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 closed on July 13 for all northern and western Cook Inlet area waters, except for the Eklutna Tailrace.
Many waters are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout and Arctic grayling, and some waters are closed to fishing for salmon. Please carefully read the 2016 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations.
Bait is now allowed in many – but not all – Susitna River tributaries. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before heading out.
Anglers are reminded that bait is not allowed on the Little Susitna River until August 6, and the daily bag and possession limit for silver salmon is two fish.
Wasilla Creek and Cottonwood Creek 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 may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturday and Sundays, July 15 - August 15.

Fresh waters

Salmon

Pink and chum salmon are now well distributed throughout Susitna and Little Susitna drainage streams. Both chums and pinks are making a strong showing this season. Try the mouths and lower sections of Willow, Little Willow, Kashwitna, Sheep, Caswell, and Montana creeks.
Fishing is expected to be good this next weekend for red salmon on Cottonwood Creek. For those with a boat, Larson Creek on the Talkeetna and Lake Creek of the Yentna River are both good places to fish for reds this week.
Small catches of red salmon have been reported at Jim Creek recently.
Expect some silvers at the mouths of Deshka River and Alexander Creek.
Silver fishing is picking up at the Little Susitna and becoming more regular at the Eklutna Tailrace. To date, over 400 silvers have passed through the department’s weir.
Silvers should start showing soon in Wasilla Creek / Rabbit Slough.
On the west side of Cook Inlet, silvers are entering the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once you take your limit of silver salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

Fishing for rainbow trout on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is good. Stream conditions are clear and low. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be fair.

Northern Pike

Pike can be taken using spears, bow-and-arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spin, and fly-fishing. Try top-water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure-fire bet.
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 Horseshoe, Rainbow and Anderson lakes or the Nancy Lake Canoe System Lakes; specifically Frazier, Little Frazier, Tainiana, 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

Lake fishing has been excellent! Try sinking flies such as dragon and damsel nymphs, or leech patterns for big rainbows.
Rainbow trout fishing has been excellent; try Lucille, Slipper (Eska), Ravine, Long Lake (mile 86 Glenn HWY), Matanuska, South Friend, Knik, Lorraine, Lalen, and South Rolly 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