The Eklutna Tailrace is the only open king salmon fishery in the Mat-Su

If you want to catch a king salmon in the Mat-Su this year, you have one option: the Eklutna Tailrace. Emergency orders have closed the entire Susitna River drainage, the Little Susitna, and West Cook Inlet to king salmon fishing. The tailrace, a stocked hatchery fishery, remains open seven days a week, year-round, with bait and multiple hooks allowed.

The open water extends beyond the tailrace itself. King salmon fishing is permitted for an additional two miles downstream in a side channel of the Knik River. The main Knik River below that confluence is closed. Most anglers launch boats at the Knik River bridge; water is low right now, so check tide tables and use caution.

For bank anglers, conditions are improving. ADF&G's June 11 fishing report notes that bank effort is rising daily and that water levels are coming up enough to provide a better drift from shore. Fishing is expected to peak in the third week of June, with the strongest action running from the second week of June through the end of the month.

The reason the tailrace stays open while wild-stock fisheries close is that it's an artificial fishery, stocked with king and coho salmon. The fish there come from a hatchery, so harvest doesn't draw from the wild king populations whose declining returns triggered closures elsewhere. In 2025, the same dynamic played out — the tailrace was the only Mat-Su king option after the Little Susitna and the entire Susitna drainage closed.

Before you go: Buy a 2026 king salmon stamp with your sport fishing license. Record your catch through the ADF&G mobile app. Check current emergency orders for any in-season changes.