2026 Slam’n Salm’n Derby nears end

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The 33rd annual Slam’n Salm’n Derby will come to a close on Saturday, falling on the summer solstice.

The largest Salmon Derby in Anchorage will finish with a grand finale on Youth Fishing Day, giving young anglers the chance to participate in the Derby, and have a whole stretch of Ship Creek to themselves.

“We’re going to present a lot of cash out there to the anglers,” said Dustin Slinker, owner of The Bait Shack and organizer for the Derby. “You know, we got men, women, military, youth divisions, first, second, and third place.”

The final day of the Derby runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to the Grand Prize, awards and prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each fishing class.

“This year, a little something that’s a little bit different. We’re going to recognize the top four heaviest fish in there,” Slinker said. “So different ways to kind of earn some money as well as accumulated weight. So, the anglers that have been fishing hard the last three weekends. Catching fish, checking them in, they might not be the big fish, but if they stack a little bit of weight in there, they could get a couple hundred dollars in their way.”

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com