Citing a dismally weak run of king salmon, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued an emergency order on Tuesday, closing several Mat-Su streams to Chinook fishing for the rest of the season.

The order goes into effect at 6 a.m. Friday, July 3.

The Talkeetna River, Clear Creek, the East and Middle fork of Chulitna River, Lake Creek and Talachulitna Creek are not closed.

However, beginning on Friday, fishing for kings will be prohibited in the Little Susitna River in the Knik Arm drainage area, Kashwitna River, Willow Creek, Little Willow Creek, Greys Creek, Caswell Creek, Sheep Creek, Montana Creek, Goose Creek, Sunshine Creek, Birch Creek, Trapper Creek and Rabideux Creek. Also all flowing waters of the Susitna River from the confluence with the Deshka River upstream to the confluence with the Talkeetna River are closed to king salmon fishing.

Area management biologist Dave Rutz said that all Parks Highway streams show low king salmon numbers for this time of year. During the last two weekends anglers reported poor catches. Rutz said that this is a big indication that those runs are not doing well.

To confirm this, state biologists conducted surveys by boat, on foot and via helicopter. They found that few fish were seen or hooked at a time when sport harvest should be high. On June 30, a helicopter survey was flown on Willow, Montana and Sheep creeks and the Little Susitna River to count king salmon.  The number of fish observed was far below expected numbers of fish required to meet escapement goals.

Fishing guides and charter operators in Talkeetna, however, testify to a strong king fishing season. The kings are here and we’re catching them, said Ben Morson, manager at Tri-River Charters yesterday.

David Sutton, supervisor at Mahay’s agrees and says that while the season started slowly and with small- sized kings, fishing is good now and his clients are catching good-sized chinooks. Sutton says that his tours are booked to the max and he even has to send clients to other fishing businesses in town. With the recent closure of the Deshka River and even Ship Creek in Anchorage, more anglers have been coming up the Parks Highway to try their luck in waters around Talkeetna. Sutton said he expects more anglers, fishing outfits and charter guides to arrive at the Talkeetna River and Clear Creek. While usual hot spots like Little Susitna River, Willow Creek and Montana Creek won’t see much fishing action, it looks like most of the Fourth of July fishing frenzy will take place combat-style right here in Talkeetna.

Story by Diana Haecker