July 2026 Alaska Fishing Reports
This young man caught his first ocean-fresh coho salmon from Little Susitna River on a July 10 charter.
July is the month when our guests catch all 5 species of Alaska salmon. It is rare for a person to catch all 5 species on the same trip, but it is possible — and especially around mid-July. King salmon fishing and harvest reman open year round at the Knik River side-channel (although king salmon catching usually slows down considerably in July). For 2026 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. Bait fishing is open all year in the Knik River drainage and opens on July 14 in the Susitna River drainage, so we have those bait options available for anglers who prefer using bait for salmon. Little Susitna River is restricted to artificial lures through August 5, but the cooler water temperatures of Little Susitna River, during July, and the presence of all 5 salmon species often make it a top choice for salmon catching the entire month.
During July, king salmon are in largest abundance early in the month, although the only location we are allowed to fish for and harvest king salmon this year is the Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River side-channel fishery. Sockeye salmon are available during the entire month of July at Little Susitna River and Knik River, but often with greater availability during the later half of the month. Chum salmon can be available during the entire month of July at Little Susitna River — 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 also caught a few pink salmon at the Knik River side-channel. 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, and while coh0 may be caught at any time in July, more consistent coho catches occur after July 20 and throughout August. Note: any ocean-run king salmon inadvertently caught while fishing Mat-Su Valley locations other than Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River side-channel during the 2026 season may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately.
Significant Date: July 14 – Bait fishing opens at Deshka River, and other Susitna River locations.
Scroll Down for the most recent July 2026 Fishing Report Update (starting approximately July 1):
Friday July 3, 2026 — I will be guiding salmon anglers, so check back in the evening from a couple fishing report updates. For those who may be wondering — I currently have charter availability on July 4, 6, and 7. Call 907-746-2199 in the evening if you would like to know more.
Thursday July 2, 2026 — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game was installing the Fish Creek salmon counting weir today. I do not know if any data may be posted before the July 4th Holiday Weekend, however several daily counts should at least be posted by Tuesday July 7 on the ADF&G website.
I had the day off from guiding fishing trips, so I made a shopping trip to Anchorage with my wife, and after returning home we grilled some brats and enjoyed a beautiful and comfortable evening at home.
Wednesday July 1, 2026 — I guided a married couple from Georgia on a salmon fishing trip, and one of them hooked and fought what I thought was a small king salmon to the boat, but the hook came out before we had a chance to land the fish. That was the only bite they had during the trip, We did have a yearling bull moose cross the river right below our boat, and we also saw 3 bald eagles during the trip.
NOTE: Ship Creek in Anchorage will be Closed To All Sport Fishing downstream from the cable 100 feet below the Church Power Plant Dam from Friday July 3 — July 13, following to an Emergency Order issued July 1, 2026 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). “Recent stream surveys indicate that king salmon returns are tracking below levels needed to confidently meet hatchery broodstock goals,” stated Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth. “Broodstock goals for Ship Creek include broodstock for other fisheries throughout Southcentral Alaska. ”
The Northern District Salmon Management Plan for Upper Cook Inlet directs the Department:
(b) The department shall manage the Northern District commercial salmon fisheries based on the abundance of sockeye salmon counted through the weirs on Larson, Chelatna, and Judd Lakes, and based on the abundance of king and coho salmon counted through the Little Susitna River weir or other salmon abundance indices as the department deems appropriate.
Weir -measured salmon abundances at Little Susitna River through June 30, 2026 are 67 king salmon with a Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) of 2,100 – 4,300 as posted on the ADF&G website. In addition the only Northern District sockeye salmon enumerated by a weir count through June 30 is a measly 57 sockeye as measured at Little Susitna River Weir. The Northern District commercial set net fishery opened on Monday June 29 under standard regulations without any further ADF&G restrictions on fishing time or area. With documented extremely low salmon abundances, and with Little Susitna River king salmon failing to reach SEG levels in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 how does ADF&G’s commercial management at this time meet the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) adopted standard enshrined in the Northern District Salmon Management Plan? How does allowing standard commercial fishing throughout all of Northern Cook Inlet help reach king salmon broodstock needs at Ship Creek?