2026 Alaska Fishing News Mat-Su Valley 

For 2026 we plan to guide all of our June salmon fishing trips for king salmon at the  Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River side-channel.  Guest will meet us at the Knik River Access off of the Glenn Highway. King salmon harvest is allowed 7 days per week, the fishery is open to bait and multiple hooks, and legal fishing hours are 24 hours per day at this location.   The Knik River fishing area for king salmon is much smaller than the Deshka and Little Susitna Rivers, where we have guided many king salmon fishing trips in the past, so if fishing is slow, our approach is to be patient and keep fishing.  We sometimes move around to try new spots, but  the fishing area is only a couple miles in size.   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 also guide rainbow trout / arctic grayling / northern pike river trips mostly at Deshka River.  Trout / grayling / pike trips to Deshka and or Little Susitna River often provide more fish catching and wildlife viewing opportunity than king salmon fishing at the Knik River.  If guest would like to try for a large ocean-run king salmon, however, Knik River is the place.

Scroll Down for our latest May 2026 Fishing Reports (Updates Available in May):