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Anchorage

Slam’n Salm’n Derby draws a crowd at Ship Creek

By Bill Roth
Updated: June 14, 2022 Published: June 14, 2022

Skye Idano, 12, hauls a king salmon up the bank that he reeled in while fishing at Ship Creek near downtown Anchorage on Sunday, June 12, 2022. (Bill Roth / ADN)

As the incoming tide flooded the muddy banks of Anchorage’s Ship Creek on Sunday, it brought in king salmon.

“There was a lot of fish coming up, fish everywhere, the anglers upstream were catching fish, anglers downstream were having just as much success,” said Dustin Slinker, owner of The Bait Shack, which organizes the Slam’n Salm’n Derby.

Water clarity has been improving following record high water during snow melt, Slinker said.

[Rapid erosion triggers emergency closure of much of Anchorage’s Ship Creek Trail]

“Kings are starting to see the bait and spinners,” he said. “... The fishing is definitely starting to pick up.”

The grand prize for the heaviest fish is a roughly 1 ounce gold nugget and $1,000. The derby runs through Saturday, June 18.

Moses Charles casts bait into the water for his 5-year-old son Moses, Jr., right, so he could fish for king salmon during an incoming tide at Ship Creek near downtown Anchorage on Sunday. Koda Charles, 10, center, watches as he fished. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Anglers try their luck while fishing an incoming tide at Ship Creek near downtown Anchorage on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Anglers fish an incoming tide at Ship Creek near downtown Anchorage on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A fisherman tries his luck near the mouth of Ship Creek during an incoming tide on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Anglers line the bank of Ship Creek, near downtown Anchorage, while fishing for king salmon during an incoming tide on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A king salmon makes a run just before being netted by Dylan Christisen with The Bait Shack at Ship Creek near downtown Anchorage on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Josie Snell shows a 14.75 pound king salmon that she caught at Ship Creek near downtown Anchorage on Sunday. "I'm going to steak it up and put it on the grill tonight," said Snell. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.

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