The Deshka River

The Deshka is remote but provides home to all 5 Pacific salmon here as well as rainbow trout and grayling. You can boat from the Deshka Landing in Willow or take a float plane to access this river. After a cold run up the Susitna River the fish have a tendency to hold in the warmer and deeper holes of the Deshka , making it a popular fishery for boaters.

In the Deshka, the kings begin to run around the last week of May and peak in the month of June. Following the kings are the pinks in late June and then the chum, reds, and silvers round out the salmon runs between the end of June and the end of August.

The waters of the Deshka are clear most of the time giving fly fisherman the perfect opportunity to present flies. The salmon in the Deshka are best fished with spinners, spoons and flies.

Be sure to check with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for the latest updates on the Deshka. The river has recently been closed to king salmon fishing for the rest of the season.