2025 Alaska Fishing News Mat-Su Valley
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced season closures to king salmon fishing at Little Susitna River and the entire Susitna River Drainage (including the Deshka River) back in February. That leaves the Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River side-channel as our one remaining option to guide king salmon fishing trips during the 2025 season. King salmon harvest is allowed 7 days per week, the fishery is open to bait and multiple hooks, and this location can be fished 4 hours per day. On the other hand the fishing area is much smaller than where we have guided most of our past years’ king salmon fishing trips. There is not much new waters to try on the Knik, so if fishing is slow, our approach is to be patient and keep fishing. We also make small moves to try new locations, but once again the fishing area is small. The earliest I’ve seen a king salmon in the Knik River is May 16. The earliest I’ve ever caught king salmon from the Knik River side-channel has been May 24.
During May we guided rainbow trout / arctic grayling / northern pike river trips on the Deshka River as well. During 2025 I was busy with other projects in May and did not get started very early on fishing trips.
Scroll Down for our latest May 2025 Fishing Reports:
May 16 — Deshka River — we guided a large two boat group for rainbow trout, northern pike, and arctic grayling. The guests in my boat spotted a moose with two new-born calves along the river. In addition they caught 2 rainbow trout, 2 northern pike, and 5 arctic grayling. One arctic grayling was caught on a tube jig, one northern pike was caught on a #3 Flashtrap Spinner, and the other fish were caught all caught on #0 and #1 Mepps Spinners. The second boat of guests caught considerably more northern pike, and a similar number of grayling and rainbow trout during the trip. They also spotted additional moose.
May 28, 2025 — I guided 6 guests to the Knik River for king salmon. Although I knew a few king salmon had already been taken at this location in May 2025, we did not see any king salmon or see any other anglers catch a king salmon. We did see some bald eagles during the trip. My guests primarily fished with Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers — I technique that should have been extremely effective if there had been many fish in the area. As far as I could tell, we did not even get a bite during this trip.
May 29, 2025 — I guided a group of 2 guests to Deshka River for rainbow trout and arctic grayling. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game was netting the sloughs that we normally fish for Northern pike, so we did not try for pike on this trip. My guests caught 2 rainbow trout (1 0n a #1 Mepps and 1 0n a 3.5 Maglip Flatfish) two jack king salmon (1 on a number 1 Mepps, 1 on the Maglip) two king salmon over 20 inches (Estimated the larger of the two at about 6 pounds – again on the same two lures) and hooked but lost what I suspect were two additional (but smallish) king salmon on the #1 Mepps. Since king salmon fidhing is not open at Deshka River all of the king salmon were released immediately without removing them from the water, During the trip my guests saw a moose calf with the mother moose coming down to the river where my guests were able to get several pictures. The guests also spotted a plethora of bald eagles, arctic terns, and ducks.
May 30, 2025 — I guided a husband and wife who were visiting Alaska to judge a dog show – and took the opportunity to book a spur of the moment salmon fishing trip. They fished the scenic Knik River side-channel below Pioneer and Twin Peaks. They drifted Fire. Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers, and were persistent, but unable to draw any strikes. Once again we did not see any salmon surfacing at this location. I enjoyed visiting with them, during the trip, but as happens on some fishing trips we did not manage to hook a single salmon.
For our Next 2025 Fishing Report Go to our June 2025 Fishing Reports Page: