Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 02, 2014

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of July 2 to July 8
Issued July 2, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The Little Susitna River is open to fishing for king salmon effective 6:00 a.m., Friday, July 4, through the remainder of the king salmon sport fishing season which closes at 11:00 p.m. July 13. Harvest in the Little Susitna River is allowed seven days per week with a bag and possession limit of one king salmon 20 inches or greater in length. The combined annual limit of two king salmon 20 inches or greater in length for fish harvested in the Susitna River drainage and the Little Susitna River remains in effect. Only unbaited, artificial lures (which may have multiple hooks) are allowed. The area open to king salmon fishing includes all waters of the Little Susitna River from its confluence with Cook Inlet upstream to the Parks Highway Bridge. All standard regulations (except the annual limit reduction) on page 35 of the Southcentral Regulation Summary Booklet apply.
• On the Deshka River, the use of bait and multiple hooks (treble hooks and two hooks) is allowed. The remainder of the Susitna River drainage will continue to be managed conservatively during the king salmon season. All emergency restrictions currently in place, with the exception of bait and multiple hooks in the Deshka River remain through July 13.
• Parks Highway streams within Unit 2 of the Susitna River are now closed to king salmon fishing as written in regulation.
• Other king restrictions which remain unchanged in the Matsu area include the following:
o King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited within Unit 1 (except on Deshka River), on the Parks Highway streams within Unit 2, the upper Susitna (Unit 3), Talachulitna River (Unit 4), Talkeetna River (Unit 5), and Chulitna River (Unit 6). Fishing, but not harvest of king salmon, will be allowed during days and times normally open to king salmon fishing within these management units.
o Anglers are reminded that each management unit on the Susitna River includes a portion of the Susitna mainstem. Except for the section of the Susitna mainstem within ½ mile radius of the mouth of the Deshka River, no king salmon harvest is allowed in the rest of the mainstem. For example, harvest of the king salmon holding ¼ mile downstream of the mouth of Montana Creek is not allowed, but catch-and-release is allowed during the times normally open to king fishing.
o The Deshka River is open to king salmon harvest 7 days per week. King salmon harvest in the Yentna drainage (except Talachulitna River) is allowed 4 days per week (Fridays-Mondays); king salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited Tuesdays-Thursdays; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days. The Talachulitna River is restricted to catch-and-release 7 days per week.
o An annual limit of 2 king salmon over 20 inches applies to Susitna and Little Susitna drainages combined. King salmon that are intended to be released may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
o The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• Deshka River fishing is fair. This time of year, fishing upstream of the mouth is generally best. Try fishing with salmon roe under a bobber.
• Eklutna Tailrace fishing remains good. Early morning or late evening fishing is the most productive. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed.
• Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries are producing some king salmon; fishing is fair to good at times.
• On the Talkeetna River, water conditions are quickly improving after recent high waters. Catch and release fishing for kings should be good this 4th of July weekend.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Stream fishing has been good for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling along Parks Highway streams, including Clear Creek.
• There are several good access roads off Willow Fishhook for fishing upper Willow Creek. Deception Creek can also produce some nice rainbows this time of year.
• Access Montana Creek off Talkeetna Spur Rd. Try down Helena Rd, Michele Rd, or Yoder Rd. For the more adventurous angler, try hiking and fishing upstream of Yoder Rd on either the Middle or North forks.
• Rainbows will follow King salmon as they ascend rivers to spawn. Try egg and flesh patterns or a wooly bugger type fly with a beaded head.

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 rainbows include: Gate, Willow, Mile 180, Kashwitna, and Reflections.
• For grayling try: Ida, Long Lake (Glenn Highway), Knik, and Florence.
• Arctic char are stocked at: Echo, Long Lake (Glenn HWY), Seventeenmile and many others. To view the recent stocking records, please visit our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=SportStockingHatcheriesSearch.main