Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 27, 2012
Emergency Orders and regulation reminders
• The Little Susitna River is closed to fishing for king salmon through the remainder of the king salmon sport fishing season. The closure includes all waters of the Little Susitna River from its confluence with Cook Inlet upstream to the Parks Highway bridge.
• King salmon fishing in all Units 1-6 of the Susitna drainage is closed through July 13. The closure prohibits sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Waters in Unit 2 normally closed to king salmon fishing throughout the year (upstream of the Parks Highway bridges or department markers, etc.) are not affected by the restrictions and anglers may continue to fish for trout and other species. Fishing for other species in waters normally open to king salmon in unit 2 is allowed June 30-July 2nd.
• Please refer to pages 23–32 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a complete description of Susitna River waters and location of boundary markers in these streams.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
• Bait fishing for king salmon is allowed at the Eklutna Tailrace only.
Fresh waters
Salmon
• Some king salmon have now been reported caught at the Eklutna Tailrace. Try Vibrax spinners or cured salmon eggs early in the morning and late in the evening.
• It is still early for sockeye, chum, pink, and coho fishing; expect the first fish to show by mid-July.
Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling
• Fishing for rainbow trout on the Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is excellent. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be good.
• Willow Creek has multiple access points off Willow Fishhook Rd. Montana Creek may be accessed at several locations off the Talkeetna Spur Rd; single day float trips are popular on Willow and Montana creeks.
• For the adventurer, try the train ride to Indian Creek or hike up the North or Middle forks of Montana Creek.
• Freshwater tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek should also provide good rainbow trout opportunity.
Northern Pike
• Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spin, and fly-fishing. Try top water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure fire bet.
• Anglers may retain as many pike as they catch— there is no bag or possession limit.
• For road-accessible pike fishing, try Nancy Lake and other lakes of the Nancy Lake Recreation Area, Long Lake near Willow, Memory and Prator lakes.
• Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and in Hewitt Lake.
• For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker lakes.
LakeFishing
• Lake stocking in the valley has been extensive, providing extensive opportunity for anglers; you can drive in almost any direction and find a recently stocked lake in your area. • • Fishing is reported as excellent, especially lakes where catchable rainbow trout have been stocked.
• Lakes with catchable trout include: Matanuska, Lucille, Rocky, Loberg, South Rolly, Kink, Memory, Meirs, Kepler/Bradley, Canoe, Knob, North Knob, Weiner, Kashwitna, Willow, Coyote, Slipper (Eska), Gate, Mile 180, Tanaina, Walby, Long (mile 86), and Ravine Lakes.
• Lakes stocked with catchable char include: Echo, Lynne, Memory, and Carpenter.
• If you enjoy grayling fishing, try Canoe, Meirs, or Lorraine Lakes.
• Looking to camp and fish at a stocked lake, then head to Kepler/Bradley, Finger, South Rolly, Rocky, Lucille, or Matanuska lakes. Under-developed camping can be found at Long Lake (mile 86), and Knob and North Knob Lakes along the Glenn Highway.