Pike derby crowns winners as high water impacts salmon harvests

What you need to know:

• Dipnetting is hot at Fish Creek with the season's highest sockeye counts passing through the weir this week.
• The Big Lake Pike Derby drew 145 anglers, including 43 youth. Kurt Luger earned top fish honors with a 33.125-inch pike, while heavy rains and cooler water likely contributed to a modest catch of 61 pike.
• Coho salmon are beginning to arrive in Mat-Su waters. The first coho have been counted at the Fish Creek weir, youth fishing opportunities begin Aug. 1 at Fish Creek, and several Mat-Su fisheries could offer their best coho fishing over the next two weeks if river conditions continue to improve.
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Dip netting at Fish Creek is hot right now, with the highest daily sockeye counts of the year passing through the Fish Creek weir since Sunday. Monday and Tuesday saw 19,203 and 14,894, respectively. That makes Fish Creek the one really good fishery in Mat-Su, at least for now.

In the next two weeks, several Mat-Su Valley fisheries may provide peak coho salmon opportunities. But because of the prolonged high water and the lack of large salmon returns in most area fisheries so far, it remains to be seen how strong the peak of the run will be.

This week's report includes results from the Big Lake Pike Derby, updates on personal use dip net fisheries, the latest salmon fishing reports from around the Valley, and a look at where anglers may find the best opportunities as coho season gets underway.

33-inch pike takes the prize at Big Lake derby

About 140 people, including 43 youth, participated in the Big Lake Pike Derby Saturday, which launched from Burkeshore Marina.

Kurt Luger's 33.125-inch pike earned top fish honors, winning him a new 20-horsepower Mercury outboard motor donated by Explore AK Services. Trevor Haas won the cash prize after catching 12 pike, the most of any angler. Youth angler Falcon caught the largest fish for his age group, measuring 24.625 inches.

A total of 61 pike were caught during the derby. According to Mat-Su Valley fishing guides who specialize in northern pike trips, fishing success on Saturday may have been reduced by several days of heavy rain that cooled waters throughout the Mat-Su Valley.

Chennery Fife with Trout Unlimited photographed the event and said every youth angler attending the awards ceremony received a new rod-and-reel combo. Big Ray's donated 18 of the rod-and-reel outfits.

Mat-Su personal use dip netting

Despite extremely high water levels on the Susitna and Yentna rivers on Saturday, July 25, dozens of boaters made the trip down the Susitna River past the Yentna River confluence to the Lower Susitna River Personal Use Dip Net Fishing Area.

I took two people in my boat, and no sand or gravel bars were exposed during the entire trip.

For the first two hours, they caught only a couple of chum salmon. As water levels fell during the day, they began catching occasional sockeye, pink and coho salmon mixed in with the chums. By day's end, they had harvested 30 sockeye, five coho and one chum salmon.

Other boats also caught fish, but on the stretch we drifted, and I would describe the fishing as merely fair.

Wednesday, July 29, was the final open day for dip netting at the Lower Susitna River this season. It was likely the best day of the season for catch rates because of stronger salmon numbers and lower water levels. 

Fish Creek personal use dip netting

Fish Creek continued to draw a steady crowd of dip netters throughout the weekend. Despite higher-than-normal water, the small fishing area likely produced some very good catches.

Even with the fishery operating from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, sockeye salmon counts passing the weir upstream of the dip netting area totaled 8,196 on Friday, 5,953 on Saturday and 13,069 on Sunday.

The personal use dip net fishery is scheduled to end at 11 p.m. July 31, giving Mat-Su anglers one final day to participate after this column is published. The sockeye return has already exceeded ADF&G's Sustainable Escapement Goal.

Kenai River dip netting

Kenai River dip netting finally shifted into high gear as large runs of sockeye entered the river beginning Friday, July 24.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued an emergency order extending personal use dip netting to 24 hours a day from July 28-31. The fishery is scheduled to close at 11:59 p.m. July 31.

Sport fishing for Kenai River sockeye could remain productive for several more weeks.

Kasilof River personal use fishery

The Kasilof River personal use fishery remains open 24 hours a day through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 7. The sockeye return has already exceeded ADF&G's Sustainable Escapement Goal.

Upper Cook Inlet personal use permit holders should soon begin submitting their annual harvest and effort reports.

High water, low harvests for Susitna River drainage

When I talked with Saul Correa of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla on Monday, the shop had heard few reports of sport anglers catching salmon throughout the Susitna River drainage.

Jim Tilton of Deshka Landing Charters and Lodge said his clients caught a few pink salmon and one chum salmon on Monday, July 27. He also noted the Susitna River had recently dropped about 4 feet. While low-lying areas still have plenty of water to drain, lower river and stream levels should improve upstream salmon migration.

Four species of salmon were caught in the Lower Susitna River personal use dip net fishery on Saturday, so more fish should begin arriving in Parks Highway streams north of Willow by this weekend.

Fish Creek youth fishery Aug. 1-2; general sport fishery opens Aug. 3

Although the personal use fishery is still underway, state fish and game officials have started counting the first coho salmon passing the Fish Creek weir. Large numbers of sockeye salmon, along with some coho salmon, will likely be available in the salmon fishing area near Knik-Goose Bay Road on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2. Fishing hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The area will be open only to anglers younger than 16 on Aug. 1 and 2. It opens to all anglers beginning Aug. 3 from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The bag limit for salmon except kings at Fish Creek is six per day, six in possession of which only two may be coho salmon under an update released by state fish and game officials Thursday. Fishing for king salmon remains closed.

Little Susitna River

Despite high, muddy water, anglers have been catching some chum and coho salmon near the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility campground and boat launch.

The salmon counting weir has been flooded since July 20, with no coho salmon counted before operations were interrupted. As water levels continue to fall, fishing success will likely improve here and at other Mat-Su locations.

The Little Susitna River is scheduled to open to bait fishing Aug. 6.

Jim Creek

No sockeye or coho salmon had been counted through the Jim Creek weir as of Sunday, July 26. Positive salmon counts may already be occurring by the time this column is published.

Deshka River

According to Jim Tilton, the Deshka River weir was flooded so severely that ADF&G may not be able to resume operations this season. King salmon and one chum salmon were the only species counted before the weir flooded July 15.

Rabbit Slough

Rabbit Slough will likely have cleaner water conditions and could provide good coho fishing this weekend. It is open only Saturdays and Sundays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cottonwood Creek

Cottonwood Creek is another small fishing area that should have favorable water conditions for sockeye and coho salmon this weekend. Salmon fishing on the lower end of the creek is open Saturdays and Sundays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Eklutna Tailrace

Correa said the shop has heard from many anglers planning to fish the Eklutna Tailrace but has received very few reports of salmon being caught. The site offers good access and free parking.

Larson Creek weir

The Larson Creek weir remained flooded as of Sunday, July 26, with no sockeye salmon counted.

Judd Lake weir

No salmon had been counted passing the Judd Lake weir as of Sunday, July 26.

Chelatna Lake weir

No salmon had been counted as of Sunday, July 26. Water remained too high to install the weir.

Ship Creek

Bait Shack owner Dustin Slinker said anglers have been catching some coho, pink and chum salmon in Ship Creek, which receives returning hatchery coho. While fishing has not yet been exceptional, he believes the next three to four days could provide a good indication of how the season will develop.

Upcoming event

The Montana Creek Campground Youth Pink Salmon Derby is scheduled from 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, until noon Sunday, Aug. 9.

The entry fee is $20. For more information, call Montana Creek Campground at 907-733-8255.

Good luck and fish on!

Andy Couch has guided fishing trips in the Mat-Su Valley for more than 40 years and is a member of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee. Statements and quotes in this column represent those organizations or individuals only when specifically noted.