| The Little Susitna River
We love fishing the Little-Su and we would love to be your Little Susitna Fishing Guides. Our charters on this river begin at the Little Susitna Boat Launch (Burma Rd). It's a short 45-minute drive north of Wasilla and a scenic 90-minute north from Anchorage. Normally we fish within 10 miles up or down stream from there on the lower part of the river. We often fish downstream toward the mouth in the early season and gradually move up as the fish migrate farther upstream.
About the Little Susitna River
The Little Susitna River is a very productive salmon fishery that originates in the mountains near the historic Hatchers Pass gold mines. It flows approximately 70 miles through the Matanuska Valley to its termination in the Cook Inlet. From the headwaters to the mouth, the Little Susitna River changes from a clear, rushing mountain stream to a slowly meandering muddy river draining marshy lowlands. Streamflow averages on this valley stream can range between 50 cfs and 1000 cfs depending on the winter or summer conditions prevailing at the time. In low water conditions the Little Susitna can be challenging to navigate by powerboat. In most places jet powered boats are necessary due to sand bars and shallow rocky stretches. This river is a favorite for those who love to do float trips. Each year hundreds of rafters, kayakers, and floaters fish, hunt, and recreate on the Little Susitna River.
The upper Little Susitna flows along the mountains affording great views of the Talkeetna mountains. It winds out into the valley near Houston, where the terrain becomes mostly flat with rolling lowlands. The lower river is silty, slow moving, and very windy. In this stretch there are rolling hills and densely forested areas interspersed with wetlands and ponds. It meanders through the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge providing very good wildlife viewing.
The Wildlife
Our guests have seen moose, bears, bald eagles, beaver, swans, ducks and various other waterfowl and wildlife. This makes for great wildlife viewing and picture shooting opportunities during your trip.
The Fishing
Little Su fishing can be excellent and all five species of North American salmon can be found there; King Salmon, Silver Salmon, Chum Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, and Pink Salmon. Other species include Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Burbot and Whitefish.
We begin to fish the Little Su in early May when small numbers of Kings begin to trickle in the river. By Mid May fishing starts to pick up and the action becomes steadier until the peak in mid to late June. Kings are available in fishable numbers all the way through to the end of the season which ends on July 13th.
Click this link to see current fish count date provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and game ADFG FISH COUNT DATA |
