Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 08, 2012

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The Little Susitna River will close to coho salmon fishing by emergency order beginning Friday, August 10. Bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, is 3 fish of which none may be coho salmon. Bait continues to be prohibited.
• Jim Creek will be restricted to a one coho bag and possession limit beginning Friday morning at 6 a.m. Anglers may keep 3 salmon per day of which only one may be a coho. Fishing for any species is restricted to only 6 a.m.—6 p.m.
• The Fish Creek weekend-only sport fishery will open on Saturday, August 11, at 6 a.m. The fishery will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., to anglers of all ages.
• Wasilla and Cottonwood creeks are weekend-only fisheries, open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Wasilla Creek is open to fishing for salmon, other than king salmon, from its mouth upstream to the Alaska Railroad bridge; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream one mile. Motorized watercraft capable of producing more than 42 pounds of thrust, or 3 horsepower, may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturdays and Sundays, July 15 - August 15.
• Coho salmon 16 inches or longer once removed from fresh water must be retained and become part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish. A person may not remove a coho salmon 16 inches or longer from the water before releasing it. 

Fresh waters

Salmon

 • Coho fishing has been sporadic across Mat-su streams; coho are mixed in with large numbers of pinks and chums, so be prepared to search a little for them.
• Fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace is slow for coho, but expected to improve; try fishing at the mouth early in the day.
• At Cottonwood, Wasilla, and Fish creeks, fishing is expected to slow down for sockeye and pick up for coho this weekend. Some pinks will also be available at Fish Creek.
• Some coho are now being taken at the mouth of Jim Creek. Sockeye salmon are still available.
• Expect fair to good coho fishing in the Deshka River. Water temperatures are favorable for fishing success and movement. Pinks are abundant throughout the river.
• Good numbers of chum and pink salmon are being caught along the Parks Highway streams of Willow, Little Willow, Sheep, Goose, Caswell, and Montana creeks with the occasional coho.
• Chum fishing is good in the Talkeetna River drainage with some sockeye still available at Larson Creek; coho are beginning to show up.
• Coho fishing is fair to good on Yentna River tributaries. Lake Creek is producing a few coho; be sure to try other Yentna tributaries and sloughs such as Moose and Indian Creeks.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho fishing on the Chuit, Kustatan, and Theodore rivers should be fair to good.
 

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling
 

• Fishing for rainbow trout on the Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north remains good and water conditions are favorable. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be good.
• Try fishing egg and flesh fly patterns as rainbow trout are now targeting king eggs and beginning to feed on king carcasses; don’t forget the occasional leech or sculpin pattern for rainbows.
 

Northern Pike

• Pike fishing has been good in the Nancy Lake canoe system lakes; try using a weedless mouse or frog lure through the weedy areas. Fishing is best when water temperatures are lowest, such as early in the morning or late in the day. For road-accessible pike fishing, try just about any lake in the Nancy Lake canoe system, plus Memory and Prator lakes.
• Fly-in fishing for pike can be excellent. Try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern, and Donkey lakes.
 

Lake Fishing
 

• Lake fishing continues to maintain its excellent status in valley lakes. Catchable rainbow trout and Arctic char stocking has been completed for the year. Check the stocking website, for more information. A list of the stocked lakes can also be found on page 12 of the 2012 Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet.
• For remote adventure seekers, or ATV riders, try Ruby, and Wishbone lakes.
• If you’d like the aesthetically pleasing occasion – head up the Glenn Highway. Ravine, Bonnie, Long (mile 86), Weiner, Knob and North Knob Lakes have had out-standing fishing and provide a great back-drop for fish photos.
• Great places for kids include: Kepler/Bradley, Matanuska, Finger, Rocky, and South Rolly.
• Nancy Lakes Recreation Area provides some great hiking, camping, canoeing, and of course fishing opportunities.
 

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