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Fishing

Photos: Silver salmon fishing heats up at Bird Creek

By Bill Roth
Updated: July 24, 2023 Published: July 24, 2023

Will Nilsson and his daughter Elsa, 9, cross the pedestrian bridge over Bird Creek with a silver salmon (coho) they caught at the popular fishery along the Turnagain Arm on Sunday. Elsa helped reel in the catch and they planned to put the fish on a barbecue that night. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Standing on the muddy bank of Bird Creek on Sunday, at Mile 101.5 of the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm, Brandon Fisk said, “We’re starting to heat up on Bird Creek. More fish (silver salmon) are coming through.”

It’s still early in the season for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game hatchery-enhanced run.

Brandon Fisk, left, took a photo of Steve Phimmasone with silver salmon caught by their group at Bird Creek along Turnagain Arm on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

“We were here the first day (July 14 opening) and there were thousands of pinks,” said Kristina Seryozhenkov.

As they prepared to head home, she and her son John walked across the parking lot with their first silver salmon of the season. “It’s a little eater. We’re having it for dinner tonight. Cook it up on a cedar plank.”

John Seryozhenkov and his mother Kristina bag a silver salmon (coho) caught at Bird Creek on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Multiple fishermen were enjoying success catching silvers during the outgoing tide in bright sunshine with the air temperature in the 70s.

Charlie Hampton, lower right, reels in a silver salmon (coho) while fishing at Bird Creek along the Turnagain Arm on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Blake Ramsey nets a silver salmon caught by Charlie Hampton from the muddy banks of Bird Creek along the Turnagain Arm on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Charlie Hampton holds his first silver that he has ever caught while fishing at Bird Creek on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

An angler tries his luck fishing for silver salmon (coho) near the railroad bridge at Bird Creek along the Turnagain Arm on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A pink salmon tries to get free after biting a spinner. The fish was released back into the water moments later. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Anglers line the muddy banks of Bird Creek after the tide went out on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Three silver salmon caught at Bird Creek are brought up the muddy bank on a stringer. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Anglers fish from the muddy banks of Bird Creek after the tide went out on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Tony Radoszewski, left, and his son David walk through the parking lot after catching a pink and silver salmon (coho) at Bird Creek on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

An angler works the outgoing tide while silver salmon (coho) fishing at Bird Creek along the Turnagain Arm on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A pink salmon, top, and a silver salmon (coho) caught at Bird Creek are on ice. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A fisherman carries a stringer with silver salmon (coho) across the pedestrian bridge at Bird Creek on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Bill Roth

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

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