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There is a REASON Fisherman's Choice has been awarded the #1 Fishing Charter for Trophy Alaska Salmon Fishing Charters and Trophy Trout Fishing Trips in the Mat-Su Valley, just a short drive north of Anchorage, Alaska: With 3 rivers to choose from, we know where the fish are; we go where the fish are! Providing you with the best Alaska Salmon Fishing experience you can have!

Alaska's Matanuska Susitna Valley (Mat-Su) has some of the best fishing trips anywhere in the state of Alaska. At 22,683 square miles , Mat-Su Valley is nearly as large as the state of West Virginia. With an area that large, you need a GREAT fishing guide service to show you where the best fishing spots are. Fisherman's Choice Charters is an Alaska salmon fishing charter service offering Alaska's world class salmon and trout fishing trips on the Deshka River, Talkeetna River and Little Susitna River. We are located in south central Alaska just 90 minutes north of Anchorage en route to Alaska’s famous Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park. As a family owned and operated Alaska Salmon Fishing Charter Service, our goal is to share the excitement of Alaska Salmon fishing trips and Alaska Trout fishing trips with everyone. Whether you're a seasoned fishing expert or a family on your first Alaska Salmon Fishing Trip, we give you an Alaska salmon fishing trip that's fun for everyone.

At Fisherman’s Choice Charters our Coast Guard Licensed fishing guides offer personal, one-on-one fishing instruction to the inexperienced salmon and trout fisherman, yet offer the freedom of the river to those more skilled, providing our clients with top quality gear. The drive from Anchorage to these prime fishing rivers alone is an Alaska experience not soon to be forgotten, with frequent opportunities to view Alaska’s pristine mountains and wildlife.

Our fishing season begins in late April for Alaska Rainbow Trout, followed by Alaska King Salmon fishing which begins in mid-May. When the Alaska King Salmon fishing season closes on July 13th, the Alaska Silver Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Chum Salmon and Pink Salmon fishing is coming into full swing. The salmon season runs well into September here in South Central Alaska and is followed by trout fishing which is great until freeze-up in early to mid October.

The largest fish we boated last season, was a monster Alaska King Salmon caught on the Talkeetna River weighing in at 68 pounds, 9 ounces which is believed to be the largest King Salmon boated in the Mat-Su Valley in 2007. Unfortunately the proud angler had not signed up for the Mat-Su King Salmon Derby and the prize was taken by a 57 pound King Salmon for a $10,000 cash prize! So don't forget your King Salmon Derby ticket when you fish for the Alaska King Salmon with us in 2009!!

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game set up the weir and started monitoring the Alaska Salmon on the Deshka River in South Central Alaska just north of Anchorage in the heart of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (Mat-Su Valley) at 11:00 am on May 29, 2007 which is one of the earliest counts for the Alaska sport fisherman.

They counted a record shattering number of Alaska King Salmon (Chinook Salmon) at 18,714! They also counted Alaska Silver Salmon(Coho Salmon) at 17,574 before pulling the weir from the cold water on September 6th. This Alaska Silver Salmon count shattered all escapement records in the history of the Alaska Matanuska-Susitna Valley’s Deshka River a short drive from Anchorage. The Alaska Pink Salmon (Humpback Salmon) numbered 3,954.

Though no count is taken for Rainbow Trout, the trout fishing on the Deshka River was phenomenal as they spent their autumn days feeding on the eggs of the Pink Salmon, Silver Salmon and King Salmon that had spawned their way up Mat-Su’s infamous Deshka River. Alaska Fish and Game also counted Alaska Salmon on the Matanuska-Susitna Valley’s (Mat-Su Valley’s) Little Susitna River from August 4th through September 26th. As always the weir was not in place on the Little Su until after the Alaska King Salmon run, there is no official count. However, there was a very solid run of Alaska King Salmon with many large fish being caught.

An escapement of 17,573 Alaska Silver Salmon (Coho Salmon) passed through the weir on the Little Su north of the launch at our Homestead here in Houston, Alaska north of Anchorage. The Chum Salmon (Dog Salmon) run was quite light in 2008 as was the run of Pink Salmon. Although the Alaska Sockeye Salmon run on the Little Susitna River doesn't migrate far enough north to reach the weir and be counted, it was a solid run.

Unfortunately there is no count taken on the Talkeetna River. However, there was a very strong run of Alaska King Salmon and we were able to limit out almost every trip. The Chum Salmon and Pink Salmon came in in large numbers as usual and though not the best eating fish, they are super fun to fight. The Sockeye Salmon run was also generous and we had a large number of clients leaving the river banks with full coolers and sore arms!

As for the Alaska Salmon runs in the 2009 fishing season, they're predicting another good year with very strong runs of Alaska King Salmon, Alaska Silver Salmon and Alaska Sockeye Salmon. This should be another great fishing season for the Alaska Salmon Fishing Industry! Keep watch for updates on our Fishing Reports page.