06/01/2010
I took 3 friends fishing today, and one of them caught a 10 pound king salmon on a K-15X Kwikfish. That was the only bite we had. Water was high and we were catching debris while fishing, but it seems like there is not any overabundance of king salmon, yet.
Russ guided one person in the morning, who did not hook a fish.
Greg guided 3 people in the afternoon and reported little boat traffic, but the afternoon group did not get any bites.
I talked with a young lady at Deshka Landing, and she said they knew of only one king salmon caught at the Deshka River today. Seems to be few fish moving right now.
Expect king salmon numbers and fishing conditions to improve quickly. For more 2010 fishing reports check back to the May reports — and of course we will have many more reports posted for June as the month progresses.
06/02/2010
FIshtale did not have any trips today, but I noticed the water was dropping a bit on the USGS water chart. We have multiple trips tomorrow, and will post reports either late tomorrow evening or sometime on Friday depending upon how pressed I am for time.
I talked with the Assistant Area Commercial Fisheries Biologist for Upper Cook Inlet, Pat Shields, and he told me the Northern District Set Netters harvested 426 king salmon in their first opening of the season on Monday May 31. Pat seemed to think that was a decent catch considering part of the Northern District is closed to commercial king salmon fishing this year. He thought it might compare with an average king harvest for the first period of the season if the entire normal area fished the past several years had been open. Pat said the past average with the larger area open was about 530 kings harvested in the first commercial opener.
Assuming average run numbers and average run timing (as indicated by the first commercial opening) expect greatly increased numbers of king salmon to show up in the rivers this coming week. We still have charter availability and especially during the coming week, however, space is becoming limited. The next three weeks has usually been the peak of the Little Susitna River fishery, so we would encourage anyone interested in fishing with us during that time give us a call at 907-746-2199 while our best selection of dates and times is still available.
If the cooler weather and rain predicted by forecasts materializes over the next few days expect that to be the trigger that lures ten times the current numbers of king salmon into both the Deshka and Little Susitna Rivers. Expect the Eklutna Tailrace, Ship Creek, and Susitna River tributary king salmon fisheries to take off with the same weather pattern. Why not schedule your guided king salmon trip to coincide with peak king salmon abundance timing? 907-746-2199.
06/03/2010
i guided a morning group of 4 guests, 3 of whom caught king salmon weighing 30, 35, and 11 pounds. Each fish was caught on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater fished behind a Jet Diver.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 anglers who caught one jack king salmon, one 24 pound king salmon, and one rainbow trout. the salmon and jack salmon were caught on Beau Mac Spinning Cheaters, while the rainbow trout was caught on a Magnum Wiggle Wart.
Even though it rained in the afternoon the river water level was dropping and clearing.
06/04/2010
I guided a group of 4 people in the morning, one of whom caught a 27 pound king salmon on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater. The group had one additional bite on a Spinning Cheater as well, but did not manage to really hook that fish.
Water level remained lower and clearer than it had been.
06/05/2010
I guided a group of 2 people and although they saw king salmon roll, and had them bump into their lines my guests never managed to get a bite. We even a bit extra, to no avail, and tried some lures I usually don`t use. Weather was nice, somewhat cool, but we kept good and dry.
06/06/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught one small king salmon on a M-2 Deep Dive Flatfish.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests who caught one king salmon of about 25 pounds on a K-15 Kwikfish.
06/07/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught one small king salmon and one larger king salmon of about 25 pounds. One fish was caught on a K-15 Kwikfish and one fish was caught on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater fished behind a jet diver. Water was a bit lower than I like for king salmon fishing, but rain in the mountains may bring it up in the next day or two.
Russ Colee Guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught one king salmon of about 30 pounds.
Russ also guided 2 people on an afternoon trip who caught 1 king salmon jack.
Greg Acord guided a morning group of 4 guests who caught one king salmon jack.
06/08/2010
I guided 4 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. The largest fish of the 4 weighed between 20 – 25 pounds
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. The afternoon fish weighed approximately 30, 20, 20, and 15 pounds.
We also saw plenty of bald eagles on both trips and a bull moose in the morning, and a cow moose with twin calves in the afternoon. A very good day of fishing.
06/09/2010
I guided 5 people who caught 3 king salmon while back trolling with K-15 Kwikfish and an M-2 Deep Diver Flatfish. After that trip at the first location, we went to the Deshka River and the group caught 3 more king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
06/10/2010
I guided a morning group of 3 guests, one of whom caught a king salmon jack while casting a Flashtrap Spinner. We fished several locations and moved around covering several miles of river, but never managed to hook a single large king salmon. Water level is dropping to about half of normal level on the Little Susitna for this time of year, and the king salmon are behaving somewhat different than normal as well.
I expect better success tomorrow — check back then to see how we do.
06/11/2010
Deshka River — I guided 4 people in the morning, 3 of whom caught king salmon of about 20 pounds each. All of the fish were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESb Bobbers. The 4th guest also had several bites, and hooked but lost one salmon.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, one of whom caught a king salmon of about 20 pounds. Each person fishing also briefly hooked, but lost a king salmon salmon and had additional bites. All fish were hooked on Fired Cured salmon roe fished under ESB Bobbers.
NOTE: Regulations on the Deshka River switch to artificial lures only starting Saturday June 12.
06/12/2010
I guided a morning group of 3 people, two of whom caught king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish. One fish weighed 21 pounds and one fish weighed 30 pounds.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 people, each of whom caught a king salmon. One fish was caught on a K-15 Kwikfish and 2 fish were caught on Spinning Cheaters. Fish weighed about 10, 10, and 30 pounds.
06/13/2010
I guided a morning group of 3 guests, one of whom caught a king salmon of about 12 pounds on a Spinning Cheater.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, two of whom caught king salmon on a M-2 Deep Dive Flatfish. The fish weighed about 20 and 30 pounds.
06/14/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests, 2 of whom caught king salmon on Flashtrap Spinners. Each fish weighed about 20 pounds. In addition, two guests caught jack king salmon on spinners, and one guest caught but released a king salmon he snagged on a magnum Wiggle Wart.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught and kept a king salmon. All of the fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish.
06/15/2010
I guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
06/16/2010
I guided a morning group of 5 people, 4 of whom caught king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 people, 3 of whom caught king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
06/17/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 people, each of whom caught a king salmon. 3 fish were caught on K-15X Kwikfish, and one fish was caught on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, 2 of whom caught king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
06/18/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests, 3 of whom caught king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish, and one of whom caught a king salmon on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater.
I guided an afternoon group of 6 guests, 3 of whom caught king salmon. One king salmon each was caught on a K-15X Kwikfish, Magnum Wiggle Wart, and M-2 Deep Dive Flatfish.
06/19/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests, one of whom caught a chrome 20 pound king salmon on a K-15X Kwikfish. Water was low and clear, but could be rising again with afternoon rains.
According to one of the other guides I talked with at Deshka Landing, the Deshka weir count is now over 12,000 king salmon. For those who don`t already know the Deshka reopened to bait fishing for king salmon today, so expect very good fishing on that river as long as the river stays up a bit and remains cool.
06/20/2010
I guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, 2 of whom caught a king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
06/21/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests. 3 of whom caught king salmon on K-15X Kwikfish.
I guided one guests and some friends on an afternoon trip, and everyone caught a king salmon. All of the fish were caught on the same K-15 Kwikfish.
06/22/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, 3 of whom caught a king salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
06/23/2010
I guided a morning group of 2 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon of about 18 pounds on salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. They had to work at it, but got it done.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests to the Deshka River as well. They fished the same bait and technique, and although we saw king salmon rolling in front of where the guests were fishing, no one even hooked a king salmon. The only fish caught was a sucker.
Will be fishing again tomorrow morning.
06/24/2010
I guided a group of two guests, one of whom caught a king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESB Bobber on the Deshka RIver.
06/25/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 people, 3 of whom caught king salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Water was low.
06/26/2010
I guided a group of 4 people who each caught a king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish.
I guided a group of 5 people, and no one caught a king salmon, although the group did hook 2 fish on K-15X Kwikfish.
I guided a 3rd group this time 4 people, and no one caught a king salmon. The group had a total of 3 bites during the charter, and had one hook up with a nice sized king salmon that simply pulled loose late in the battle.
Drastic changes in water level and clarity seemed to make the fishing extremely tough.
06/27/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a chrome king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a chrome king salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
06/28/2010
I guided a group of 6 anglers in the morning, each of whom caught a king salmon. Four people caught their salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers, and the other two individuals caught their king salmon by casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 people, each of whom caught a king salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. One guest released his smaller salmon that likely weighed about 10 pounds, and never managed to catch another large salmon, although he did catch a jack king salmon.
06/29/2010
I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESB Bobber.
I guided 5 people in the evening, 4 of whom caught king salmon while drifting salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
06/30/2010
I guided a group of 5 people in the morning, 3 of whom caught king salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.