I usually guide only one trip per day during September. At the start of the month there are still ocean-fresh silver salmon available in some of our Mat-Su Valley streams. This year I am planning to guide at least through the first week of September — perhaps a little latter — but I have some other things I want to do later in the month as well.
September 1 — Spent my birthday working around the house.
September 2 — I fished with my wife and a friend this afternoon, and each of us caught a limit of nice fresh silver salmon salmon. We caught 7 silvers by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers. We also caught a few silvers by casting #5 Flashtrap Spinners. It was a warm sunny afternoon, and a very rewarding trip — we had to fish several spots before we found any fish willing to bite, and then we experienced some good action. I plan on fishing and reporting again tomorrow — so check back in the evening if you would like to know what we caught.
September 3 — I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, and we fished all over, but eventually everyone caught and kept a limit of silver salmon. Most of the fish were caught on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers, but the guests also caught several silvers on Flashtrap Spinners. During the trip we saw some bald eagles and a couple muskrats. I plan on guiding and reporting again tomorrow.
September 4 — I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon. The group also released 1 darker silver salmon and a whitefish. Most of the fish were caught by fishing Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers, but several silver salmon were also caught on #4 and #5 Flashtrap Spinners.
September 5 — I guided a mid-morning group of 4 guests, each of whom caught and kept a limit of silver salmon. In addition one guest caught 2 jack silver salmon, and the group released few additional darker salmon. All of the fish were caught by drifting Fire Cured salmon roe under ESB Bobbers or by casting with Flashtrap Spinners. Both techniques produced a good number of bites and fish.
September 6 — I guided a group of 4 people, each of whom caught a limit of silver salmon — although one of the guests did not keep his full limit. Once again we caught the fish on Fire Cured salmon eggs drifted under ESB Bobbers — and also on #4 and #5 Flashtrap Spinners. It was a bit wet, but relatively warm and a beautiful day to be on the river.
September 7 — I guided a group of 4 guests, who harvested 9 silver salmon and 1 jack silver salmon. Most of the fish were caught on #4 and #5 Flashtrap Spinnners, but the group also caught several salmon on Fire Cured salmon roe drifted under ESB Bobbers. The group caught several ocean-bright silvers with sea lice, however, each day more of the fish are getting darker in color. There may have been more boaters out fishing today than on any other day of the Labor Day Weekend.
September 9, 2015 — I transported a guest to and from the Deshka River. It was a beautiful day on the water and we did a bit of work at the Deshka, but no fishing. Water level was fairly low, but had come up recently.
Late September — I’ve been ordering supplies for a custom built set of 7′ spinning rods and also for a custom built set of back trolling / casting rods for use during the 2016 salmon seasons. These rods should be the best match I’ve ever had for the salmon and specific fishing conditions our guests experience on the Mat-Su Valley rivers where we guide our salmon fishing tours. I’m excited about building and fishing with these new rods — they will feature St. Croix rod blanks, cork handles, and Fuji guides and reel seats — all selected and fitted together for the Alaska salmon fishing experienced during 30+ years of our guided fishing trips. We plan to have them all finished and available for guest use in my personal guide boat starting with the 2016 season.
Thank You to all our guests who made this another great season for us. Most of the parks staff is now out of the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility campground and boat launch area, and the salmon run had been slowing down for quite a while, so we’ve brought our last boat home and decided to call it a season. We have now concluded our open water salmon fishing trips for the season. Hope to start guiding ice fishing trips by mid or late November — depending upon ice conditions.
Andy Couch, Frede Stier, and Greg Acord