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) :
Wednesday August 26, 2026 — I had a guided salmon fishing trip scheduled, that did not work out. Later I check out the Knik River, but did not see or hook any salmon in the section below Eklutna Tairalce.
Tuesday August 25, 2026 — I took a day off from guiding to go moose hunting with a couple relatives. It was a very wet and windy day, and we did not see a single moose, but got plenty cool and wet.
Monday August 24, 2026 — I guided a 10 a.m. salmon fishing group of 4 guests, who caught 3 coho salmon and 1 chum salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. Most of the action occurred at one spot, and aside from the fish the guests caught I did not see a single salmon surface surfing the trip. We fished every spot my guests had caught a coho, sockeye, or chum salmon at the Knik River this year.
Sunday August 23, 2026 — My wife and I took a scouting trip to the Knik River — as I still have some salmon charters scheduled. The water level had dropped about a foot, however, even though we fished everywhere my guests have caught sockeye and coho salmon from the Knik River this year, we did not see or manage to hook even a single salmon. It was a beautiful time on the river and we saw some bald eagles near the water.
Saturday August 22, 2026 — I fished from my friend’s boat with a before light start on the Kenai River. We each caught and harvested two coho salmon after several hours of fishing. We also caught and released several pink salmon. The coho salmon were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe that had been further firmed up with Borx 0’Fire Cure. We had to work for the bites, but persistence and patience paid off with some dandy coho.
Friday August 21, 2026 — I drove to Kenai to attend a forum dealing with fisheries policies and fisheries habitat put on by Kenai River Sportfishing Association. Later in the evening I fished with a friend from his boat on the Kenai River. We each caught several pink salmon, he caught a rainbow trout, and we each caught and harvested a coho salmon as it was getting dark. Both coho salmon were caught on sardine wrapped Mag Lip Flatfish.
Thursday — I attempted to call all of our remaining August salmon fishing guests to let them know that water conditions and salmon numbers both appeared unfavorable with plenty of additional rain in the forecast over the next 10 days.
Wednesday August 19, 2026 — I guided 3 guests on a 9 a.m. salmon fishing trip. At the start of the trip two of them had two bites and one of them had a single bite. This resulted in one coho salmon being caught, one being hooked but lost before it could be brought to the net, and the other bites were not hooked. This all happened within the first 45 minutes of the trip. After that we fished multiple additional spots, but could not generate any more bites from salmon. One guest did catch and release a very small Dolly Varden. All of our fishing was done with Fire Cured salmon roe. The river had dropped a bit, but remained quite high.
Tuesday August 18, 2026 — I guided a grandfather and two grandsons on a 9 a.m. salmon fishing trip. The river was high and dirty following a couple days of rain. The only fish caught was a a very small salmon that had not gone to the ocean. That also was the only fish hooked, and I don’t believe anyone on the trip even has a good strike from an ocean-run salmon.
Monday August 17, 2026 — I guided a 9 a.m. group of 3 guests today who caught 5 coho salmon, 1 sockeye salmon, and 2 Dolly Varden on Fire Cured salmon roe.
The river had risen significantly today following last night’s rain. Rain is forecasted to occur everyday for the next 10 days, For that reason I’ve changed the status of our online reservations for the remainder of the 2026 to Call To Book — (907) 746-2199. That way I can discus conditions and regulations for the locations we may be fishing before a reservation has been made.
ADF&G announced today that coho salmon harvest will be closed on the entire Sustina River drainage and on the Little Susitna River starting Wednesday August 19, 2026. This is the fourth year in a row that coho salmon harvest had been closed inseason by emergency order at both Little Susitna River and Deshka River. It will be interesting to see if our current rainy weather and rising streams will spur any significant migration of coho salmon past Little Susitna River weir.
Sunday August 16, 2026 — I am taking a day off from guiding salmon fishing trips — but have availability to guide additional salmon fishing trips during the coming week.
Saturday August 15, 2026 — I guided two men on a 6 a.m. salmon fishing trip and one of them caught sockeye salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under a bobber. During the trip we saw a bald eagle near the river.
I guided an 11 a.m group of 4 women who caught 2 sockeye salmon and 4 coho salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip we saw and heard multiple eagles along the river.
Friday August 14, 2026 — I guided a pleasant 6 a.m.group of 5 guests who caught 4 coho salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers.
I guided an 11 a.m.husband and wife group who limited on coho salmon and one sockeye salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under Bobbers. During the trip they took some pictures of bald eagles along the river.
Thursday August 13, 2026 — I guided a 6 a.m. group of 3 guests who caught 6 coho salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under bobbers. During the trip they saw some bald eagles along the river. We cver several spots and did not see many salmon beside the ones they caught.
Note to bank anglers: ADF&G staff counted 1,390 coho passing Fish Creek Weir in the past two days.
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.