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Fish with Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reels on Andy Couch's boat.

Alaska Fishing Reports 2007

2007 Alaska fishing reports and forecasts cover Deshka River and Little Susitna River king salmon and silver salmon fishing trips in Alaska summer seasons and winter ice fishing in Mat-Su Valley lakes road accessible from Anchorage, Palmer, and Wasilla. Our season fishing forecast is posted first, however, you may skip the forecast by scrolling down, or clicking  fishing report.

2007 Alaska Salmon Fishing Forecasts

King Salmon - Expect Big Deshka River Return
The Deshka River king salmon spawning escapement has exceeded 30,000 fish each of the past 7 years, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) data collected at Deshka River Weir indicates another excellent run, over 30,000 fish, should return in 2007.  Fishermen will be allowed to use bait starting on May 15,  this year, and (like the past 2 years) we expect the Department of Fish and Game will once again issue an emergency order doubling the daily bag limit for king salmon and opening the river to 24 hours a day fishing starting approximately May 25.  We encourage all anglers to make sure an emergency order has been issued before keeping a double king salmon limit or fishing outside of normal king salmon season hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.   

Little Susitna River King Salmon - Expect Better Fishing
A higher than average spawning escapement count for the primary parent year of the 2007 return indicates Little Susitna River may have better than average king salmon fishing for king salmon that average about 10 pounds larger than on the Deshka River.

Silver Salmon Forecast - Expect Solid Fishing
Parent year spawing escapements were good for both 2007 Deshka and Little Susitna River silver salmon returns, although lower than the parent spawing escapement for 2006, so I  expect average, but lower overall numbers of silver salmon returning than what we experienced in 2006 -- There may be a silver lining in that  smaller numbers of returning salmon can some times mean larger average fish weight.

My goal is to post a daily fishing report for each trip I run (when I have time I may post reports form other guides as well) but if time constraints delay us from updating for a few days, you can also visit previous year's reports to see what happened then.  Salmon run timing is relatively consistent from year to year, so that should give you a rough idea of what to expect. Enjoy our 2007 reports.

Viewing: June 2007

June 01, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided 3 people who hooked 5 king salmon, but only one person managed to catch a king salmon. 2 king salmon were hooked on a K-14 Kwikfish and the other 3 were hooked on a magnum Wiggle Wart. The bigger than average king salmon that was caught weighed 34 pounds.

Water remains low and clear, and fish are spooky and often unwilling to bite. Accornding to the USGS water chart, the Little Susinta River may rise slightly over the next few days, but it should remain lower and clearer than normal for this time of year. This morning we fished several good spots before managing to find some fish that were willing to bite.

June 02, 2007

Little Susinta - i guided 5 fishermen in the morning who caught 2 rainbow trout and had 2 king salmon bites. One king was hooked very briefly and I also spotted a couple king salmon in one of the holes we fished, but otherwise it was a fairly quiet day on the river for us as we came back without even a single king salmon. We fished K-14 Kwikfish, K-15 Kwikfish, and magnum Wiggle Warts the entire trip. The water remains low and clear, and two or three days of warm weather or a good heavy rain should raise the river enough to bring in a new surge of salmon. On the positive side there seemed to be considerably less fishing pressure today than on Friday.

June 03, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided 5 fishermen who caught 2 small king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish. The fish which was kept weighed 15 pounds. In addition, one of my fishermen had a bite on a magnum Wiggle Wart which he did not hook. What a difference from yesterday, today was the busiest day of king salmon season so far on the Little Susitna, and with the low water I`m thinking the fish were turned off by the boat traffic.

Water level may have risen a little during the day, but remains low.

June 04, 2007

Little Susitna River -- i guided a mroning group of 5 fishermen who cuaght 4 king salmon weighing 36, 30, 25, and 20 pounds. All the salmon were caught onK-15 Kwikfish.

I guided and afternoon group of 2 guests who caught one snagged king salmon that we released, and also lost another king salmon right at the boat just before I was ready to net it. In addition the had a couple more bites. The afternoon group fished with a magnum Wiggle Wart and a K-15 Kwikfish.

June 05, 2007

Little Susitna River == I guided a morning group of 5 fishermen who caught 4 king salmon. 2 of the kings were caught on K-15 Kwikfish, 1 was caught on a Beua Mac Spinning Cheater, and 1 was caught casting a Flashtrap Spinner. Water is coming up and getting muddier.

Deshka River == I looked at the Deshka River Weir count yesterday, and even though it is low at less than 300 king salmon total past the weir, it is higher than last year`s total through June 4.

June 06, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided 5 fishermen who caught 3 king salmon weighing 23, 26, and 29 pounds. Alll of the kings were hooked on K-15 Kwikfisih and another salmon was also hooked on a Kwikfish as well, but pulled loose before we could land it. The water was considerably muddier and higher today, and there was also lots of other boaters fishing the river, so we did not get many bites. According to the USGS water chart, the lower portion of Little Susitna River may get even hgiher tomorrow.

June 07, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided a morning group of 3 anglers who each caught a king salmon. Two fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish, and one king was caught on a K-14 Kwikfish. The kings weighted 18, 25, and 42 pounds.

In the afternoon I guided a group of 5 fishermen who each caught a king salmon. 4 king salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish, and 1 king salmon was caught on a K-16 Kwikfish. The salmon weighed 10, 21, 23, 23, and 28 pounds. Water may have risen a bit from yesterday, but cleared up as well.

Deshka River - It is just about time for the big push of Deshka River king salmon to hit the river -- I have not heard of it happening yet, but right around June 8- 10 is when they usually arrive.

June 08, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided 4 anglers in the morning who caught 4 king salmon, one of which was released. The kept fish weighed 12, 23, and 25 pounds. Two fish were caught on Beau Mac Spinning Cheaters and two fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish. Lots of people out fishing the river in the morning.

I guided an afternoon group of 4 fishermen who caught 3 king salmon weighing 25, 30, and 31 pounds. 1 king salmon was caught on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater, and 2 king salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish. Most of the morning fishing pressue was off the river by our afternoon trip, however, we worked extremely hard for bites, perhaps because the fish had been looking at lures all day long. I expected the water to clear up from the day before, but it seemed a bit muddier -- perhaps it was because of the morning boat traffic.

June 09, 2007

Susitna -- My morning trip was cancelled, so I only guided 4 people in the afternoon. They caught 4 king salmon weighing 9, 28, 37, and 38 pounds. All of the fish were caught on K=15 Kwikfish. Water level had dropped and cleared. Little Susitna River was very crowded with boats and anglers.

June 10, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 4 people in the morning who each caught king salmon, but the group only kept 3 king salmon weighing approximately 20, 22, and 27 pounds. All the fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish. Water remained low and clear.

In the afternoon I guided 2 fishermen who caught king salmon weighing 16 and 44 pounds. Both fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish.

June 11, 2007

Susinta - I guided 5 fishermen in the morning who caught king salmon weighing approximately 10, 18, 18, 22, and 25 pounds. 4 king salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish and 1 king salmon was caught on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater. Water is coming up and getting muddier.

June 12, 2007

Susitna -- I guided a morning group of 4 anglers who caught 3 king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish.

I guided an afternoon group of 4 anglers who each caught king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish.

June 13, 2007

Susinta -- I guided an afternoon group of 4 people who caught 3 king salmon. 2 fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish and 1 fish was caught on a Beau Mac Spinning Cheater.

I fished with my sister`s famiily in the morning and they caught 5 king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish.

June 14, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 2 people in the morning who caught king salmon weighing 35 and 17 pounds. Both fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish.

I guided an afternoon group of 5 people each of whom caught a king salmon the largest of which weighed 28 pounds.

June 15, 2007

Susitna -- I guided a group of 4 fishermen in the morning who each caught a king salmon weighing from 14 - 31 pounds. The salmon were caught on both K-15 Kwikfish and Beau Mac Spinning Cheaters.

I guided an afternoon group of 4 people who each caught a king salmon. Once again, we caught kings on both K-15 Kwikfish and Spinning Cheaters.

June 16, 2007

Susinta -- I guided a morning group of 5 guests all of whom caught and kept king salmon.

I guided an afternoon group of 4 fishermen who each caught king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish. The largest afternoon fish weighed 40 pounds.

June 17, 2007

Susinta -- I guided 3 people in the morning who caught king salmon weighing 38, 30, and 25 pounds on K-15 Kwikfish.

I guided an afternoon group of 4 fishermen who each caught king salmon on K-15 Kwikfish. The fish weighed 31,31,30, and 25 pounds.

June 18, 2007

Susitna -- I guided a morning group of 5 fishermen, 4 of whom caught king salmon. All the salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish and they weighed 39, 36, 34, and 30 pounds.

I guided an afternoon group of 5 fishermen, and once again 4 anglers caught king salmon. 4 king salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish and 1 king salmon was caught on a Fatfish plug. The king salmon that were kept weighed 23, 24, 28, and 30 pounds.

June 19, 2007

I guided a morning group of 2 people who each caught a king salmon while casting with a #5 pink Flashtrap Spinner. The fish weighed 28 and 34 pounds. Water was a good level and color for king salmon fishing -- although USGS water chart shows it should drop over the next few days.

June 20, 2007

Llittle Susitna River -- I guided a morning group of 4 fishermen who caught 1 small king salmon and 3 king salmon jacks. The king salmon and 1 jack were caught on a fat fish plug, and 2 jacks were caught on Flashtrap Spinners. The group also briefly hooked an additional fish and had some bites on Spinning Cheaters.

I guided an afternoon group of 4 fishermen who caught 2 king salmon weighing 17 and 15 pounds. 1 king salmon was caught on a Spinning Cheater, and 1 king salmon was caught on a K-13 Kwikfish.

June 21, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided a group of 4 guests in the morning who hooked and lost 1 king salmon and also had a few other light bites, but no additional hookups. They fished K-13, K-14, and K-15 Kwikfish, Spinning Cheaters, and magnum Wiggle Warts and had fish bumping the lines around with each type of lure, but not many solid bites.

I guided an afternoon group of 3 guests who hooked and lost 1 small fish on a Flashtrap Spinner. As far as I know the group only had one other solid strike on a Spinning Cheater, although we did see several king salmon rolling in holes we were fishing. Getting good bites is much harder than finding the salmon.

June 22, 2007

Little Susitna River -- I guided 3 fishermen who caught 2 king salmon weighing about 17 and 18 pounds. 1 king salmon was caught casting with a #5 pink Flashtrap Spinner and 1 king salmon was caught backtrolling with a Spinning Cheater. The third fishermen also hooked 2 king salmon while backtrolling with a #15 Stingfish plug, 1 king salmon backtrolling an M-2 Flatfish, and 1 king salmon casting with the #5 pink Flashtrap Spinner. The weather had turned cool and cloudy with some light showers, and several other guided parties had good trips as well.

June 23, 2007

Susinta -- I guided 5 guests in the morning, 4 of whom caught king salmon backtrolling with K-15 Kwikfish.

In the afternoon I guided 5 fishermen who each caught and kept a king salmon. 3 king salmon were caught backtrolling with K-15 Kwikfish and 2 king salmon was caught backtrolling with Fatfish plugs.

June 24, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 5 people in the morning, each of whom caught a king salmon backtrolling with K-15 Kwikfish. The smallest salmon weighed about 15 pounds and the largest weighed 39 pounds.

In the afternoon I guided 4 people who each caught king salmon. The 2 largest kept king salmon weighed 35 pounds each. 3 king salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish and 2 king salmon were caught on Spinning Cheaters.

June 25, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 4 people who each caught a king salmon. 3 king salmon were caught on K-15 Kwikfish and 1 king salmon was caught on a Spinning Cheater.

I guided 4 people in the afternoon who each caught a king salmon. All of the fish were caught on K-15 Kwikfish. The smallest salmon weighed 15 pounds, and the largest salmon weighed 45 pounds.

June 26, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 5 people in the morning who caught 6 king salmon drifting Fire Cured salmon eggs under ESB Bobbers. It was a good morning of fishing, and the bites were spaced out throughout the trip.

June 28, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 4 people in the morning who caught 3 king salmon (2 were quite small), 1 whitefish, and 1 rainbow trout. All of the fish were caught on Fire Cured salmon eggs fished under ESB bobbers. We tried both red and orange dyed eggs and caught all of the fish on the red salmon eggs -- although we did not start fishing the orange colored bait until later in the day, so that may have been why the orange colored bait did not produce as well.

June 29, 2007

Little Susitna -- I guided 2 people who caught 4 nice king salmon ranging in size from about 20 - 30 pounds. The 1 king salmon that was kept near the end of the trip weighed 20 pounds -- the other fished were releases as the angler who caught them wanted to continue to fish. All of the salmon were in good shape although 2 of the 4 fish were getting a rose colored blush to them. All of the fish were caught on a #4 silver and black Flashtrap Spinner. Another salmon was hooked casting a #5 pink Flashtrap Spinner. Water conditions were low and clear -- good for casting.

June 30, 2007

Susitna -- I guided 5 people in the morning, 4 of whom caught king salmon. 1 king salmon was caught on a Spinning Cheater and the rest were caught on K-15 Kwikfish. The largest king weighed 33 pounds.

In the afternoon I guided another group of 5 people in which 4 of them caught king salmon. 3 kings were caught onK-15 Kwikfish and 1 king was caught on a Spinning Cheater. The largest king weghed 26 pounds.