Alaska Outdoor Digest

The source for important, timely news on hunting, fishing and the outdoors in Alaska.

Russian, Upper Kenai off to good start
Okay, the poorly kept secret is out–the Upper Kenai and Russian River are filling with bluebacked sockeye salmon, providing consistent catching for Alaska anglers without much else to celebrate. Unlike some June 11 openers when the early run sockeye are just trickling into the Sanctuary and upper river, this... Read more
Ship Creek Derby winds to muddy end
The year’s Slam’n Salm’n Derby on Ship Creek is winding to a muddy end after torrential rains Friday night again flooded the creek with high muddy water. The 28.95-p0und king was still leading as of this morning, among just 98 kings weighed in through Friday.  The derby ends at... Read more
Derby heads to close Saturday
This year’s Slam’n Salm’n Derby is limping to close Saturday, with more fish being caught but still nothing like recent previous years. June 11 when high muddy water blew out the creek, not a single fish was weighed in.  As the water level has dropped, and started to clear,... Read more
Limits boosted to 12 for Resurrection sockeye
Snaggers special weekend bonus!  Seward sockeye fishermen will have the chance to keep more sockeye both in salt and freshwaters of Resurrection Bay starting Friday.The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is implementing the following sport fishing regulation liberalization by increasing the limits of sockeye salmon to twelve... Read more
MatSu fishing update for June 15
By Andy Couch Stocked Lakes and Northern Pike When I talked with Mike Hudson, owner of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla this Wednesday, he stressed fishing the stocked lakes as one of the best fishing catching options in the Mat-Su Valley.   The lakes have simply been... Read more
Little Susitna added to King catch-and-release only list
(Palmer) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is prohibiting the retention of king salmon on the Little Susitna River drainage from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway effective 6 a.m. Friday, June 15 through 11:00 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2018. This sport fishery is restricted to catch-and-release only for king... Read more
Update: Kenai now closed to king fishing
Given the low returns so far this year, it’s not a surprise that ADF&G has now closed all sport fishing for king salmon on the Kenai River until July on the lower river, for the year on the upper river. Anglers fishing the Kenai have had decent success despite... Read more
Small start for Ship Creek Derby
Smaller and fewer would be the key words for Saturday’s opening day of the 2018 Slam’n Salm’n Derby on Ship Creek in downtown Anchorage. No king salmon topped 20 pounds and only a few topped 10. That’s a big difference from 2017 when many kings exceeded 30 pounds. The... Read more
Smoked Candy Salmon Strips
A reader asked the other day for a good recipe for salmon candy.  Here’s an excellent one we borrowed with thanks from Karen Swearingen, posted first on Alaskan Harvesters. Smoked Candy Salmon Strips 3⁄4 cup honey 1⁄4 cup water 1/2 gallon water 1 cup pickling salt 2 cups dark... Read more
Peak Timing for Mat-Su King Salmon?  
By Andy Couch During the 35 years I’ve been guiding salmon fishing trips on Little Susitna River my guests have experienced their peak week of king salmon catching success from the last week of May to the second week of July and every week in between those dates on... Read more