Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 21, 2012

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The Knik Arm management unit has been closed to fishing for coho (“silver”) salmon, except for the Eklutna Tailrace. Popular fisheries affected by this emergency order include the Little Susitna River and Jim, Cottonwood, and Wasilla creeks. At the Little Susitna River, anglers are reminded that bait is not allowed through September 30.
• 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 continues to be hit-and-miss across Mat-Su streams; chums and pinks are still available in many areas of the Susitna.
• Fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace is slow for coho; try fishing early in the morning.
• Fishing success has slowed at the Deshka River, though water temperatures are favorable for fishing.
• Chum salmon catches remain strong across all Parks Highway streams and the Talkeetna River. Coho fishing on mainstem Talkeetna is slow and reported to be fair to good at times at the mouth of Clear Creek.
• Yentna River sloughs and tributaries are still producing some coho.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho fishing is reported to be good on the Chuit and Theodore rivers and slow on the Kustatan. Fishing on Beluga tributaries is producing few coho.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Rainbow trout fishing along the Parks Highway streams remains good. Remember, only catch-and-release fishing for rainbow trout and grayling is allowed year-round on Montana Creek. On Willow Creek, rainbow trout are catch-and-release-only downstream of the Parks Highway.

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, Shell, 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.
• Recently stocked lakes include: Knik, Ravine, Kepler/Bradley, Finger and Rush lakes.