What's better than good fishing and cold cash?

Alaskan king salmon -- there's nothing like it in the world, and the Valley's plentiful bounty of salmon undeniably makes this a great place to live.

Despite the fact that salmon are full of things that nutritionists are finding exceedingly beneficial -- and wild salmon reportedly carries those things more abundantly -- fishing for salmon in the Valley is just plain fun.

And when good king salmon fishing is combined with old-fashioned competition, as well as the prospect of walking away with cold cash or a snazzy camper for landing the biggest king, fisherman are transported to seventh heaven.

The Mat-Su King Salmon Derby, although only in its third year, has become quite popular among Valley and Southcentral residents alike. Last year, after only a week of fishing, Three Rivers Fly and Tackle staff estimated they had already sold more than $1,000 in tickets.

Last year, tickets to the derby cost $20 for an adult for the entire derby, which ran previously from May 25 to July 4. Tickets for youth were $5 and last year the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce added a new, one-day $5 ticket for adults.

This year, according to Ed Brittingham, chamber executive director, some dates have changed. The derby has been extended, and will run from May 24 to July 7 to give fishers who enjoy catching kings in the Talkeetna area a few more days of fishing. On July 4, Brittingham said, the kings are rounding out their run in the Talkeetna area, but big, quality fish are still being hauled in.

"We had a lot of requests from the folks that participated last year," Brittingham said. "It won't hurt us if we expand it just a little bit further."

Brittingham said the ticket price should stay the same, as they want to be sure the ticket prices aren't deemed unaffordable.

"Six weeks of derby excitement [for $20] -- I think that's a great buy," Brittingham said.

The ticket cost seems minimal, compared to the prizes offered. Last year, the chamber, along with their sponsors, offered cash prizes as well as gift certificates for fishing rods for the biggest king caught each week. The heaviest fish caught in the season won its angler, Jeff Lapp, a Coleman camper worth $8,000. Runners-up brought home prizes such as a custom-designed pickup cap from Custom Truck Accessories, $1,000 in cash from BP Exploration, a $1,000 boat trailer from All Seasons Argo and a variety of other prizes.

At the youth level, the heaviest fish of the derby brought in a $350 gift certificate at Woodland Taxidermy. Weekly prizes included tents, sleeping bags and $1 per pound of fish. In all, more than 65 prizes were given out.

Brittingham said the chamber was happy with the youth participation last year and hopes to see more youth involved. The derby is a good excuse for area young people to get outdoors and may encourage family fishing trips, he said.

Anglers are quick to tell you that not purchasing a ticket can be devastating. According to information previously reported in the Frontiersman, during the first derby an Anchorage angler stopped at Wal-Mart in Wasilla to get some tackle but decided not to buy a derby ticket. He returned later with a 63-pound king that would have easily won the grand prize. As he walked in, he reportedly told the clerk, "Would you do me a favor and kick me in the backside?"

Fish can be caught from nearly any favorite fishing hole in the Valley, provided it's within the Little Susitna River and the Susitna Drainage. Last year's winning fish was reportedly caught in the waters of Sheep Creek, but one never knows where the "big ones" lurk.

For more information about the fishing derby, contact the Wasilla Chamber at 376-1299.