Fishing

Returning hatchery-born cohos complete their cycle of life at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery.

Steve Oyler has been fishing in the derby since the 1980s. He caught the winning fish on the day his granddaughters turned 10 years old.

The 83-site Russian River Campground in Cooper Landing will remain closed from now through May but is expected to reopen in time for next summer’s sockeye salmon run.

Salmon, seagulls, people and nets make the scene on the beach a familiar yet unforgettable sight.

The fishery runs from Sunday though July 31.

Columnist John Schandelmeier details the good and the bad of early summer fishing, along with a prod to get out and catch them.

State officials said that king salmon runs are not showing signs of improvement and that conservative measures are needed to ensure future fishing opportunities.

Locals have reported fishing to be fairly slow this spring, but the tide could turn at a moment’s notice.

Outdoors columnist John Schandelmeier relays his experiences and gives his best practices for reeling in big ones.

Youths at a session hosted by Fish and Game used shrimp on small hooks to try to catch king salmon and rainbow trout with jig sticks through holes drilled into the ice.

The Valdez halibut and silver salmon derbies end Sunday night, and the Kenai silver salmon derby is set for Sept. 14-19.

A Juneau man caught the winning fish with two hours left in the nine-day derby.

“Coho salmon keep coming into Ship Creek with each tide,” according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The creek near downtown Anchorage was home to a new one-day fishing event on Saturday, the Coho Rodeo.

The Coho Rodeo runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an awards ceremony set for 8 p.m. at the Bait Shack.

Although the June 11 opener was off to a slow start, people were eager to fish under the Kenai’s sunshine and blue skies.

The derby is scheduled for June 11-20 at the downtown fishery in Anchorage.

Aimee Pike used her bare hands to bring the 34.5-inch burbot onto the ice.

Jay Hicks was fishing from a kayak in Kodiak when he landed a monster 80-inch halibut.

An Anchorage angler won the 65th annual derby with the smallest fish in derby history.

Fish and Game officials urge caution to keep wildlife from associating people with food.

Some salmon catchers were wearing masks this week at the mouth of the Kenai River, but mostly it was situation normal for the popular annual opening.

Commercial set-net sites will also close in upper Cook Inlet.