet memorial weekend camping with less competitive king salmon fishing Susitna Landing and other Parks Highway streams should be a good choice.

Eklutna Tailrace

My brother took his family king salmon fishing for the first time this week, and a couple of my sister’s kids also tried their luck below the Eklutna power plant, however, they did not see any king salmon or get any bites from fish other than small salmon that had not yet journeyed to the ocean. Although it is still early in the season — I expect a few king salmon will likely be harvested from the tailrace or downstream waters over the weekend.

If you go, expect slow fishing for most people.

Yentna River drainage king salmon

In an earlier conversation with Sam Ivey, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Fisheries Management Biologist, I learned the department’s Yentna River fish wheel was catching king salmon soon after it was installed. Years ago, Farley Dean had told me of catching king salmon upriver at Lake Creek by May 12, so I expect at least a few Yentna drainage king salmon will be harvested in the Lake Creek / Skwentna area over the weekend. The Yentna drainage is a more remote fishery, with access by a considerably longer boat ride from Deshka Landing or by airplane, consequently, I would expect lower level participation at popular king salmon fishing spots along the Yentna River this weekend.

So far I have not even talked with a single person who had fished this area for king salmon during 2016.

Emergency king salmon regulations — Now in effect!

For the fourth year in a row most of the Mat-Su Valley king salmon regulations printed in the annual Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary book have been superseded by ADF&G emergency regulations. Anglers should read the emergency regulations before fishing — they can be found on the ADF&G website.

Of note: Eklutna Tailrace is the only Mat-Su location where regulations in the book have been unchanged and fishing is allowed seven days per week, 24 hours per day, with a one-king per day, five-king per season limit.

Multiple hooks and bait are allowed at this location from January 1 - December 31.

In the Susitna River drainge, king salmon harvest is ONLY allowed in Yentna River drainage (except Talachultina River) and the Deshka River. King salmon harvest is closed at all other Susitna River drainage locations.

King salmon harvest is only allowed on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from May 1 — July 13 in Little Susitna River and Susitna River drainage waters remaining open for king salmon harvest (except Deshka River). Deshka River remains open to king salmon harvest seven days per week.

For the entire Susitna drainage and Little Susitna River drainage combined (including Deshka River) the annual king salmon limit has been reduced to two fish per angler.

Only artificial lures are allowed at Deshka River through May 31. Multiple hooks are allowed. Bait fishing will be allowed in the lower Deshka River starting on June 1.

For all remaining Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River open to king salmon fishing, only one artificial lure with one single hook is allowed May 1— July 13.

Rather than attempting to learn all emergency king salmon regulations, for each Mat-Su Valley location, it may be easier to familiarize yourself with only the regulations for specific locations you intend to fish.

Fish On!

Andy Couch has been guiding Mat-Su Valley fishing trips for more than 30 years. You may read his 12 years of archived fishing reports on his business website at http://www.fish4salmon.com/