Our 2018 coho (silver) salmon season is off to a wonderful start with consistent catches of large coho salmon starting on Sunday July 21. Feel welcome to read our July 2018 Alaska Fishing Reports page to learn about how our 2018 silver salmon season started. August is peak month for catching silver salmon on Little Susitna River, Deshka River, and other Mat-Su Valley streams. When fishing Little Susitna River during the first 5 days of the month we will be casting our homemade Flashtrap Spinners and possibly back trolling with Mag Lip or Kwikfish plugs. While many Mat-Su silver salmon fisheries opened to bait fishing back on July 14 — the Little Susitna River is scheduled to open to bait fishing on August 6. With goof numbers of silver salmon we have already been catching while casting spinners, we are confident the Little Sustina River bait fishing opportunity, starting on August 6, will be excellent in 2018. We expect good Little Susitna River silver salmon fishing through the entire month of August and into September during the 2018 season. Scroll down further for our latest August 2018 fishing reports.
Wednesday August 1, 2018 — My wife scheduled my morning so I could write my weekly fishing column for the Frontiersman Newspaper, so it was good to get some extra sleep and write my newspaper column.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests who caught 4 silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. I could only find a few extra opportunities at silver salmon this afternoon — but on most trips we usually miss some opportunities. A good number of silver salmon migrated up past the weir last night and it seems like there simply weren’t as many available to take their place today. During out trip we saw a bald eagle and a couple flocks of ducks. I will be guiding again tomorrow..
Thursday August 2, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 6 guests, who harvested 8 silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, who harvested 6 silver salmon on #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
Friday August 3, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom harvested a limit of silver salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. It was a nice cool morning.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, who caught 3 silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. We were on silver salmon that were biting briefly near the start of the trip, but after that it was pretty scratch fishing for my group. The afternoon was hot and sunny with a considerably amount of boat traffic in the area we were fishing.
Saturday August 4, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw some a beaver, sandhill cranes, and ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, who caught 7 silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. We saw ducks during the trip.
Sunday August 5, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests. each pf whom harvested a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the morning we saw a young moose down at the river looking us over as the group fished.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Weather was cool cloudy, and raining a little at times — perfect for good afternoon fishing.
Monday August 6, 2018 — Opening day for bait fishing on Little Susitna River — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. There was a good crowd of anglers out on the Little Susitna River, and most of the boaters seemed to be bringing back silver salmon. During the trip we saw a couple groups of ducks and a beaver along the bank.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests (including my mother and my wife). Each person caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Tuesday August 7, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. It was raining near the end of the trip and the river was rising quickly.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, and with the high muddy water we discussed whether what the fishing might be like, but they wanted to fish so off we went. Both guests caught their limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. On the drive home I saw a cow and calf moose alongside the road.
Wednesday August 8 — Little Susitna River Silver Salmon Bag Limit Increased to 3 per day. Starting today the Alaska Department of Fish and Game raised the limit for silver (coho) salmon to 3 fish on the Little Susitna River. I am writing my weekly Frontiersman Newspaper Fishing column today — it will appear in the Friday August 10 paper. Both Greg Acord and Russ Colee will be guiding trips today — so I plan to post updates from their trips later in the evening. Currently water is high and muddy at Little Susitna River.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 5 guests who caught 5 silver salmon. Russ mentioned that the river had continued to come up overnight, and seemed to be on the rise throughout his trip this morning. They tried several spots and caught all of their fish from one location.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a 3-fish limit of silver salmon. In addition the group caught some pink salmon, some chum salmon, and 2 small king salmon before each guest had limited on silvers.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 3 guests who caught 5 silver salmon. Greg mentioned the water remained high, but seemed like it may have peaked during the afternoon trip.
Thursday August 9, 2018– Greg Acord guided a morning group that limited on silvers.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, with each guest catching a limit of silvers.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests who caught a total of 8 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. We fished the Deshka River and only got bites at one spot, although we fished quite a few spots. We did see a good numbers of jumpers. The water was high and somewhat off-color for the Deshka.
Friday August 10 — Water was the highest it has been this week. I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure under ESB Bobbers.
I took my wife and a friend fishing in the afternoon and each of them caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Russ also had an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting salmon roe under ESb Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 6 guests who caught 10 silver salmon.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon.
Saturday August 11 — I guided 4 guests in the morning each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. Guests caught salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers and also on #5 pink, and #5 Silver / Black Flashtrap Spinners.
I guided an afternoon trip of 4 guests and each guest caught a limit of silver salmon. Once again guests caught salmon on Both Flashtrap Spinners and Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. As we were driving up the river we saw a bald eagle low over the river.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon.
Sunday August 12, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. The fish were caught primarily while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers and while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. It was a wet day on the river, but fishing pressure and boating traffic was light.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 6 guests, who caught 15 silver salmon primarily on bait fished under bobbers.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while fishing Fire Cured salmon roe.
Monday August 13, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Near the end of the morning trip we saw and heard a bald eagle perched above the river.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the afternoon trip we saw a bald eagle right beside the river.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 3 guests who caught 7 silver salmon while drifting salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Tuesday 14 — I took my wife and some friends fishing in the morning and each of them caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw some bald eagles along the river.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure under ESB bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 3 people each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught . . .
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, who caught 9 silver salmon while drifting salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
August 15 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw a moose along the river.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group . . .
August 16 — I fished with Pautzke Bait Company pro staffers and pro staff director Chris Shaffer in the morning. We caught and harvested some limits of silver salmon — all on salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure and drifted under ESB Bobbers.
In the afternoon I took my wife and mother fishing, and each of them caught a limit of silver salmon. My mother caught one large silver salmon on a #5 silver / black Flashtrap Spinner, and all of the other salmon were caught on on Fire Cured roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. During the afternoon we saw 3 bald eagles perched along the river. Water is high and muddy.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 5 guests who caught 14 silver salmon mostly on salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 guests, who caught 11 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, who caught 8 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Friday August 17, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip my guests spotted 2 moose, a beaver, and a bald eagle.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. They caught 5 silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. One silver salmon was caught while casting a #5 silver / black Flashtrap Spinner. During the afternoon trip the guests saw a moose cross the river very closely in front of the boat, and they also saw a bald eagle perched along the river.
Saturday August 18, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 5 people, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. 4 silver salmon were caught on #5 Silver/Black Flashtrap Spinners and 11 silver salmon were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw a bald eagle, and a hawk chasing a king fisher, along with lots of ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom harvested a limit a limit of silver salmon. 6 silver salmon were caught on #5 Silver / Black Flashtrap Spinners and 6 silver salmon were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw a mink, lots of ducks, and a bald eagle.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 5 guests who harvested 11 silver salmon.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 people, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon.
Sunday August 19, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests who harvested 9 silver salmon and 1 bright chum salmon. The chum salmon was the best chum salmon I had seen in a couple weeks. 4 silver salmon were caught on #5 Flashtrap Spinners, and 5 silver salmon were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw a couple bald eagles and lots of ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. It rained quite a bit in the afternoon.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom harvested a limit of silver salmon on salmon roe.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom harvested a limit of silver salmon.
Monday August 20, 2019 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 3 guests. each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe.
Russ Colee guided a morning group of 4 guests who harvested 11 silver salmon. Most of the fish were caught back trolling with jet planers and salmon roe.
Russ Colee guided an afternoon group of 4 guests who caught 6 silver salmon while primarily fishing salmon roe behind het planers. It was a wet rainy afternoon / evening with the water rising. This will be Russ ‘s last trip for the 2018 season.
Tuesday August 21 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, who caught 11 silver salmon. 8 silvers were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers and 3 silver salmon were caught by casting and retrieving #5 pink and #5 silver / black Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw some moose and a bald eagle.
In the afternoon I took 3 friends fishing — each of whom harvested a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. It rained most of each trip — and I suspect the already high water may be going higher once again.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon.
Wednesday August 22 —I guided a morning group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
In the afternoon I changed the oil in my boat motor — a maintenance item that had needed doing for several days. I also wrote my weekly Frontiersman newspaper fishing column and built some additional Flashtrap Spinners.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 guests that harvested 11 silver salmon.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 5 guests that caught about 10 silver salmon ( I forgot the number but believe it was between 10 — 12). Greg mentioned that the water was rising, muddy, with lots of debris.
August 23– I guided a morning group of 5 guests who harvested 13 silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw some sandhill cranes and some ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, who harvested 8 silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. It was a cool wet afternoon, and the guests who was still fishing decided to call it a day a bit early, so we returned to the landing and filleted the catch. The water was higher and muddier today creating different fishing conditions that provided less bites during my trips. During each trip we fished several different spots — catching a few fish in different places.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 guests, each or whom caught a limit of silver salmon while using patience and fishing the entire time at one spot.
August 24 — I guided a morning group of 6 guests, who harvested 14 silver salmon, all of which were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw a bald eagle.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fired Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. We had some brief periods of sunshine in the afternoon between the rain showers.
August 25 — I guided a group of 4 guests who caught 11 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a group of 2 guests who each caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe. The water was on the rise and getting a bit muddier today.
August 26 — I guided a morning group of 6 guests, who caught 13 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon/ evening group of 4 guests, each of whom harvested a limit of salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a morning group who caught several silver salmon, but decided to come back early even though everyone had not yet caught a limit.
Greg guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe.
Most of the silver salmon we are catching at this time have a rosy colored blush — although there are still a few chrome bright fish.
August 27, 2018 — I guided a group of 4 people, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Water level in the lower river was about the same as it was on Sunday. There was a lot of rainfall on Sunday and the USGS water chart for Little Sustina River is showing that the already high water should more than double in volume over the next few days in the lower river.
Tuesday August 28, 2018 —The latest high water hit the lower Little Susitna River today. I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests who harvested 7 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. We quit about an hour early so one of the guests could go to a job interview. During the trip we saw some ducks and a couple bald eagles.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group that caught some silver salmon, but only kept 4 of the fish. As mentioned earlier most of the silver are now getting darker in color.
August 29 — Water was very high and coming up throughout the day. I guided a morning group of 6 guests, who harvested 11 silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of who harvested a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 3 guests, who caught caught a good number of silver salmon, but did not keep limits.
Greg Acord guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, who caught 6 salmon and 2 rainbow trout, but only kept two of the salmon.
Thursday August 30, 2018 — Water in the lower Little Susitna River was at the highest level I’ve fished this silver salmon season at the start of the trip — it had started to drop by the time my trip was over. I guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB bobbers and casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
August 31 — I guided a group of 4 guests, who harvested 8 silver salmon and released a silver salmon. 7 silver salmon were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers and 2 silver salmon were caught while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
Greg Acord guided a group of 4 guests who caught more silver salmon, but only kept about 8 fish as well.
Sept. 1-15 Currently availability on most dates. If you would like to make a September reservation please call us at 907-746-2199 For our next 2018 Alaska Fishing Report — go to our September 2018 Alaska Fishing Reports Page.