Where are the salmon?

Emergency Order sport fishing regulations to conserve Mat-Su Valley’s wild king salmon stocks ended on Wednesday July 13, and the use of bait and multiple hooks opened in certain salmon fishing locations starting July 14 for anglers targeting fish other than king salmon. The change in calendar dates and fishing regulations, however, did not change the harvest rate of most anglers fishing the Mat-Su Valley for salmon this past week.

Lower Susitna Personal Use Fishery

I asked Deshka Landing Manager, Amy Davis, about salmon harvests in the lower Susitna river dip net fishery (whose second opening occurred on Saturday July 16). She knew of no salmon being harvested and mentioned Susitna River was high from recent rains making fishing conditions more difficult. Harvest rates from this fishery are normally low this early in July, however, it is one of the first places pink, sockeye, chum, and coho salmon are caught in significant numbers from the vast Susitna River drainage. With additional heavy rainfall continuing to swell the Susitna River drainage, even higher water will occur in the lower Susitna River personal use fishery at least through this Saturday — leaving only July 27 and 30 as fishing dates with potentially improved fishing conditions. Late July normally produces the best harvest rates at this fishery. Susitna River water levels (measured at the Parks Highway bridge) can be seen here: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=suna2&wfo=pafc

Willow Creek, Little Willow Creek, and other Susitna River Tributary Streams

Willow and Little Willow Creek are the closest Susitna River tributary streams to saltwater with access from the Parks Highway. As of Monday July 18 all reports I had heard were for very few salmon (other than king salmon) available. Recent rains have raised and muddied these waters as well, however, salmon will want to pull into the confluence areas of these and other Susitna River tributary streams on their upstream migrations. During high water flow conditions look for salmon to concentrate in ares with lower current velocity. Larger and brighter-colored lures or bait (where legal) often produce more bites during high and off-colored water conditions. Note: bait use is only open on the lower portions of some Mat-Su Valley streams, so review fishing regulations for the specific location you intend to fish.

Fish Creek Personal Use Dip Net Fishery

On Tuesday July 19 the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) issued an Emergency Order opening the Fish Creek personal use fishery from 6 a.m. — 11 p.m. Starting on Thursday July 21 and running through Sunday July 31. Fish Creel is the one Mat-su Valley Location (I know of) that has had solid counts of salmon migrating through an ADF&G weir during the past week. I expect solid numbers of sockeye salmon will be harvested starting on the first day of the fishery, but this is a very small fishing location at about mile 16 off Knik Goose Bay Road. The parking area fills up with participants and the speed limit through the area near fish Creek is usually reduced when the fishery is open. All species of salmon (except king salmon) are legal to harvest in this fishery. The fishery is for Alaska residents only and a Sportfishing license and household personal use permit are required to participate in the fishery. Read the Emergency Order here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/Static-sf/EONR/PDFs/2022/R2/EO%202-RS-2-56-22.pdf

Deshka and Little Susitna River Coho Salmon Fisheries

Very high stream flow levels at both of these popular salmon fisheries (for boaters) along with low numbers of salmon earlier this week made for very challenging fishing conditions. If the rain lets up a bit and both of these streams start to stabilize at lower flow levels, salmon abundances should also start ramping up in the coming week. Under the right conditions Deshka and Little Susitna River often provide two of Mat-Su Valley’s best coho salmon catching opportunities during the last week of July. The most current ADF&G weir counts for Little Susitna River, Deshka River, and Fish Creek may be found here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/

Conservation Corridor Now Passing Salmon North

Upper Cook Inlet commercial fishing regulations, during the later half of July, provide salmon more opportunity to migrate up the middle of the inlet and reach Mat-Su Valley streams. Since ADF&G figures it takes salmon about a week to migrate up the inlet, and since these regulations will have been in effect for about a week by the July 23 /24 weekend a substantial abundance of salmon should start showing up in Northern Cook Inlet and Mat-Su Valley streams, perhaps as early as, this weekend.

Good Luck and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide who primarily targets ocean-run salmon during summer months. You can read daily fishing reports on his Fishtale River Guides website: https://www.fish4salmon.com