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Petersburg Alaska King Salmon Fishing at “The Rapids”
Catching an Alaska King Salmon is a dream of most salmon fishing enthusiasts. Petersburg Alaska’s Blind Slough River (“the rapids”) is located just 15 miles from downtown Petersburg and provides a unique opportunity to stream fish for king salmon just 0.25-mile from a paved road. This is the perfect location for those trying to catch a winter’s supply of Alaska king salmon for the smoker or keeping a few “brights” to barbecue with friends.
A hatchery run of fish including king salmon, return annually to the Crystal Lake Hatchery situated on the banks of Blind Slough. Depending upon the expected return of king salmon to the hatchery, you and your family can experience one of the most unique sport king salmon fishing experiences during your vacation in Petersburg Alaska. Since the number of King salmon returning to Blind Slough is higher than the hatchery or the stream habitat can support, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game allows anglers to keep salmon that are hooked other than in the mouth. While some sport-fishing purists do not agree with the legal harvest methods for Blind River Rapids, hooking this way doesn’t hurt the fishery.
Hooking a silvery 30-pound king salmon and having it strip your fishing reel clean of 20-pound test line or watching small children try not to be dragged into the shallow water is worth the trip to Petersburg. Except for local residents (including eagles, black bears and moose), visiting family and friends, and a few lucky visitors on vacation in Petersburg who happen upon Blind River Rapids, most travelers to Southeast Alaska never experience the excitement of the “wave of salmon.”
When:
Anticipation for the return of “king salmon to the Slough” usually begins around June 1st. Local residents and Alaska King Salmon charter boats troll Wrangell Narrows near the mouth of Blind Slough as the number of king salmon increase in the ocean waters around Petersburg Alaska.
King Salmon return to Blind Slough every year but the number of fish and the peak of the run will fluctuate. Most years the peak of the run occurs sometime around the Fourth of July. Coastal Alaska weather conditions and tides dramatically affect both the seasonal and daily salmon fishing. Dry weather conditions can have a negative effect on the returning fish and has required infrequent early closures to fishing at the Slough (while trolling in the ocean waters does continue). Just the opposite occurs when periods of heavy rain raise the water level in the Slough, making catching fish more difficult.
Generally, if you plan an extended stay in Petersburg Alaska you will have at least a few if not many fine days king salmon fishing in and around the Slough. Some seasons, king salmon have not returned to Blind Slough in large numbers until the last week in June. But on average the good fishing begins about June 10th. Trolling with a local charter boat provides a larger window of opportunity as the waters around Petersburg are home to different runs of king salmon returning to streams other than Blind Slough. The early returning salmon while smaller in size (8 to 25 pounds) are consistently bright and fresh from the ocean. As the return of salmon progresses, larger fish (25 to 35 pounds plus) begin to appear and the numbers of fish staying in the Slough significantly increases. The best fishing time in the Slough begins about two hours after high tide until about two hours before high tide. The troll fishery in Wrangell Narrows is just the opposite with high slack tide and low slack tides generally being the most productive. These times vary slightly depending on the tidal range for any particular day.
Recommended Equipment and Supplies:
Besides your fishing license and a good pair of boots or waders, salmon or steelhead fishing rods, fishing reels capable of handling 15 pound to 20 pound test line, swivels, and heavy fishing lures with less than a ½ inch treble hook are the recommended gear. Lure types vary with pixies being one of the favorites. Petersburg, Alaska hardware stores, such as Hammer and Wikan, carry all of the fishing gear that you will need for Blind Slough. Local fisherman looking for fish for the freezer use extra weight above the lure to help get the hook towards the bottom. Ask anyone you see and they’ll give you their opinion on what works best at the Slough (Petersburg folks are a friendly bunch). An extra spool of line is also handy to have in case a jumbo Alaskan King Salmon rips off several yards of line and raps around a rock only to break loose.
If you fish the early morning or late evening and there is no breeze, you will probably experience large numbers of insects such as noseeums and white sox. While insect repellent provides some relief, head nets usually are more effective. Dry weather, midday sun and light breezes provide some relief from the aggressive insects but always carry insect repellent just in case.
Where the salmon are:
From the paved parking area, Blind Slough is a relatively easy walk down a new wide boardwalk trail designed for both hikers and wheelchairs. The 0.25-mile trail takes you directly to the Slough, forking where it ends above the rapids (which only show at low tide). This is where the two types of anglers diverge. The left fork leads to a large pool above the rapids called “the upper hole.” The upper hole is great for families, people who have difficulty walking over rough surfaces, and people with a short amount of time.
The right fork is for those that are more adventurous. This section of boardwalk quickly ends at the edge of the Slough and turns into a shoreline trail through rocks and beach grass. Extreme caution needs to be taken when traversing this section of unofficial trail. Mud, seaweed, and uneven surfaces make for slips, trips, and falls. As you continue down the shoreline, you will notice the “big rock”. Starting at the big rock and heading down the Slough is where most of the king salmon fishing occurs as the tide goes out. King salmon start backing out with the tide with schools of kings bunching up in the deeper sections of the Slough. Since the trail disappears at high tide, it’s best to know when high tide is before taking the right fork. Also, keep in mind that when you catch a large king salmon, you still have to carry it back up this trail.
Caring for your catch:
Getting a king salmon back to your vehicle can be tricky if you don’t have the right equipment. We’ve seen and tried most of the tricks, i.e. carrying by the gills, using a pole, and plastic trash bags. While these methods have some success, you usually end up struggling all the way back to the parking lot. Some Petersburg residents have developed a method of using backpacks and plastic trash bags used as liners to assist them in getting their catch back to their vehicle. This allows for a safer and easier method of transporting your large salmon, especially if you have to make more than one trip. The backpacks must be large enough to carry at least two 25-pound king salmon.
If you choose the left fork, you might try taking a cooler with wheels. The cooler can be wheeled all the way to the upper hole on the wheelchair accessible trail. Using the plastic trash bag method, you can wheel your catch back to your vehicle without too much strain. The cooler will also keep your lunch cool and dry while you’re fishing.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of catching Alaska king salmon when the fishing is great, but quality care for your fish is important if you want to later enjoy your meal. Quite often fisherman will spend most of a day at the Slough catching fish and letting them lay on the bank for a few hours. While the fish do not spoil, the flesh of your king salmon begins to warm and soften.
In recent years, we have brought a large cooler with ice for storing and preserving our fish until we get back to town. If we plan on spending more than a couple of hours fishing, we generally catch a couple of fish, clean them, then hike back to the vehicle where the cooler is stored. We return to catch a couple more salmon and then return to Petersburg for processing. If we fish the left fork, the cooler is already conveniently located at the edge of the upper hole.
Petersburg Alaska’s Coastal Cold Storage is an excellent place to have your catch preserved for you. They offer vacuum-sealed quick frozen in fillets or steaks; smoked and vacuum-sealed filets; and strips or canned fresh packed or smoked salmon. Whatever method your choose for preserving your Alaskan king salmon, the proper care you invested will pay off with a quality product you can enjoy upon you return home.
Petersburg’s Blind Slough salmon fishing is just one of the many unique Alaskan adventures you can enjoy when visiting our area. Always be sure to read the Alaska fish and game regulations before enjoying the Alaska outdoors. For more information about this or other activities, lodges, and bed & breakfasts that you can enjoy on your vacation, just e-mail us. For exciting original recipes, check out Alaska Bob’s, your source for unique Alaska cooking methods on what to do with your catch.
Final tip. Don’t forget to bring some type of camera. You will want to capture the exciting photographs or videos of your Alaska king salmon fishing adventure.
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