For 2018 we will be guiding salmon fishing trips for chum salmon and silver (coho) salmon during the entire month of July. The first chum salmon can start showing up in late June, and numbers build throughout July — with peak chum salmon numbers during the last half of July. While our guests have caught a few coho salmon in late June and the first couple weeks of July, coho salmon numbers are much greater during the last week or 10 days of July. Most of these trips will be spent casting our homemade Flashtrap Spinners or back trolling MagLip Flatfish or K-13x and K-11x Kwikfish plugs. During our July salmon trips there is the potential to catch all 5 species of Pacific salmon found in Alaska. In addition to chum and coho salmon Little Susitna River has a run of pink salmon and a small run of sockeye salmon, along with some late king salmon. Since the king salmon season is closed any king salmon incidentally caught may not be removed from the water and must be immediately released. You may make your online reservation using this website or give us a call at (907) 746-2199 if you would like to make a reservation for one of our Southcentral Alaska guided salmon fishing trips. We often guide trips from 3 different boat launch locations — all of which are an easy 90 minute drive from Anchorage. You may want to bookmark this page for easier future reference. Scroll down for our latest daily Alaska fishing report.
Monday July 2, 2018 — My wife and I finished packing and went on a camping vacation for a few days.
Tuesday July 3 — Tent camping with Frede. Been quite a while since we’ve done some of this. Beautiful hot summer weather, but the bugs were biting.
Wednesday July 4 — Still camping with my wife. We saw lots of bald eagles, and other people out enjoying the holiday.
Thursday July 5, 2018 — Back home and attempting to get caught up with phone calls / reservations and getting ready for our next guided fishing trips for chum salmon and silver salmon.
I talked with Sam Ivey at Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and he told me the first few chum salmon had been counted past Little Susitna River weir. In addition, some sockeye salmon have been passing the weir as well.
Friday July 6, 2018 — We were scheduled to guide a trip this afternoon, but rescheduled that trip to run tomorrow. More unpacking from the camping trip scheduled for today along with boat and tackle preparation for my first guided trip in over a week.
Saturday July 7, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 2 guests, and we attempted to catch chum and silver salmon, but were unable to land any. During the trip I am thinking one of the guests hooked a fresh chum salmon that we saw come out of the water, blast down river, get a little slack line, and come loose. One of the guests also landed a bright fish that when he was fighting it I thought might be a fresh silver salmon or sockeye salmon — no it was just a small chrome king salmon that we released immediately. Each guest hooked and landed salmon — but they were kings salmon rather than the silver and chum salmon we were looking for. During the trip my guests hooked salmon on #5 single hook Flashtrap Spinners and a Mag Lip Flatfish. Water is much higher than normal so the fish were scattered and could hang out just about anywhere. It was a hot day by Alaska standards — possible reaching 80 degrees. We saw bald eagles during the morning trip.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, and we fished miles of river, with two of the guest hooking and landing one king salmon each — which were immediately released. In the Afternoon 3 guests had one good bite each, and 1 guest had two bites. All of the bites were on small Kwikfish and Mag Lip Flatfish. We saw a bald eagle during the afternoon trip.
Sunday July 8, 2018 — I guided a group of 3 guests, one of whom faught a chum salmon all the way to the boat, but it was able to pull loose of the hook before I had an opportunity to net it. A second guest caught and immediately release 2 king salmon. The chum salmon was hooked on a small Kwikfish and the king salmon were both caught while casting with a #5 silver / black Flashtrap Spinner. During the trip we saw several moose, eagles, ducks.
Monday July 9, 2018 — First 2018 Chum Salmons Caught —I guided a group of 5 guests, who fished the entire time with Mag Lip Flatfish and small Kwikfish plugs. One guest caught 2 larger chrome chum salmon, and 4 guests caught 1 king salmon each. During the trip we saw a bald eagle along the river. The water had risen from yesterday after some rain overnight.
Tuesday July 10, 2018 — We did not have any guided trips to day, but I drove over to Eklutna Tailrace to see what was happening at that location. The Knik River and Tailrace channel were both extremely high — the highest I had ever seen water levels at that location. I saw several people fishing, but I did not see anyone hook a fish. I cast a #5 silver /chartreuse Flashtrap Spinner for about half an hour, but did not get any bites nor did I see any fish.
Later in the afternoon I was talking with an Alaska Department of Fish and Game spokesperson and learned that over 500 sockeye salmon had passed the Fish Creek weir on Monday July 9. While sport salmon fishing is currently closed at this location — this shows that numbers of salmon are starting to return to Mat-Su Valley locations. Talking with A.J. Hoffman at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla, he mentioned to me today that he had heard of a sockeye salmon and a silver salmon being caught from Eklutna Tailrace on Saturday July 7.
Wednesday July 11, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a chum salmon. They caught a total of 3 chums on small Kwikfish and a Mag Lip Flatfish. The water had come up with the recent rains from where it was the last time I was on the river, but it looked to be dropping a bit during the trip. During the trip one of the guests spotted a moose close to the river. There was a bit more action, as the guests also hooked 2 additional salmon which were lost before they could be brought to the boat. In addition the guests also had a few additional bites that were not hooked.
Thursday July 12, 2018 — I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, who caught 4 chum salmon on small Kwikfish and a #5 Flashtrap Spinner. In a addition, 1 guest also caught a king salmon — which was immediately released. These salmon all struck a small Kwikfish plug. During the trip we saw and heard bald eagles. In addition we floated right up on a cow moose that was feeding in the river — we managed to float right past without disturbing the moose eating it’s lunch.
FIRST COHO (SILVER) SALMON IN MY BOAT — Friday July 13, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests that caught 2 chum salmon, 1 rainbow trout, and 2 king salmon. The rainbow trout was caught on a #5 Flashtrap Spinner. The 4 salmon were caught on small Kwikfish plugs. Both king salmon were release immediately. During the trip we saw a bald eagles and some ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests who caught 4 chum salmon, 1 silver salmon, and 2 king salmon. The king salmon were released immediately. 3 salmon were caught on a Mag Lip Flatfish and the other salmon were caught on small Kwikfish. During the trip we saw a bull moose along the river and some bald eagles as well.
Saturday July 14, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, who caught 7 chum salmon, 1 silver salmon, 1 rainbow trout, and 2 king salmon. All of the fish were caught on Mag Lip Flatfish and Kwikfish. During the trip we saw a bald eagle, ducks, and I briefly saw a bull moose as it stood up beside the river and walked back in to the brush.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, who caught 2 chum salmon and 1 sliver salmon. 2 of the salmon were caught on a Mag Lip Flatfish and 1 salmon was caught on a Kwikfish. During the trip we saw ducks and a small moose. Water level continues to be higher than normal in the lower river.
Sunday July 15, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught 8 chum salmon and 1 silver salmon. The silver salmon and 1 chum salmon were caught while casting with Flashtrap Spinners. The remaining 7 chum salmon were caught on Mag Lip Flatfish and Kwikfish plugs. We saw a bald eagle perched near the river and some ducks along the river. Driving to the river in the morning there was a cow and calf moose near the road.
Monday July 16, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests that was primarily invested in catching fish, so we focussed on chum salmon. They harvested 11 chum salmon all of which were caught on Mag Lip Flatfish and small Kwikfish. During the trip we saw a couple eagles, and on the drive home I saw a moose along the road. It was a nice weather day on the river, but just a few miles down the road everything was wet from rain showers.
Tuesday July 17, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests who harvested 6 chum salmon and 3 silver salmon. Most of the chum salmon were caught on small Kwikfish and Mag Lip Flatfish, while a chum salmon and 2 silver salmon were caught while casting #5 Pink blade Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw some bald eagles, beavers, and ducks. Weather was excellent the entire trip.
July 18, 2018 — I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests who caught 8 chum salmon, 1 pink salmon, and 2 silver salmon. 7 chum salmon were caught on small kwikfish plugs. 1 chum salmon and 1 pink salmon were caught on a #5 silver /black Flashtrap Spinner. The 2 silver salmon were caught on #5 pink blade Flashtrap Spinners. It was a warm sunny afternoon and we did not see much wildlife although there were some ducks along the river and bald eagles soaring far in the distance. The water was high today and going higher during our trip, but I expect it to be dropping at some point tomorrow.
July 19, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 3 teenagers, each of whom harvested a limit of chum salmon. One fish was caught casting with a #5 Flashtrap Spinner and the other salmon wee caught with small Kwikfish. During the trip we saw a bald eagle and a few different groups of ducks. On the drive to the boat launch area both I and my group saw moose along the road. Chum salmon numbers continue to build — and the silver salmon numbers are going up as well. A person has to get past the chums to catch the silvers.
July 20, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests and we went way down river looking for silver salmon. The group casted #5 Flashtrap Spinners the entire time, but we did not see many fish where I was expecting to have the best chance at catching silvers. The group caught 1 silver salmon and 1 chum salmon. Both of them were caught on the #5 Pink blade Flashtrap. During the trip we saw a few flocks of ducks. It was a cool morning and we went back to the landing early. On the drive home I saw a cow and calf moose right alongside the road.
July 21, 2018 —I guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught 3 silver salmon, 8 chum salmon, and 4 pink salmon. All of the fish were caught casting with #5 pink bladed Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw a bald eagle and several groups of ducks. Driving to the river in the morning my group saw some moose along the way. It was a beautiful sunny morning on the river.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom was very good at casting and did a good job of presenting Flashtrap Spinners. They caught 4 silver salmon and 1 chum salmon. 2 silver salmon were caught on a #5 silver /black Flashtrap Spinner, while 2 silver salmon and 1 chum salmon were caught on a #5 pink Flashtrap Spinner. They spent the entire afternoon trip casting spinners. Like the morning trip we saw several groups of ducks — plus a few bald eagles. It was a very warm sunny afternoon on the river.
July 22, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests — 3 of whom caught limits of silver salmon, and 1 of whom caught 1 silver salmon and 2 chum salmon. In addition the group also caught and released a small king salmon and several pink salmon and some additional chum salmon. All of the fish were caught while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. Fish were caught on pink blade, silver – black, and orange blade spinners. During the trip we saw one moose, some bald eagles, and several groups of ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests who harvested 1 silver salmon, 1 chum salmon, and 1 pink salmon. All of those fish were caught while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw a beaver, bald eagles, and ducks. It was a warm Sunday afternoon with other boaters fishing several of the prime spots.
July 23, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. Guests caught their limits of silver salmon on 4 different patterns: Pink blade, silver /black, Orange blade, and Chartreuse blade. During the trip we saw a bald eagle perched in a low tree beside the river and the usual rafts of ducks.
I guided an afternoon group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. One limit was caught on a pink blade Flashtrap and the other was caught on an orange blade Flashtrap. During the trip we saw a mink at the second hole where we stopped to fish.
July 24, 2018 — I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners. Silvers were caught on Pink blade, Chartreuse blade, and Silver / Black spinner patterns. In addition the group caught some chum salmon and pink salmon before the limits of coho salmon were harvested. During the trip we saw a mink at about the same time and in the same place where we had seen a mink the day before. We also saw the usual families of ducks. The silver salmon were nice fat clean looking fish.
July 25 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. All except one of the silver salmon were caught while casting with our own #5 Flashtrap Spinners. Silver / Black and Pink blade patterns produced most of the fish. 1 silver salmon was caught with a small Kwikfish. Before harvesting limits of silver salmon the group also caught some pink salmon and chum salmon on the same Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw an otter, a few groups of ducks, and a moose along the river.
July 26, 2018 — I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. I had orange blade, pink blade, and silver/black patterns tied on the lines and the guests caught silver salmon on each of the 3 patterns. The only wildlife we saw during the trip was some ducks, ravens, and sea gulls.
July 27, 2018 —I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests. At the first spot we stopped they caught 4 silver salmon, 1 chum salmon, and 1 pink salmon. All of the fish were caught on #5 Flashtrap Spinners. 2 salmon each were caught on Silver /Black, Pink Blade, and Orange Blade. We briefly tried two additional spots and they decided they were satisfied with what they had already caught, so we came back early. During the trip we saw several groups of ducks and several groups of other anglers out fishing for salmon.
3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla (907-373-5434) restocked our #5 Silver /Black Flashtrap Spinners in the morning.
July 28 — Eklutna Tailrace Silver Salmon Fishing Report — in the morning I checked out the tailrace. There were several people fishing near the tailrace confluence with Knik River, and I saw one silver salmon laying in the water on a stringer near the cleaning table, but I did not see anyone having any action. I walked to the footbridge and saw a salmon surface, so I started casting as I walked along the tailrace. I saw several salmon surfacing, but only managed to briefly hook one fish which I quickly lost. I saw one gentleman land a couple ocean-fresh silver salmon that he caught by casting out cured salmon roe and letting it sit on the bottom. The same angler told me he had also caught a sockeye salmon on roe early the same morning, so he figured most of the salmon surfacing were likely sockeye (which don’t bite as much as coho). Not a lot of silver salmon action, yet, but more will be arriving soon.
I guided and fished with an afternoon group of 2 guests and we spent the entire time casting Flashtrap Spinners. We caught 2 pink salmon, 1 foul hooked chum salmon, 1 foul hooked pin salmon, and 4 silver salmon. Right after we caught the 4th silver salmon the guests wanted to head to Anchorage where they wanted to have the fish vacuum packaged and frozen before the close of business hours. During the trip we saw a few flocks of ducks and lots of other anglers in boats out looking for salmon.
July 29, 2018 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of salmon. 3 guests harvested limits of silver salmon, and the 4th guest harvested 2 chum salmon and 1 silver salmon. All of the fish were caught casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. The two patterns we fished were silver/black and pink blade. During the trip we saw bald eagles and ducks. On the morning trip we heard both sandhill cranes and blade eagles calling.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught 2 salmon. 3 guests caught limits of silver salmon, and the 4th guest caught and released 2 pink salmon. At that point they were satisfied and asked to come back early. All of the salmon were caught on #5 Flashtrap Spinners. We used orange blade, pink blade, and silver / black and caught salmon on each spinner pattern. During the afternoon trip we saw ducks along the river.
July 30 — I guided a group of 4 guests in the morning, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. We saw a couple beavers and some ducks during the trip. We also caught and released a pink salmon.
Greg Acord and I guided a two-boat group of 8 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. My guests caught all their salmon on #5 Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip my group also caught and released a couple pink salmon before keeping their limits of silver salmon. We saw some ducks along the river and several other groups of anglers fishing.
July 31, 2018 Tuesday — I guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
I guided an afternoon group of 6 guests, who caught ???
If you would like to join us on this week for a silver salmon or chum salmon fishing trip we have space available this week, and silver salmon, chum salmon, and pink salmon are all available in the river. You may either make a reservation using the online reservation system on this website — or if you like you may give us a call and make the reservation over the phone at 907-746-2199.