The Mat-Su salmon desert, kings for youth and open zone streams

As reported last week, the Eklutna Tailrace Youth King Salmon Fishery is a one-day event from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, when a youth-fishing-only zone from the Eklutna Tailrace confluence with the Knik River upstream to the pedestrian bridge will be open exclusively to youth anglers age 15 and younger. Older anglers may assist youth in fishing the exclusive zone (netting fish or perhaps providing casting demonstrations or instruction).

The remainder of the tailrace and Knik River waters open to king salmon fishing will remain open to anglers of all ages.

Note: On June 12, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sport Fish Director Israel Payton told me that king salmon had been observed surfacing in the tailrace as far upstream as the Eklutna Salmon Hatchery, so there is a high likelihood that some lucky youth anglers may land a beautiful chrome king salmon on Saturday.

For youth or other anglers who may not have the right fishing gear to catch a king salmon, ADF&G has a rod-and-reel loaner program. Anglers would need to provide their own bait or lures. Rod-and-reel combinations are available at the ADF&G office in Palmer. You may call 907-746-6300 for information about rods and reels and the Eklutna Tailrace Youth King Salmon Fishery.

Knik River and Eklutna Tailrace king salmon update

I guided four king salmon fishing trips to the Knik River side channel below the tailrace late last week, with each group of anglers averaging about one king salmon bite or hookup per trip. My guests caught king salmon on two of those trips and came back without a fish on the other two trips. On some trips, we saw one or more salmon surface, and we also saw other groups in boats fight and/or land a king salmon.

There have been boat anglers fishing all of the approximately one-quarter mile of deeper water (3 to 4 feet) in the lower side channel each time I've been there. Most of the king salmon are caught on bait (usually salmon roe) in this section of the river, but anglers also catch king salmon on plugs and spinners.

Upstream at Eklutna Tailrace, the majority of king salmon are often caught near the tailrace/Knik River confluence and downstream for about 50 yards below the fish-cleaning table. But a fair number of king salmon are caught as far upstream as the Eklutna Salmon Hatchery. When present, king salmon may often be seen surfacing infrequently throughout this entire area.

Some anglers catch a king salmon immediately upon starting to fish, but more often anglers may have to fish for several hours or even days to land a king salmon from this fishery. With all Mat-Su anglers hoping to catch a large ocean-run king salmon crowded into this small fishing area, the logical result is slow catching and harvesting success for most participants.

This fishery remains the only Mat-Su location open to fishing for and harvesting ocean-run king salmon and will continue to have considerable participation for that reason.

Palmer-Wasilla zone streams open to fishing

The stream closure to protect wild spawning rainbow trout ended, with legal fishing opening at 12:01 a.m. June 15. Wasilla Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Fish Creek/Meadow Creek are some of the more popular stream fisheries, particularly with youth anglers.

There is a considerable amount of private property along these streams, and anglers should get property owners' permission before fishing from those areas.

Harvest opportunity is limited to two rainbow trout per day in Mat-Su flowing waters (streams), while more generous rainbow trout harvest opportunities are provided in lakes stocked by ADF&G.

Mat-Su salmon desert

While portions of many Mat-Su Valley streams are now open to salmon fishing (for species other than king salmon), sport anglers will likely catch very few, if any, ocean-run sockeye, chum, pink or coho salmon until July. Even during July, most of the salmon harvest will occur during the latter half of the month. August is generally considered the best month for catching coho salmon in the Mat-Su Valley.

Before July, there are simply very few salmon, other than king salmon, available in most Mat-Su Valley streams. Anglers can still experience an enjoyable trip prospecting for fish in locations such as lower Wasilla, lower Cottonwood and lower Fish creeks, but with the Mat-Su Valley being mostly a salmon desert before July, anglers desiring to harvest salmon may want to road-trip north to the Copper River drainage.

Peak Copper River personal use and subsistence salmon harvesting

It appears the early-peaking abundance of sockeye and king salmon may already be swimming up the Copper River. Sonar counts at the Miles Lake location exceeded 10,000 fish for eight consecutive days beginning June 3 in 2026.

According to ADF&G data, salmon migration time to the Chitina personal use dipnet fishery and lower Glennallen subsistence fishery can vary between about a week during lower river flow conditions (which we've experienced recently) and approximately two weeks during more regular water conditions. It is, therefore, highly likely that peak June salmon returns may now be migrating through these extremely popular salmon harvest fisheries, which are open exclusively to Alaska residents.

Since gear costs are considerably less expensive, most Alaskans use dipnets to participate in these two fisheries rather than fish wheels. The Copper River is fast and carries one of the largest silt loads of any Alaska river, so people should wear a personal flotation device, or PFD, and exercise caution when fishing it.

You can see ADF&G video instructions for Alaskans about Copper River dipnetting techniques on their website.

A household permit is required to participate in these fisheries. The personal use fishing schedule is announced by emergency order, with this most recently announced fishing opportunity.

Planning ahead for the Big Lake Pike Derby scheduled for July 25

The second annual Big Lake Pike Derby is a one-day event hosted at Burkeshore Marina scheduled for Saturday, July 25. Registration starts at 6 a.m. 

Costs are $10 for children younger than 14 and $30 for adults age 15 and older, and include a boat launch, according to the flyer I was sent. This raises an obvious question: Is there a specific cost for 14-year-old individuals?

Derby hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the first-place prize for adults being a 20-horsepower Mercury outboard and the first-place prize for youth being $500. More than $2,500 in additional prizes are scheduled to be awarded, with a special prize for the most fish (pike?) caught.

Contact the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce at 907-892-6109 if you have questions or need additional information.

Good luck and fish on!

Andy Couch has guided Mat-Su Valley fishing trips 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. However, statements and quotes in this column represent specific organizations or individuals only when so noted.