Eklutna Tailrace closes stretch to anglers 16 and older Saturday

Anglers 15 and younger will have a stretch of the Eklutna Tailrace to themselves on Saturday, and anglers 16 and older must stay out of it, including for catch-and-release.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game set the youth-only coho salmon fishery for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. The youth zone runs from the confluence with the Knik River upstream to the pedestrian bridge. The rest of the tailrace stays open to anglers of all ages. The tailrace sits at mile 3.5 of the Old Glenn Highway.

"Eklutna is a great atmosphere to teach kids how to fish and watch them in action. Fishing has been good in the early morning, eggs or shrimp under a bobber are most effective," said Oliver Querin, assistant area management biologist for the Palmer area.

Young anglers do not need a sport fishing license. Bait is allowed, along with no more than two single hooks or two treble hooks per line. Adults may help bait a hook, cast, and land a fish, but the young angler has to set the hook. The bag and possession limit is three coho salmon per day.

The Alaska State Legislature established youth-only fisheries, and the Alaska Board of Fisheries implements them. Regulations set the Eklutna youth-only king and coho fisheries for June 20 and Aug. 15 this year. King salmon fishing is closed across the Knik Arm drainage in 2026 by emergency order, with the Eklutna Tailrace the exception, where king fishing is permitted year-round.

Fish and Game advises caution along the bank and suggests a personal flotation device for young anglers near the water. The Palmer office takes regulation questions at (907) 746-6300.