August is our best month for catching plentiful and hard-fighting silver salmon from scenic medium-sized Mat-Su Valley rivers. While silver or coho salmon is our headline fish of August, Fishtale guests may also catch chum salmon and pink salmon during August. Now is a good time to make reservations for August silver salmon fishing trips.
August 1 — I took family and friends in the morning and we ended up one silver salmon short of everyone catching their limits. All of the fish were caught on #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, each of whom caught 1 silver salmon on #5 Flashtrap Spinners. It took quite a while before we started catching fish in the afternoon. We also lost a few fish, but ended up fishing long and hard for each bite.
August 2 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on #5 Flashtrap Spinners. Silver / Black and Pink Blade were the two patterns we used. We saw a cow moose ambling away from the river on the morning trip and a beaver that kept swimming past the boat while we were fishing.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on #5 Flashtrap Spinners. 2 members of the group also caught and kept fresh chum salmon, before landing their 2nd silver salmon. Once again the two spinner patterns that caught all of the fish were silver / black and pink blade. Water level is dropping, but there is a good number of salmon in the river. We saw a bull moose out in the river on the afternoon trip. I plan to guide and post a fishing report again tomorrow.
August 3 — I fished with one guest in the morning, and we each caught a limit of silver salmon in a short amount of time while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. My guest caught his salmon with a Pink Blade lure and I caught mine with a silver /black pattern.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting with Flashtrap Spinners. Most of the fish were caught on #5 pink blade spinners, but some were also caught on #5 silver /black.
August 4 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver (coho) salmon while casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. The guests caught silver salmon on both Pink blade and silver / black patterns. During the trip one of the guests spotted a coyote along the bank — that I suspect was looking for salmon scraps. We also saw a muskrat swimming at one of the spots we were fishing and spotted a large beaver up on the bank while boating back toward the landing.
I guided an afternoon group of 6 guests, 5 of whom caught a limit of silver salmon fairly early in the trip on weighted spinners. 4 guests caught their fish on #5 Flashtrap Spinners in silver / black and pink blade patterns. 1 guest caught his limit of silver salmon on a silver blade / pink body #3 Vibrax Spinner. Frede (my wife) was the 6th guest who fished some during the trip, and caught 3 pink salmon all of which she released. Frede wanted to come back early after all the other guests caught their fish — to keep me caught up on sleep and ready for the next guided trips. During the trip we saw two adult cow moose cross the river just a short distance below the boat. I’m planning to guide and report again tomorrow.
August 5 — I guided a morning group of 6 guests, 5 of whom caught a limit of silver salmon and 1 of whom caught 1 silver salmon. All of the salmon were caught casting with #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while casting with Flashtrap Spinners.
AUGUST 6 — Opening day of bait fishing on Little Susitna River, and we took advantage of it. I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Salmon roe cured with Pautzke’s Fire cure and drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. There were plenty of other anglers out on the river today harvesting silver salmon as well.
In between my morning and afternoon trips I took Matanuska -Susitna Borough information specialists Patty Sullivan and Stefan Hinman out on a information gathering and photo shooting trip. Their group also managed to harvest a few silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Finally in the evening I wrote my weekly fishing column for the Mat-Su Valley’s Frontiersman Newspaper.
August 7 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. We saw a beaver swimming around the same hole we were fishing.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
August 8 — I guided a morning group of 4 people who each caught a limit of silver salmon drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 6 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. There are still good numbers of salmon available, but with the larger number of people out fishing and using bait since bait fishing opened August 6, it seems to be getting a bit more difficult to catch the fish. I’m suspecting there could be a large number of people fishing this weekend. Check back on Saturday and Sunday evening (August 9 & 10) to see how we do on my weekend trips.
Saturday August 9 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. We stopped on a good bunch of silvers at the first spot we fished in the afternoon, and everyone caught a limit in a short amount of time.
Sunday August 10 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. Fish continue to move up the river, and I expect angler effort will drop off somewhat in the next week possibly creating an even better fish catching opportunity. School is starting along with school sports programs, hunting season for some species started today, and the Alaska State Fair will be getting underway before long.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
Monday August 11 — I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Tuesday August 12 — I guided a morning group of 6 guests, 5 of whom caught their limit of silver salmon, and 1 of whom caught a single silver salmon. All of the salmon were caught drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the trip we saw two different beavers and a coyote.
I guided an afternoon group of 6 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. The past couple days I’ve been having to fish more holes to catch fish.
Wednesday August 13 — I guided a morning group of 3 guests who wanted to try catching silver salmon on fly rods. 2 of them caught a limit of silver salmon on Dark colored Dolly Lamas, while the 3rd guest caught and released a few chum salmon. They were working over schools of silver salmon the whole morning, but the fish were reluctant biters. Toward the end of the trip the last guest even attempted drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under a bobber through the smaller school of fish they had been fishing over, but aside from one fish rising to hit the bobber, no takes.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Thursday August 14 — I guided an morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom also caught a limit of of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. I’m planning to guide and post a fishing report again tomorrow.
Friday August 15 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Tomorrow the Little Susitna River silver salmon limit increases to 3 silver salmon per day — and I saw a good number of people moving into the landing and campground as I was leaving the river today. I’m thinking it will be busy on the river over the weekend, and the number of silver salmon arriving in the river seems to be dropping off, so it will be interesting to see how we do over the weekend. I plan to guide and post a fishing report both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday August 16 — I guided a morning group of 1 guests who caught a 3-fish limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under an ESB Bobber.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, 3 of whom caught a limit of silver salmon, and 2 of whom each caught 1 silver salmon. All of the fish were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
Sunday August 17 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests, 4 of whom limited on silver salmon, and 1 of whom caught 2 silver salmon. All of the salmon were caught drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the afternoon trip I spotted a couple coyotes along the river. I was pleasantly surprised how well the silver salmon catching held up over the weekend.
Monday August 18 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, 2 of whom caught 3 silver salmon limits, and 2 of whom caught 2 silver salmon each. All of the salmon were caught drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, 1 of whom caught a 3 silver salmon limit, 2 of who caught 2 silver salmon, and 1 of whom caught 1 silver salmon. All of the salmon were caught drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the afternoon trip we saw a pair of bald eagles and an adult and young coyote.
Tuesday August 19 — I guided a morning group of 5 guests, 2 of whom caught 3 silver salmon limits, 2 of whom caught 2 silver salmon, and 1 of whom caught 1 silver salmon. All of the salmon were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, 1 of whom caught a silver salmon. 3 group members also briefly hooked but lost silver salmon. All of the fish were hooked by drifting FIre Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Silver salmon catching is slowing down so people need to be on the ball to catch the fewer bites that we are getting.
August 20 — I guided a morning group of 3 guests, who caught 4 silver salmon while drifting FIre Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, who caught 3 silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the afternoon trip we also saw an adult coyote with 2 pup coyotes. There was a definite drop off in the number of silver salmon we have been seeing and the bites we have been getting in the last few days.
August 21 — I had a day off — but still worked on getting ready for the next fishing trips.
August 22 — I guided a morning group of 4 people, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting FIre Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. Some nice sized fish both morning and afternoon. A very pleasant day on the water with few other boaters and anglers.
August 23 — I guided a morning group of 5 people, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. We also saw bald eagles near the river today.
August 24 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. It keeps getting a bit more difficult to catch fresh silver salmon every day, and a fair amount of the salmon are blushed.
August 25 — I guided a morning group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, who caught a total of 4 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. Getting bites and hooking up keeps getting more difficult — but everyone at least managed to hook a salmon. Water was coming up and getting a bit muddier after two days of rain.
August 26 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, 1 of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. 2 of whom caught 2 silver salmon, and 1 of whom did not catch a salmon. All of the fish were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. We saw a couple eagles and a beaver on the morning trip.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught 2 silver salmon while drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. During the afternoon trip we saw 2 bald eagles and a coyote along the river.
August 27 — Fishing In The Rain —- I guided a morning group of 5 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon by drifting FIre Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. We had to peck away catching a few fish from several locations before everyone had a limit.
I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. Also caught lots of rain showers in the afternoon.
August 28 — I guided a morning group of 3 guests, who caught 5 silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers.
August 29 — I guided an afternoon group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drfited under ESB bobbers. Water was high and muddy from the last couple days of rain, but there seemed to be a decent number of fish around and hardly anyone else fishing.
August 30 — The group we had scheduled to fish with us today had to cancel, and we did not get another reservation, so I spent the day working around the house. I plan to guide and post a fishing report tomorrow.
August 31 — I guided a morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. 1 member of the group caught and released a pink salmon, and another member also caught and released a rainbow trout. Several people have asked, so perhaps I should post — I am planning to guide 2014 salmon fishing trips through approximately September 10. At this point we have limited availability through Friday September 5 — and better availability from September 6 – 10. I am planning to guide and post a fishing report again tomorrow.
For the next report — you will need to go to our September 2014 page which should be online after I post results from our September 1 fishing trip.