June 2025 Alaska Fishing Reports
June is our best month for catching king (Chinook) salmon in the Mat-Su Valley between Anchorage and Denali National Park. We are guiding king salmon fishing trips in June 2025 to Knik River side-channel below Ekltuna Tailrace.
Scroll Down for the Most Recent Fishing Reports:
June 2, 2025 — I guided a family group with 2 adults, and 4 kids ranging in age from 6 – 14 years old, and we decided on a Deshka River trip targeting rainbow trout and grayling in hopes of keeping the kids interest up during the trip. The family wants to see a moose, and dad spotted a cow moose along the bank before we had even reached the first spot we intended to fish. As we motored closer everyone could also see the young calf moose lagging behind its mother. During the trip the group also spotted several bald eagles, arctic terns, and ducks. Deshka River was quite high following recent rain events, bur remained clear and fishable. We stopped along the river at a gravel bar, where they learned how to cast and present #2 Mepps Spinners on light a light spinning rod. At this first stop one of the older girls hooked and battled with a fish she believed was a trout, before losing it. The youngest girl shortly after hooked and landed what turned out to be a small king salmon perhaps 5 0r 6 pounds. From that point on, the youngest girl became engaged and fished diligently for the remainder of the trip. She ended up catching 3 of the 4 fish caught by the family during the trip. The father caught the other fish. 3 fish were caught on a #2 Mepps Spinner and 1 fish was caught on a 3.0 Maglip Flatfish. The family caught 2 king salmon jacks and 2 small king salmon of about 6 pounds. Everyone got considerably better at casting and presenting the small #2 Spinners during the trip, but hook ups were limited while fishing with small lures in high water. All the fish were released quickly after landing without removing them from the water. Although we did not fish near the Deshka River/ Susitna River confluence, we did see several fish that appeared to be smallish king salmon surfacing as we boated past. It appears that perhaps most of the fish now available at Deshka River may be king salmon, and since king salmon fishing is closed at Deshka River I do not intend to guide additional trips to this location for a while.
Our First King Salmon Harvested in 2025. June 7, 2025 — I guided a group of 5 guests to the Knik River side-channel on an afternoon king salmon trip. We saw bald eagles during the trips and also saw a few salmon surfacing. One of the guests caught and harvested a king salmon of about 10 -12 pounds while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESB Bobber. When we returned back to the launch site I saw another angler with a king salmon of similar size that had been caught.
June 8, 9, 10, 11 — My wife, some additional family members, and a couple friends went on an annual camping / fishing trip we’ve been making for the past 5 or 6 years. All of us caught at least one fish during the trip, and there was considerable gear cleaning and items to put away after we returned home.
June 12, 2025 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests on the Knik River for king salmon. Once again we saw some fish surfacing during our trip. We also saw other anglers catch a few salmon, and my guests caught 2 jack king salmon. Both for our fish were taken by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
June 13, 2025 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests to the Knik River for king salmon. We saw a large flock of sandhill cranes and some bald eagles during the trip. One guest caught and harvested a king salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under an ESB Bobber. A second guest caught a king salmon while back trolling with a K-14 Kwikfish.
Saturday June 14, 2025 — I guided a husband and wife from Nebraska on an afternoon Knik River trip for king salmon, and each of them caught and harvested the first king salmon of their life. Both fish were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Sunday June 15, 2025 — I guided an afternoon group of a father, mother, and daughter on Father’s Day for king salmon on the Knik River. Each of them caught a nice-sized king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. In addition one of them also hooked, battled, but lost another nice-sized king salmon near the boat. That fish was hooked on a #2 Spin-N-Glo with Fire Cured salmon roe fished behind a Jet Diver. We saw a couple sandhill cranes and some bald eagles during the trip. We saw more salmon surfacing during this trip than any other trip I’ve guided this year — and many were good-sized fish.
Monday June 16, 2025 — I guided a father and his 4 sons for king salmon on the Knik River. The father caught a jack king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESB Bobber, and also caught a larger king salmon while fishing a #2 Spin-N-Glo with Fire Cured salmon roe behind a Jet Diver. Two sons caught jack king salmon while fishing Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers, and an additional son caught a larger king salmon while fishing Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESD Bobber. We saw the ever-present bald eagles during the trip. We saw few fish surfacing during this trip, and most of those appeared to be jack-sized.
Tuesday June 17, 2025 — I attended a Matanuska-Susinta Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) meeting considering the borough waterbody setback ordinance. After much discussion the FWC set up a work group to develop our positions on suggested changes to the ordinance, and also set an addition meeting on July 16 starting at 5 p.m. when the FWC hopes to finalize a resolution stating our positions.
Wednesday June 18, 2025 — I picked up my pickup after having some work done that will hopefully get it through the remainder of the 2025 fishing season. In addition, I had Pat Donelson set up my 2025 Fishing Report pages for the year, and have been working on updating them.
Thursday June 19, 2025 — I guided a morning group of 3 guests on a Knik River king salmon trip. Two guest hooked fish during the trip. One guest hooked a king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESB Bobber, but had it get off the hook before she could bring it to the boat. A second guest caught a fat jack king salmon while back trolling a K14 Kwikfish. We saw a few salmon surface, most of which appeared to be small, and we also saw other anglers fighting oe landing some king salmon, but it was a relatively quiet morning.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, 2 of whom had light strikes, but did not hook the fish. One guest had a strike on a K14 Kwickfish, while the other guest had a fish working on a #2 Spin-N-Glo fished behind a Jet Diver. We saw a couple kings get caught in the afternoon. During the trip we also had a noisy pair of trumpeter swans do a couple flyovers at low altitude. This was a warm day and later in the day the river level appeared to be rising and water getting a bit muddier. It will be interesting to see what the water looks like tomorrow morning, when I am scheduled to run my next charter.
Friday June 20, 2025 — I am scheduled to guide for king salmon. Check back in the evening to read the fishing report.