Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 10, 2013

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• On the Deshka River, the use of bait and/or multiple hooks (treble hooks and two hooks) is allowed through July 13. The remainder of the Susitna River drainage will continue to be managed conservatively during the king salmon season, which closes on July 13. All emergency restrictions currently in place, with the exception of bait and multiple hooks in the Deshka River, remain through July 13.
• Other king restrictions, which remain unchanged in the Susitna and Little Susitna drainages, include the following:
• The total annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or longer taken in combination from the Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River is two (2). The Deshka River is included.
• Only one, unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed (except Deshka River).
• Anglers must stop fishing for any species of fish in waters open to king salmon fishing after harvesting a king salmon.
• Waters of Unit 1 (except the Deshka River), Unit 3, Unit 5, and the Chulitna River Drainage in Unit 6 remain catch-and-release only 7 days per week.
• Waters of Unit 4 (Yentna River drainage) remain restricted to harvest Friday–Monday only. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed Tuesday–Thursday. The exception within Unit 4 is the Talachulitna River, where only catch-and-release fishing is allowed.
• On the Little Susitna, harvest is allowed only on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days.
• Parks Highway streams within Unit 2 of the Susitna River are now closed to king salmon fishing as written in regulation.
• Current Emergency Orders for king salmon will expire after July 13th and regulations will return to what is written in the regulation summary booklet beginning July 14th (Sunday).
• Reminder to Little Su anglers, bait is not allowed until August 6th by regulation.

Salmon

• The king season ends this Saturday, July 13. King salmon fishing on the Deshka River has been good and should be fair to good through the end of the season. As of July 8, the department has recorded 17,847 kings through the weir. Boaters beware of shallow riffles and rocks upstream of about river mile 3; water levels are low for this time of the year.
• King fishing at the Little Susitna is slowing down. Catch-and-release for kings is allowed through Friday. Harvest is allowed on the final day of the season, Saturday, July 13. Water conditions are good. A few chum salmon are now entering the river.
• Fishing at Lake Creek remains fair to good for kings. Catch-and-release only is allowed through Thursday, then harvest is allowed the last two days of the season, Friday and Saturday.
• Anglers on the Talkeetna River reported catch-and-release fishing for kings this past week was good. Some fish are being caught within the first two miles on Clear Creek.
• King fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace is fair. Jacks are being caught on a regular basis with some larger fish being taken. Cured salmon eggs are your best bet. King fishing remains open to the end of the calendar year at this location.
• Some pinks are just beginning to show on the Deshka River and the first two coho salmon have been reported caught. It is still early for coho salmon to Susitna area streams.
• A few early sockeye may arrive this week at Jim Creek.

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 a hike up the North or Middle forks of Montana Creek or a float trip on lower Sheep Creek.
• Freshwater tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek should also provide good rainbow trout opportunities.

Northern Pike

• Pike fishing can slow considerably with warmer water temperatures. Try top-water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs.
• For road-accessible pike fishing, try Horseshoe, Rainbow and Anderson lakes or the Nancy Lake Canoe System Lakes; specifically Frazier, Little Frazier, Taniana, Ardaw, Milo, Lynx, and Nancy lakes.
• Pike are also present in the lakes, ponds and sloughs of the Susitna River drainage. Boat-accessible locations for pike fishing include the Deshka River, Fish Creek, Flathorn Lake, Hewitt Lake, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), Moose Creek (Yentna River), and Alexander Creek.
• For fly-in fishing, try Alexander, Trapper, Shell, Eight-mile and Sucker lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Lakes recently stocked with rainbow trout include Tanaina, Kashwitna,Weiner, Ravine, North Knob, Knob, Bruce, Reflections, Rocky, and Gate.
• Excellent fishing has been reported at Matanuska, Kepler/Bradley, Loberg, Eska (Slipper), and Long Lake (mile 86).
• Grayling have been stocked in Knik, Florence, Lorraine, Meirs, Canoe, Finger, Ida, Kepler Bradley, Long Lake (mile 86) and Reed lakes.
• Char were stocked in Benka, Echo, Finger, Irene, Long (mile 86) and Matanuska Lakes.