August 2025 Alaska Fishing Reports
August is the month when our guided salmon fishing charter guests harvest the most silver (coho) salmon. Mat-Su Valley salmon anglers also continue catching some chum, pink, and sockeye salmon during August. Deshka River coho fishing often peaks during the first half of August, while coho catching at Little Susitna River can be productive throughout the entire month, and particularly on years with strong salmon returns. Coho can readily be caught on both artificial lures and bait (in particular cured salmon roe for Mat-Su Valley fisheries). Bait fishing is normally open the entire month of August at Deshka River and Knik River, and is scheduled to open at Little Susitna River on August 6. Scroll down for our most recent August 2025 Fishing Report:
August 1, 2025 — Greg Acord guided a group of two who casted spinners for salmon. The woman caught two extremely bright chum salmon which they harvested. Greg mentioned seeing salmon at just about every place they fished, and they hooked but lost other salmon during the trip, and enjoyed a good afternoon on the river. Greg said the weather turned out nice in the afternoon as well, with no rain.
August 2, 2025 — I guided a family of 5 who wanted to experience the opportunity to catch Alaska salmon. 4 of the 5 guests caught a salmon, and their 8 year-old daughter hooked a couple salmon, but lost them before she could get them to the net. They caught some pinks, a chum, and a coho, and also fought several other salmon as well. During the trip we saw a bald eagle along the river, and boated several miles along the river. They only wanted to keep one salmon for dinner, and kept the coho their elder daughter caught while casting with a #5 Flashtrap Spinner. It rained lightly most of the trip, but the family was prepared with everyone wearing good rain gear.
August 3, 2025 — I guided an 11 am group of 4 people, each of whom caught salmon. They caught mostly chum salmon, and a good number of them, although I did not keep a count. They also caught a few pink salmon, and 1 coho salmon. Most of the fish ( including the coho salmon ) were caught on small diving plugs equipped with one single hook. A few salmon were also caught by casing with #4.5 and #5 Flashtrap Spinners. Durin the trip we saw multiple bald eagles along the river, and we also enjoyed some warm sunny weather. The group only kept two salmon — a very chrome chum salmon and the coho salmon.
August 4, 2025 — I guided a family group of 5 guests for Dan Suprak. They caught and harvested a couple nice coho salmon and chum salmon and also released a few salmon. The fish were caught on a #5 Flashtrap Spinner and small diving plugs. During the trip the group saw several bald eagles, ducks, and herring gulls along the river. They also enjoyed some warm sunny weather.
August 5, 2025 — I guided an early morning family group of 5 guests , who caught and harvested 10 coho salmon on #5 Flastrap Spinners. During the trip we saw some bald eagles, ducks, a beaver, and a few uff us also saw a moose before it quickly stepped into the brush along the river.It was a cool somewhat foggy morning that turned into a warm sunny day during the trip.
August 6, 2025 — I guided a 5 a.m. group of 4 anglers, each of whom caught a limit of coho salmon while drifting salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure under ESB Bobbers. One guest also caught and released a nice rainbow trout on the same bait. They saw a bald eagle along the river and very light fishing pressure from other anglers.
I guided a later group of 3 people who harvested their limits of coho salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. They also caught and released 4 rainbow trout on the same bait. In the afternoon there was also light fishing pressure.
August 7, 2025 — I guided a 5 a.m. group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of coho salmon by drifting salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure under ESB Bobbers..
I guided an 11 a.m.group of 5 guests, each of whom caught / harvested a limit of coho salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Friday August 8, 2025 — I guided a 5:30 am group of 3 guests each of whom caught a limit of coho salmon on while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guide an 11 a.m. group of 4 guests, 3 of whom caught a limit of coho salmon, and one of whom caught a single coho salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Saturday August 9, 2025 — I guided a 5:30 a.m. family group of 3 guests, and each of them caught and harvested a limit of coho salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw a couple broods of ducks along the river. Fishing pressure was relatively light on what should have been the busiest weekend of the salmon season. We fished 6 different stretches of river to harvest the fish — and caught salmon in 3 of those stretches.
Sunday August 10, 2025 — I took a group of 3 anglers from Pautzke Bait Company fishing today and using Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers, they each managed to catch a limit of salmon, and I managed to catch a couple myself. During the trip we saw bald eagles and ducks along the river, and also saw a black bear.
Monday August 11, 2025 — I guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught and harvested a limit of salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we heard sandhill cranes and saw some bald eagles along the river. It started out a bit damp, but our trip ended in warm sunshine.
Tuesday August 12, 2025 — I have a day off from salmon guiding, and will be writing the Mat-Su Anglers column to appear in the Friday August 15 edition of the Frontiersman Newspaper.
Greg Acord guided a group of 2 guests for us today, and each of them caught a limit of coho salmon while fishing Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. They also caught a chum salmon and a trout before harvesting their limits of coho salmon. The water level was up a bit following the recent rain and there was light fishing pressure on the river.
In talking with ADF&G biologist Samantha Oslund ,out of the Palmer office ,I was expecting the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to issue emergency orders changing coho salmon fishing regulation at Deshka River and Little Susitna River. That did not occur on Tuesday — but those changes still be announced at some point on Wednesday. Check back Wednesday for an update — as to if those regulation changes occur.
Wednesday August 13, 2025 — Little Susitna River and Deshka River — Coho Salmon limits reduced to one coho daily per angler. In addition, both rivers restricted to artificial lures only — NO Bait. New Regulations are scheduled to start on Friday August 15. Note: At present, all other Mat-Su Valley coho salmon fisheries continue with standard regulations.
Since we had no guided trips on Wednesday, I fished with a friend, during the middle of the day, and we each caught and harvested a limit of salmon while using Fire Cured salmon roe — either fished behind a jet diver or drifted under a bobber. During the trip we heard and saw sandhill cranes along the river.
Thursday August 14, 2025 — I guided an 8 a.m. group of 5 guests, who limited with coho / sockeye salmon caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip we saw bald eagles and ducks along the river.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, who landed 6 coho salmon and 1 sockeye salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip we saw and heard bald eagles calling near the river and also saw broods of ducks.
Greg Acord guided a group of 4 guests on an 8 a.m. trip, 3 of whom caught a limit of coho salmon, and one of whom caught a single coho salmon. In addition they also caught several chum salmon and a couple whitefish. Most of the coho were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under bobbers, but one of the anglers caught his fish while fly fishing with his own gear.
Coho Salmon Weir Counts posted on ADF&G Website through August 13, 2o25: Little Susitna River — 2,694 Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG): 9,200 — 17,700 Deshka River — 367 SEG: 10,200 — 24,100 Fish Creek — 1,581 SEG: 1,200 — 4,400. ***Weir passage already with in the escapement goal range Jim Creek — 1,181 ADF&G weir-based SEG not established.
Friday August 15, 2025 — I guided an 11:30 a.m. group of 4 people, who caught 8 coho salmon and 1 sockeye salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip we saw ducks and eagles along the river.
One Coho Salmon Daily Limit and Artificial Lures Only regulations start today at Little Susitna River and Deshka River.
Saturday August 16, 2025 — Both of my Saturday groups downsized — so I guided 2 anglers in the morning who caught / harvested limits of salmon (coho and 1 sockeye) while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers.
I guided another two anglers in the afternoon who harvested limits of coho salmon by once again, drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During both trips we saw bald eagles along the river.
Sunday August 17, 2025 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests, who caught and harvested 5 coho salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, 1 of whom fished and caught a single coho salmon by drifting Fire Cure salmon roe under bobbers. The number of bites continues to dwidle for both the morning and afternoon trips. During both trips we saw ducks and bald eagles along the river.
Monday August 18, 2025 — I took some folks from Pautzke Bait Company in the morning and we caught a couple sockeye salmon, and some coho salmon while drifting salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure with additional Fire Power (krill scent). During the trip we saw some bald eagles along the river and a cow and calf moose swimming across the river as we motored nearby.
I guided and afternoon group of 4 guests, who caught 5 quality coho salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. We fished several holes to catch fish in 43 different locations.
Tuesday August 19, 2025 ––I guided a husband, wife, and their 3 young daughters on an 8 a.m. salmon fishing trip, in which they fished hard for every bite. The wife caught 2 coho, the husband caught 1 coho, and the two daughters who fished worked at it diligently, but were unable to hook a salmon. We only saw a few fish surface today, but during the trip we did see bald eagles, a trumpeter swan, and ducks. Fishing pressure was light on the river today.
Wednesday August 20, 2025 — I had a day off from guiding, But wrote and submitted my weekly fishing coulmn for the Friday August 22, 2025 Frontiersman Newspaper.
Thursday August 21, 2025 — I guided a 8 a.m. group of 5 guests, who caught 6 coho salmon and 1 sockeye salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip we saw several bald eagles and some ducks along the river.
Friday August 22, 2025 — My wife and I took an exploratory fishing trip up the Parks Highway, and had a good boat trip, but did not find much for salmon where we were looking.
Saturday August 23, 2025 — I guided a 7:30 a.m. group of 3 people, who caught 6 coho salmon and 1 bright sockeye salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip we saw several bald eagles and ducks.
Sunday August 24, 2025 — I guided a 7:30 a.m. group of 2 guests, each of whom caught and harvested 2 coho salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. One of the guests also caught a large dark male sockeye salmon, which he decided to release. During the trip we saw several bald eagles and ducks along the river.
Monday August 25, 2025 — I joined a nephew for a day of moose hunting. It was a fun trip and we saw quite a bit of wildlife, but no legal moose.
Tuesday August 26, 2025 — I wrote my fishing column for the Friday August 29, 2025 Frontiersman Newspaper and also did some additional writing.
Wednesday August 27, 2025 — I guided a 7:30 a.m. family group of 3 guests, who caught 5 coho salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. Each guest caught a salmon, and we saw a moose and ducks along the river.
Thursday August 28, 2025 — I guided a group of 3 guests on a 7:30 a.m. trip that threatened to be very wet and windy. As it turned out there was hardly any rain at all during the trip, but it was extremely windy, and the river was high and dark-colored from rain the previous day and overnight. My guests put in a good effort, fishing multiple spots for considerable lengths of time, however we were unable to find any abundance of salmon, and did not catch any fish. As in most previous trips, my guests spent the entire trip drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. The river was higher and off colored today, it was rising during our trip, and likely to get even higher for a few days. During the trip we saw a bald eagle and ducks along the river.
With the rising water levels, ADF&G put 1,461 coho through Deshka River Weir, 357 coho through Fish Creek Weir, 1,507 coho through Jim Creek Weir, and 259 coho through Little Susitna River Weir today August 28.
Friday August 29, 2025 — Because of extreme water conditions my guests and I mutually agreed to cancel the salmon fishing trip scheduled for Friday. Deshka River Weir flooded — no salmon counts , Little Susitna River weir passed 425 coho, Fish Creek passed 547 coho, and Jim Creek passed 29 coho today August 29.
Saturday August 30 — day off from guiding / no trips scheduled. Both Deshka River Weir and Little Susitna River Weir are now flooded.
Sunday August 31 — I guided a 10 a.m. group of 2 guest, and we burned up most of a 6 gallon tank of gas looking for salmon, before we found a small abundance in one location. They were there, but not biting very well, One of my guests foul-hooked 3 of them, 2 coho 0f which the manger to bring to the net. No Keepers. During the trip we saw ducks and bald eagles along the river. The water was high and muddy following recent rains, and I suspect it will likely stay high and muddy a the locations I have been fishing for a while. As mentioned in an earlier report, I suspect this may likely be my last charter for ocean-run salmon for the 2025 season.
ADF&G Coho Salmon Weir Counts for the season through August 31, 2025 are: Little Susitna River — 4,365 Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG): 9,200 — 17,700 Deshka River — 3,869 SEG: 10,200 — 24,100 Fish Creek — 3,332 SEG: 1,200 — 4,400. ***Weir passage past SEG midpoint (2,800) Jim Creek — 3,525 ADF&G weir-based SEG not established.
Thank You, to all or our salmon fishing Guests for fishing with us in 2025!!!
While I may be done guiding salmon fishing charters for 2025 — I intend to stay involved with fishing through September. I will also be involved with the fishing regulation process again this year, as a member of the Matanuska Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission, as a member of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee, and I also intend to continue writing fishing columns for the Friday edition of the. Frontiersman Newspaper (although I may slow those down a bit with salmon season in the Mat-Su Valley winding down.
To better keep up with what is happening with Mat-Su Valley and Upper Cook Inlet fisheries — please visit our September 2025 Alaska Fishing Reports page on this website.