Anxious Alaska anglers fighting the effects of a late break-up and a truly horrific king salmon forecast finally saw a glimmer of hope this week. Kings are finally being caught, and a looming rush of red salmon are poised to enter Southcentral Alaska rivers like invading lemmings.
Mat-Su
"Things are picking up, daily, in both the number of fish we are seeing, and the number of fishermen," said Ashley Stringer, who works at Deshka Landing, a popular boat-launching site along the Parks Highway. Stringer reports that the Deshka River is getting clearer, and fish are beginning to roll. "A few king salmon have been caught this week, and we expect to see even more in the next 10 days to two weeks," Stringer said.
"There have been a few kings caught along the Little Susitna River," said Ryan Ragan, an information officer for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. "We will also be installing the fish-counting weir on the Deshka River on Friday, so we should get a better view of what's going on in the (Mat-Su) Valley rivers and streams," said Ragan.
King salmon are also nosing into the Eklutna Tailrace slough. The Tailrace, about 7 miles down the Old Glenn Highway from where it peels off the Glenn Highway, is a hatchery fishery for kings, so none of the multiple Mat-Su restrictions apply there. "We've seen a few fish caught there already this year," said Ragan.
Elsewhere in the Mat-Su, there are a wide array of king salmon fishing closures and restrictions. Check this updated list containing emergency orders statewide.
As with other parts of Southcentral, the late-arriving spring has delayed many migrating fish bound for local rivers and streams. But one latecomer is showing up in force.
"Hooligan runs in the Valley, as well as other parts of Southcentral, have been quite strong," said Ragan. Hooligan, or candlefish, are small, oily smelt. They run up local rivers in May, but are still being found in large numbers. The season for dipnetting hooligan in salt water has closed. But fresh water dipping in rivers and streams continues through June 15.
Pike fishing is also getting hot. "Pike fishing is actually very good right now, with the fish cruising the shallow, near-shore areas in the early mornings and late afternoons," said Ragan. Pike are an invasive species in Southcentral, and Fish and Game suggests that you kill and keep all the pike you catch. There are no bag limits for this veracious predator, and they can be fun to catch, especially with top-water baits imitating mice and frogs.
Anchorage area
"Kings are rolling in at Ship Creek," said Dustin Slinker, who owns the Ship Creek Bait Shack.
"A few jacks have been caught on the incoming and outgoing tides, and some larger fish have been hooked, but not landed," Slinker said. Water conditions in Ship Creek, which had been extremely high and muddy, continue to improve. "I expect the next few tides could see more significant numbers of fish caught down here," Slinker said.
The Ship Creek Slam'n Salm'n Derby begins in Anchorage Friday, running through June 16 and benefiting the Downtown Soup Kitchen. Derby officials have already netted and tagged 10 fish that can early derby anglers prizes. Slinker estimates the winning king salmon will probably break the 40-pound barrier. "They are in there, and I expect to see a lot more fish -- and people -- over the weekend," Slinker said.
If you are looking for something other than salmon in Anchorage, try an area lake. All local lakes, except Beach Lake in Chugiak, have been stocked with fish. Fish and Game says 2,500 trout averaging 8.5 inches were put into Taku Lake on Monday. And a few trout longer than 20 inches have been stocked in Cheney Lake, too. Big Arctic char can still be found patrolling the waters of Little Campbell Lake in Kincaid Park.
Kenai Peninsula
Saltwater fishing remains hot on the Kenai Peninsula. Charter operators in Ninilchik report catching both king salmon and halibut. A few kings are being caught in the Kasilof River, too. "Actually, the Kasilof seems to be, for now, a ray of sunshine for king fishing, at least compared to other local rivers," said Ragan. Fish and Game says king catches are increasing there, with some reds beginning to show up, too. Only hatchery fish (fish that have their adipose fin clipped) may be kept.
Things are not as optimistic on the Kenai River, at least for that river's legendary king salmon. The state estimates the number of Kenai River kings will be the lowest in 28 years of record keeping. Go here for regulations and emergency orders on the Kenai Peninsula.
But the best news for salmon fishermen may be the sockeye salmon numbers.
"Early estimates predict a run 13 percent higher than the 20 year average for the Kenai, with 4.4 million red salmon predicted to return this year," said Ragan. But it is still early. "With the late break-up, and muddy water, only a few sockeye salmon have been caught so far, when normally we would see a lot more fish already in the Kenai River," Ragan said. Fish and Game estimates the biggest number of fish will run the river in July, which is when the popular dipnet fishery at the Kenai River's mouth begins.
As with Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, Fish and Game has already stocked Kenai area lakes with trout and other small fish.
Seward and Valdez
Red salmon are entering the Resurrection River in Seward. Sockeyes are also being caught in saltwater with snag hooks. "Things should only get better in Seward from here on," Ragan said. Fish and Game reported that halibut are also being caught in good numbers and increasing size, with a 181-pound fish landed earlier this week by an angler who lacked a derby ticket. A few kings have been reeled in near the lagoon, too.
In Valdez, the action remains in saltwater. "We haven't seen any salmon yet," said Joe Prax, owner of Prospector Outfitters. But halibut are thick in Prince William Sound. "The derby leader is already a 158-pounder," said Prax. If you fish anywhere for halibut, get derby ticket if you don't want to expose yourself to a huge disappointment.
The Chitna dip net fishery won't be open this year until Monday June 10 because of how few fish were counted up the Copper River.
A little homework should increase your odds of landing a fish this week, especially if you don't have your heart set on a king. But look on the bright side: A hook and a dream is all you really need to satiate the summer salmon fever. Catching a fish? That's just a bonus.
Contact Sean Doogan at sean(at)alaskadispatch.com