Three salmon runs are down at once on Prince of Wales

Kings, coho, and pinks are all running below average on Prince of Wales Island at the same time, and the island is waiting on rain.

Coho are showing in saltwater, but the harvest is running at about half last year's pace. Kings have been poor to fair on both coasts all season with no sign of improvement. Pink numbers are low.

A dry stretch is part of it. Water levels are down across the island's drainages, and Fish and Game's Craig-based area biologist, Craig Schwanke, said pink numbers should build through July and the fish "should start entering creeks when the rain arrives."

Every salmon species is in Prince of Wales saltwater, thin as the numbers are, and summer coho are in several drainages including the Thorne, Sarkar, and Karta rivers. Bottom fishing remains good, and freshwater anglers are still finding trout, Dolly Varden, sockeye, and chum.