Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

King salmon fishing will close in the Susitna and Little Susitna drainages on July 13 at 11 p.m. The Eklutna Tailrace remains open to king salmon fishing.
Bait is allowed in many – but not all – Susitna River tributaries beginning July 14. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before heading out.
Anglers are reminded that the Emergency Order currently allowing bait on the Little Su expires July 13. Bait is not allowed on the Little Susitna River until August 6 by regulation and the daily bag and possession limit for silver (or “coho”) salmon is two fish.
Wasilla and Cottonwood creeks are weekend-only fisheries, from 6:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Wasilla Creek is open to fishing for salmon, other than king salmon, from its mouth upstream to the Alaska Railroad bridge; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream one mile. Motorized watercraft capable of producing more than 42 pounds of thrust or 3 horsepower may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturdays and Sundays, July 15 - August 15.
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

Chums and pinks are increasing in numbers at the mouths of Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north to Talkeetna and will provide opportunity for anglers eager to wet a line and perhaps catch an early coho.
It is early, but a few coho and pink salmon have been counted at the Deshka weir. As of July 12, only 18 coho and 589 pinks had been counted through the weir.
A few coho are being picked up at the Eklutna Tailrace each day. Salmon fishing, including king salmon, is open year round at the Tailrace.
Chum salmon are readily available on the lower Little Su. It is still a little early for coho, but a few are being caught.
It is early for Jim Creek sockeye, however, small catches have been reported for this fishery.
On the Talkeetna River, sockeye should start showing at the mouth of Larson Creek late this week.
On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho should begin entering the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once limits of coho salmon are taken in these waters, anglers must stop fishing for the day.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

Fishing on Parks Highway streams is good for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling.
Rainbows are well distributed throughout area streams and will follow the king salmon as they ascend rivers to spawn. Try egg patterns and even flesh flies.

Northern Pike

Pike fishing is excellent.
Anglers may retain as many pike as they catch – there is no bag or possession limit. In the freshwaters of West Cook Inlet and Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release live pike back into the water.
For road-accessible pike fishing, try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes, Big Lake, Long Lake near Willow, Memory and Prator lakes.
Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake.
For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Shell, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker lakes.

Lake Fishing

Lake fishing has been excellent! Try sinking flies such as dragon and damsel nymphs, or leech patterns for big rainbows.
For a 4-wheel ride in fishing adventure check out Wishbone and Ruby Lakes.
Over 80 lakes are stocked in the Mat-Su. To view the recent stocking records, please visit our website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=SportStockingHatcheriesSearch.main