Fishing Guide Battle With Slow Run Perceptions

It's bad enough that so few salmon have trickled up the Deshka River that the state last month was forced to close the Susitna Valley's most popular king fishery.

But guide services, lodge operators and others in the Su Valley sportfishing sector are also battling the perception that there are no fish in Alaska, period -- even as salmon are finally showing up in some area rivers and streams.

Reports of the Deshka closure, coupled with news stories about poor returns throughout much of Alaska, scared off at least a quarter of the clients at iFish Alaska Guide Service.

Pat Donelson, owner of iFish, spent Wednesday floating the Little Susitna River with customers.
"Most people aren't canceling because they're that set to go on the Deshka," Donelson said, reporting slow but steady fishing on the Little Su. "They're canceling because they've heard fishing just isn't good...

http://www.adn.com/matsu/story/455431.html

See also fly fishing in Alaska