Anglers looking to get their fish fix this weekend will need to keep a close eye on both salmon returns and the wildfire situation in Southcentral Alaska.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Skilak Road on the Kenai Peninsula has been closed by the Department of Transportation due to the Card Street wildfire near Sterling. That means boat launches at both Upper and Lower Skilak Lake are closed. However, Jim's Landing near the east entrance of Skilak Lake Loop remains open, as is Sportsman's Landing, where there's a boat launch as well as a ferry across the Kenai River.
Anglers heading north from Anchorage may also find wildfire blocking their path, although things are starting to open up.
The Deshka Landing reopened Friday to pass holders. The landing was planning to open to the general public Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Check the Deshka Landing Facebook page or www.deshkalanding.com for more information. Access to the Susitna River is also available at the Susitna Landing.
The Willow Creek campground remains closed until further notice, although an official with Alaska State Parks said closures at the Nancy Lakes Recreation Area and South Rolly Lake Campground would be lifted Saturday morning.
Anglers can call 511 for up-to-date information on road closures.
Aside from potential smoky conditions, fishing should be excellent over the weekend both north and south of Anchorage. The Deshka and Little Susitna rivers have seen strong king salmon returns, with the Deshka reporting 17,681 kings through June 18. That's already more than last year's 16,335 and meets the river's goal of 13,000 to 28,000 kings.
The strong return has been mirrored on the Little Susitna, which has also surpassed last year's king count. As of June 18, the department had counted 3,554 kings at its weir on the river. That's a marked increase over last season, when 3,135 fish were counted all season -- including 63 through this time a year ago.
The strong king returns have prompted Fish and Game to ease restrictions on both rivers. On the Little Su, king salmon fishing is now allowed seven days a week through the end of the season at 11 p.m. July 13. On the Deshka, bait and multiple hooks are now allowed. The seasonal limit of two kings from the Susitna River drainage (which includes both the Little Su and the Deshka) remains in effect.
Salmon returns have been strong on the Kenai Peninsula as well, where fishing for sockeye salmon on the Russian and Kenai rivers is reportedly excellent. According to Fish and Game area management biologist Robert Begich, the weir at Lower Russian Lake has seen a huge increase in fish over the past few days, with almost 8,000 sockeye counted between June 17 and 18.
The cumulative escapement is nearing 15,000 sockeye, closing in on the goal of 22,000 to 42,000 fish for the early run, which ends July 14. Last year at this time, the department had counted 11,450 sockeye. Begich said restrictions could be eased in the coming days if the strong returns continue.
The news is also good for king salmon on some of the smaller Kenai Peninsula streams. The Anchor River has far surpassed its season total from last year, with 6,136 kings counted through June 18. That compares to 1,339 through this time last year and a season total of 2,496 for all of 2014 on the river, which has met its escapement goal of 3,800 to 10,000 fish.
Because of the strong returns to the Anchor -- as well the nearby Ninilchik River and Deep Creek -- the department on Friday rescinded an emergency order limiting king harvest in the Ninilchik and surrounding marine waters. As of 12:01 a.m. June 20, anglers may now keep five king salmon this season from the Ninilchik south to Bluff Point. The Ninilchik, Anchor and Deep Creek are currently closed to king salmon fishing, although the surrounding saltwater fisheries are open.
There's also good news on the Kenai River, which through June 15 had seen 4,371 kings pass its sonar counter. That's already better than in 2014 and 2013, when 4,214 and 2,308 early-run kings were respectively counted on the river. However, the department says it has no plans to open king fishing on the river, which has been closed all season by emergency order.
For more information, visit adfg.alaska.gov.
Contact Matt Tunseth at mtunseth@alaskadispatch.com