Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 09, 2014

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of July 9 to July 15
Issued July 9, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The Little Susitna River is open to fishing for king salmon through this Sunday, 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.
• 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 remain through July 13. These may be found on our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=region.R2
• 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 (Monday).
• Reminder to Little Su anglers: bait is not allowed until August 6th by regulation.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• The king season ends this Sunday, July 13. King salmon fishing on the Deshka River has been fair. It is early, but a couple of coho salmon have been caught and pinks are starting to trickle into the river.
• Eklutna Tailrace fishing remains good for kings with a few early coho being picked up recently. Salmon fishing, including king salmon, is open year round at the Tailrace.
• King fishing at the Little Susitna is slowing down. Harvest is allowed through Sunday, July 13. Chum salmon are now entering the river with a few coho mixed in.
• Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries are producing some king salmon; fishing is fair to good at times. Only three days (Friday-Sunday) of harvest remain at Lake Creek.
• Catch-and-release fishing for kings on the Talkeetna River should be good through the end of the season at the mouth and first two miles of Clear Creek.
• Some early arriving sockeye may show themselves at Jim Creek and Cottonwood Creek this weekend for those eager to put a fresh sockeye on the grill. Remember that Cottonwood Creek is only open 6 a.m—6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from its mouth upstream a distance of one mile.

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 opportunity.

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 fishing continues to be good. Try Kepler/Bradley, Lucille, Irene, Carpenter, Willow, Mile 180, Slipper and Long lakes for rainbow trout.
• For grayling, Canoe, Meirs, Finger, Knik, and Reed are good bets.
• Arctic char are stocked at Irene, Matanuska, Finger, Lynne, Seventeen Mile, Benka and Marion lakes.
• To view the recent stocking records, please visit our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=SportStockingHatcheriesSearch.main