Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

On the Deshka River, the use of bait and multiple hooks (treble hooks or two single hooks) is allowed.
The annual limit was restored to 5 king salmon over 20 inches in length on the Deshka River and Little Susitna River on June 26. King salmon harvested in the Deshka River or Little Susitna rivers apply to the combined Cook Inlet annual limit of five fish.
Sport fishing gear and time restrictions implemented on the Little Susitna River in advance of the season have now been repealed and regulations listed in the regulatory summary booklet on page 46 are in effect, except bait will be allowed until July 13 by EO.
Parks Highway streams within Unit 2 of the Susitna River are now closed to king salmon fishing as written in regulation.
The remainder of the Susitna River drainage will continue to be managed conservatively during the king salmon season. All emergency restrictions currently in place for waters of the Susitna drainage open to king salmon fishing, with the exception of the Deshka River, remain through July 13.
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 (Tuesday).
The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.

The king season ends this Monday, July 13th, except at the Eklutna Tailrace.
Deshka River king salmon fishing is fair. Try fishing upstream of the mouth. Water conditions are low.
Fishing success this past weekend on the Little Susitna was good although water conditions are low. Bait fishing is allowed through July 13, the end of the king season. A few chum salmon are arriving and the first few coho have now been counted through the weir.
Lake Creek and some of the lower tributaries of the Yentna River are producing some good king salmon catches. Only four days of harvest (Friday-Monday) 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.
King fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace has been fair over the past several days and is expected to be fair this next weekend. The Tailrace is open year round to king fishing.
Early sockeye may start arriving at Jim Creek and Cottonwood Creek. Remember, Cottonwood Creek is only open 6a.m.-6p.m. Saturday and Sundays from its mouth upstream a distance of one mile.

Stream fishing has been good for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling from Willow up to and including the Talkeetna River.
Willow Creek has multiple access points off Willow Fishhook Road, single day float trips are popular.
For the adventurer, try a hike up the North or Middle forks of Montana Creek.
Freshwater tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek should also provide good rainbow trout opportunity.

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 continues to be excellent this summer with over 80 Matsu lakes stocked.
Hot spots for rainbow trout include Lucile, Seymour, Finger, Kepler/Bradley, and Matanuska Lakes.
Grayling fishing has been excellent in Canoe and Meirs Lakes.
Try fishing rainbows a little deeper this time of year as the warm weather continues.