Photos: Silver salmon fishing heats up at Bird Creek

Will Nilsson and his daughter Elsa, 9, cross the pedestrian bridge over Bird Creek with a silver salmon (coho) they caught at the popular fishery along the Turnagain Arm on Sunday. Elsa helped reel in the catch and they planned to put the fish on a barbecue that night. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Standing on the muddy bank of Bird Creek on Sunday, at Mile 101.5 of the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm, Brandon Fisk said, “We’re starting to heat up on Bird Creek. More fish (silver salmon) are coming through.”

It’s still early in the season for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game hatchery-enhanced run.

Brandon Fisk, left, took a photo of Steve Phimmasone with silver salmon caught by their group at Bird Creek along Turnagain Arm on Sunday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

“We were here the first day (July 14 opening) and there were thousands of pinks,” said Kristina Seryozhenkov.

As they prepared to head home, she and her son John walked across the parking lot with their first silver salmon of the season. “It’s a little eater. We’re having it for dinner tonight. Cook it up on a cedar plank.”