Frede Stier hefts a king salmon she caught while backtrolling with Fishtale River Guides near Anchorage, Alaska. Backtrolling is an easy method to learn that produces big results.

A young fisherman proudly hefts a chinook or king salmon he caught while backtrolling on Alaska's Little Susitna River.  Fishtale River Guides has taught many guests how to backtroll, and helped them catch a salmon -- on some occasions it has been their very first fish.

A nice rack of big Chinook or king salmon caught on a 6 hour May fishing trip.  Fishtale River Guides' Andy Couch (purple shirt) examines the catch with two guests, while two additional guests who caught fish record pictures and photos.

In late June and July the Little Susitna River water level drops to where wading and casting spinners can be a most successful method for catching king or chinook salmon. This king salmon photo was caught after the fish was hooked casting a #3 black Flashtrap Spinner in early July.

Some retired guests have made several Alaska fishing trips with us to share the experience of catching the "Big Ones".  One older couple told us they wanted to visit Alaska one time, but enjoyed their trip so much they fished with us the following two summers as well.

Chinook salmon caught on a Kwickfish plug backtrolled in the Little Susitna River.  This is an average size Little Su chinook or king salmon.

Sometimes it is hard to believe that so many big fish (30 - 40 pound king salmon) can be caught out of such a small river as the Little Susitna.

It is a big king salmon, when your guest struggles to lift it for a picture.  This  48 lb. king salmon was caught in a Susitna River tributary and won 10th place in the adult division of the 2001 Mat-Su King Salmon Derby.

Fishing for early season Alaska salmon can be cool, so bring warm clothes and some persistence, and you could catch a trophy May salmon like this one.

Big Alaska king salmon like this bright 40 pound fish caught in a Susitna River tributary arrive in May, June, and early July.  The world record king salmon weighed 97 pounds 4 ounces and was caught from Alaska's Kenai River in mid May.

A Little Susitna River Fishing Charter produced big results for this group fishing in early June and backtrolling secluded holes with little competition.

An evening salmon fishing trip resulted in Duane Couch catching this hefty king salmon during the first week of June near Anchorage, Alaska.

A woman who loves salmon fishing, Mary Ellen Gray, caught this king salmon on her birthday present May salmon fishing trip from her husband, Rex Gray.

Netting salmon becomes challenging when a fisherman hooks a salmon so big it will barely squeeze into the net, as was the case with this 40 pound king caught by Bob Williams.

Keith Barton was all smiles with this 50 pound king salmon caught from Willow Creek.

Deshka River king salmon caught by Shaun Sanderlin while fishing with salmon eggs in late May.

Ben Sanderlin was salmon fishing 90 minutes North of Anchorage when he caught a bright May king salmon from Alaska's Little Susitna River.

Salmon eggs are a top producing salmon fishing bait, and several pounds of bait can be a bonus when harvesting a large female salmon. Bait fishing for king salmon opens May 15 on Deshka River this year.

Spin-n-glo and salmon eggs is a favorite king salmon lure and
bait combination for catching Alaska's largest salmon.

MORE SALMONPICTURES:  King Salmon Pictures  -  Sockeye Salmon Pictures  -  Silver Salmon Pictures  -  Chum Salmon Pictures  -  Fly Fishing Pictures - Alaska Fishing Pictures