August 2026 Alaska Fishing Reports
August is when our guided fishing charter guests harvest the most silver (coho) salmon. Mat-Su Valley salmon anglers also continue catching 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 and the Knik River drainage may peak during the first 3 weeks of August, but can remain productive throughout the entire month and into September, and particularly on years with large coho returns. Coho may attack either well-presented artificial lures or 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, apeak cohond is scheduled to open at Little Susitna River on August 6.
Significant August Dates: August 6 / bait opener for Little Susitna River salmon. August 1-21 / Peak coho salmon catching at various Mat-Su Valley locations.
Scroll down for our most recent August 2026 Fishing Report (updates available in August) :
Thursday August 13, 2026 — I am scheduled to guide salmon anglers — check back in th evening for the fishing report update.
Wednesday August 12, 2026 — I guided a 5:30 a.m. group of 4 anglers, one of whom caught and harvested a coho salmon while fishing with Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under a bobber. During the entire trip the guests were unable to draw any significant number of bites, and we saw few salmon surfacing.
Tuesday August 11, 2026 — I guided a morning group of 2 guests, who both limited on salmon including coho salmon and 1 sockeye salmon. All of the Fish were aught on Fire Cured salmon roe difted under bobbers. The high water rose even more last night.
Monday August 10, 2026 — I guided a 7 a.m. group of 3 guests each of whom caught coho salmon and 2 of whom also caught a sockeye salmon before harvesting their limit. All of the fish were caught by drifting salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire Cure and enhanced with Fire Power krill scent. Water was high.
I will am attempting to write my Mat-Su Anglers column for the Mat-Su Sentinel today.
Sunday August 9, 2026 — I guided a group of 4 guests on a 5:30 a.m. trip and each of them harvested a coho salmon. In addition one of them caught a couple chum salmon and a couple pink salmon which she released. All of the salmon were caught on #5 Flashtrap and #5 Vibrax Spinners.
I guided and afternoon group of 5 guest who caught 2 coho salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap and Vibrax Spinners. The river is finally dropping down to a level that I would consider somewhat normal for coho salmon season.
Saturday August 8, 2026 –– I guided and fished with a group of 2 guests in the morning, and each of us caught and harvested a coho salmon while casting with #5 Vibrax Spinners.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests who harvested one coho salmon and caught and released a pink salmon and two chum salmon. They casted #5 Virax and Flashtrap Spinners, but caught all of their fish except one chum salmon on small plugs.
August 7, 2026 –– I guided a 5 a.m. group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of 1 coho salmon. In addition they also caught a chum salmon and several pink salmon before harvesting their coho. All of the fish were caught while casting with #5 Flashtrap and Vibrax Spinners.
I guided a 10 a.m. group of 2 guests, each of whom caught and harvested a coho salmon. One guests also caught and released a pink salmon, and caught and harvested a chum salmon before harvesting his coho. One coho was caught while casting with a #5 Flashtrap Spinner. The pink, chum, and 2nd coho were caught on a small plug.
August 6, 2026 — I had a day off from guiding salmon fishing trips and spent considerably more time talking on the phone than I would have preferred.
August 5, 2026 — io guided a 5 a.m. trip of 4 people, each of whom harvested a limit of coho salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap and Vibrax Spinners. In addition they also caught and harvested a chum salmon, and also released multiple pink salmon.
I guided a 10 a.m. group of 5 guests, who harvested 6 coho salmon, and caught and released some pink and chum salmon. All of the fish were caught by casting #5 Flashtrap and Vibrax Spinners.
August 4, 2026 — I guided a 5 a.m. group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of coho salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap and #5 Vibrax Spinners. In addition they also caught and released some pink salmon and chum salmon before harvesting their coho.
I guided a 10 a.m. group of 3 guests, each of whom harvested a limit of coho salmon. In addition they also caught and released several pink salmon and one chum salmon, while harvesting one other chum salmon before harvesting their coho. All of the fish were caught on #5 Flahstrap and Vibrax Spinners.
Bait Closure / Coho Limit Reduction — ADF&G announced late on Tuesday August 4 that bait fishing will be prohibited in the entire Susitna River drainage and in the Little Susitna River starting on Thursday August 6. In addition the coho salmon. daily bag limit will be reduced to one fish starting t also on August 6.
August 3, 2026 — I guided a 5 a.m. group of 3 guests, each of whom harvested a limit of coho salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap and Vbrax Spinners.
August 2, 2026 — I guided an 8 a.m group of 3 guests who caught 4 coho salmon that they harvested while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. They also caught and released several pink salmon on the same lures. Water was still high, but with substantial amounts of rain forecasted for the next couple days it may go significantly higher once again.
I’ve heard some good coho salmon fishing reports from Deshka River and the Parks Highway tributary streams to the Susitna River. Tomorrow may be a good opportunity while water levels are still lower than they were a week ago.
Monday August 3 is also opening day of salmon fishing for anglers of all ages in the legal salmon fishing zone near Knik Goose-Bay Road.
August 1, 2026 — I guided 1 long term guest on a 5 a.m. trip, and he caught and harvested a limit of coho salmon while casting with # 5 Flastrap spinners.
I guided a 10 a.m. group of 4 guests who caught and harvested 3 coho salmon and 1 chum salmon. They also caught and released another chum salmon and several pink salmon. All of the fish were caught while casting with #5 Flashtrap spinners. During the trip one guest spotted a black bear that quickly faded into the brush, and we also saw a bald eagle and some ducks.
August 1 & 2, 2026 are Youth Sport Fishing Days for anglers less than 16 years of age at Fish Creek. With the tremendous return of sockeye salmon recently to Fish Creek this should provide an excellent opportunity for younger anglers to harvest some prime ocean-run salmon. The sport fishing daily bag limit at Fish Creek was increased by emergency order to 6 salmon daily only 2 of which may be coho salmon. Sportfishing for anglers of all ages resumes on August 3. Sport fishing hours at Fish Creek are 5 a.m. — 10 p.m.
The first sockeye salmon of 2026 was counted through Judd Lake Weir today.