Eklutna Tailrace

[Bob the fisher]

Has anybody heard of them kings moving up the Knik into the tailrace yet? I jetted up there last week, the water is still too low to get in and no Kings yet. Just wondering what ya'll know..."fishon"

[SalmonSlut]

Still early. Early to mid june is my guess for those kings to start running through

[sibir]

I was out there a few days ago and that part of the river was still too low to cover the dorsal fin of a king. They won't move in until the water comes up at least another foot or two. Maybe mid June? I didn't even see any dollies looking for snacks and they usually move in a couple of weeks before the kings.

[coho slayer]

Catching kings in the tailrace is a myth, anyway. Odds are roughly the same as winning the lottery.

[SalmonSlut]

Catching kings in the tailrace is a myth, anyway. Odds are roughly the same as winning the lottery.

Well said lol. It's almost as if it's own urban legend

[kwackkillncrew]

water is still too low to get in and no Kings yet.

sounds like you answered your own question

[tjm]

sounds like you answered your own question

I think he meant that the water was too low for his boat...

[Bob the fisher]

Yes that is correct, there is plenty of water for the fish but I need at least 10 inches to come off step...ha! ha! ha!.."fishon"

[kimjn]

Anyone here ever try the tailrace farther downstream? Like way down on the Knik? Know of a couple of guys that always head down there and get fish. They start picking up fish by Memorial day weekend. Water is too shallow in the tailrace so they fish it at the mouth, not by the parking lot.

[coho slayer]

Anyone here ever try the tailrace farther downstream? Like way down on the Knik? Know of a couple of guys that always head down there and get fish. They start picking up fish by Memorial day weekend. Water is too shallow in the tailrace so they fish it at the mouth, not by the parking lot.

I haven't, but I bet with a boat and some trial and error you could find some good holes downstream, especially when the reds and silvers start coming in. Half the fish I catch at the race are reds just staging for a bit. Last year in one limit of 3 fish I had three species: a red, a chum, and a silver. I know the red and chum were bound for somewhere else, so it's just a matter of finding some holes and seams downstream that the fish use.

[Frostbitten]

I haven't, but I bet with a boat and some trial and error you could find some good holes downstream, especially when the reds and silvers start coming in. Half the fish I catch at the race are reds just staging for a bit. Last year in one limit of 3 fish I had three species: a red, a chum, and a silver. I know the red and chum were bound for somewhere else, so it's just a matter of finding some holes and seams downstream that the fish use.

Be careful on how far you go:

Eklutna Tailrace, and all waters within a 1/2-mile radius of its confluence with the Knik River, and
to an ADF&G marker located 2 miles downstream of the confluence is open to fishing for king salmon from Jan. 1–Dec. 31

[coho slayer]

Be careful on how far you go:

Eklutna Tailrace, and all waters within a 1/2-mile radius of its confluence with the Knik River, and
to an ADF&G marker located 2 miles downstream of the confluence is open to fishing for king salmon from Jan. 1–Dec. 31

That just applies to kings I think. I realize that's the topic, but I was thinking more generally, as I still don't really think Eklutna is going to ever be a viable king fishery. I wonder why F&G continue to waste fry by stocking it, as the return has never been significant and they don't bite anything once there.

[Sierra Dragon]

Not a myth. I've seen a king pulled out. In 2007 a 10 ten year old boy next to me pulled out a 30lb'er. I havn't fished there for kings since

[coho slayer]

Not a myth. I've seen a king pulled out. In 2007 a 10 ten year old boy next to me pulled out a 30lb'er. I havn't fished there for kings since

I've tried fishing it every year for the last 8 or 9 years. In that time, I've seen one king legally caught. So yeah, I guess technically they do they do exist....lol.

I've seen lots of kings there...they just don't seem catchable for whatever reason. They get into the race and go all lockjaw. I've hooked a couple fishing at the mouth in the Knik itself, but they've taken off with the current and gotten away. I dunno, that's why I said I don't think it's ever going to be a viable fishery. There's a few caught, but not enough to justify the whole fishery IMO.

[kenaibow fan]

I have seen 2 caught and I landed anther one my self in the last 5 years. I know what you mean about the lock jaw............was lucky enough to line mine threw the mouth.