July 2025 Alaska Fishing Reports

July is the month where our guests catch all 5 species of Alaska salmon.   It is rare for a person to catch all 5 species on the same trip, however it is possible especially around mid-month.   This year king salmon fishing has been closed on both the Little Susitna River and Deshka River, however, there should be solid numbers of other salmon to catch at both of these location during July.   July 14 is the date bait fishing opens on the Susitna River, so we often have guests interested in fishing at that time.   Little Susitna River is restricted to artificial lures through August 5, however, the cooler waters of Little Susitna River, during July, and the presence of all 5 salmon species often make it our top choice for the month.

Timing wise, king salmon are in largest abundance early in July, and the only location we are allowed to fish for king salmon this year is the Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River side-channel fishery.  Sockeye salmon are available all the way through July at Little Susitna River and Knik River, but often with greater availability during the later half of the month.   Chum salmon start a bit later, but on an early run-timing year may also be available from the start of July — with larger abundances of chum salmon starting about July 20.  Pink salmon can show up in large numbers early in July — and particularly at Deshka River (where the bonus pink salmon limit is 6 per day) — on Little Susitna River the greatest pink salmon abundance is often during the last 10 days of July.   Our guests have caught a few early coho on Little Susitna in late June and on the Deshka River during the first week of July, however the best coho catching usually occurs after July 20 and throughout August.    Currently our earliest group with a reservation in July is scheduled for July 3.   The young man pictured above caught his first ocean-fresh coho salmon from Little Susitna River on a July 10 charter a couple years ago.

Scroll Down for the most recent July 2025 Fishing Report:

July 3, 2025 — Check back to see our charter results from Thursday July 3, 2025: