BECOME FIT FOR KINGS HOW TO CATCH EARLY-RUN CHINOOK
BY MIKE LUNDE
A
s the remnants of another long Alaska winter faded into the hands of time, king salmon anglers statewide could reclaim their Chinook love affair. Not long after river systems go icefree, early-run kings departed the saltwater during late April and entered their natal freshwater rivers in early May. Fishing pressure was relatively nonexistent last month, making the experience quite peaceful, as the bulk of the Alaskan summer tourism industry doesn’t begin its peak until June. Still, it is time to get those rods out of offseason hibernation and journey towards the coast, where dime-bright warriors fresh from the sea will test your tackle and fish-fighting skills.
June represents a much-needed warmup for Alaskans. It also means some great king salmon fishing in the state’s rivers during the early portion of the spawning run. (MIKE LUNDE)
RIVER SELECTION Alaska rivers are highly dynamic. Unseasonably warm winter temperatures have contributed to earlier springs over the past decade. Earlier springs have accelerated the run timing of early-moving fish, as well as impacted hydrology, water temperature, current flow and other variables. This is a reminder of the important concept that
river conditions change annually. Water temperature is one of the most important indicators of daily fish behavior, as king salmon swim a given distance throughout the course of the day with periodic times to rest in deeper pools, where the current is also substantially slower. Kings often migrate during the day
aksportingjournal.com | JUNE 2018
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
53