Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 03, 2016

 Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of August 3 to August 9
Issued August 3, 2016

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• 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. Bait use could be restricted in this fishery later this week if daily weir counts remain low. Any new EOs are immediately posted on our website: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=area.list&Year=2016&AreaID=29
• A youth only fishery on Fish Creek will open on Saturday and Sunday, August 6-7 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. The fishery allows anglers age 15 and younger to fish for all species, except king salmon, in waters between ADF&G markers at the mouth of Fish Creek and markers ¼-mile upstream of Knik-Goose Bay Road. The daily bag limit is three salmon; only two per day may be silver salmon. The weekend-only fishery for anglers of all ages will commence on August 13.
•  Bait is now allowed in many – but not all – Susitna River tributaries. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before heading out.
• 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 having a total propshaft rating greater than 3 HP may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturday 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

• Chum salmon remain plentiful in the Matsu area. Try fishing all stream mouths and lower sections of streams crossing the Parks Highway from Willow north to and including the Talkeetna River. Silver fishing has been slow; however, August is the month to target silvers and fishing should improve this week.
• Fishing is expected to be good this next weekend for sockeye salmon on Cottonwood Creek with silvers expected as well. Jim Creek sockeye weir counts are above average; try fishing the mouth of Jim Creek any day of the week.
• Silver fishing has been slow at the Deshka. The recent rainy weather has cooled the water and fishing success should only improve. Try vibrax lures using a variety of blade colors. Also try drifting bait with no weight or bait weighted under a bobber.
• Silver and chum fishing has recently been fair at the Little Susitna. Fishing success for silvers should only improve this week if the daily weir counts improve. Anglers can follow the weir counts on our website: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/
• A few silvers are being caught at the Eklutna Tailrace each morning.
• Silver fishing should improve in Wasilla Creek / Rabbit Slough this weekend.
• Take a child fishing at the youth only fishery at Fish Creek this Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day. Only youth 15 and under are allowed to fish, which includes hooking the fish; however, adults may assist youth in casting and landing fish. Weir counts indicate sockeye and silver fishing will be good.

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. Parks Highway streams are low and clear.
• Try fishing egg and flesh fly patterns as rainbow trout are now targeting king eggs and beginning to feed on king carcasses.

Northern Pike

• Pike are present in the lakes, ponds, and sloughs of the Susitna River drainage. Boat-accessible locations include: side sloughs of Deshka, Alexander, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), and Hewitt Lake.
• Fishing off the road-system, try Big Lake near the islands, Nancy Lake in the shallows, Memory, and Prator Lakes.
• Recent reports of pike fishing at Flathorn and Alexander lakes were excellent. For other fly-in spots try Sucker, Shell, and Sucker lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Lake fishing continues to maintain its excellent status in valley lakes. Catchable rainbow trout and Arctic char stocking has been completed for the year. Check the stocking website, for more information. A list of the stocked lakes can also be found on page 84 of the 2016 Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet.
• For remote adventure seekers, or ATV riders, try Ruby, and Wishbone lakes.
• If you’d like the aesthetically pleasing occasion – head up the Glenn Highway. Ravine, Bonnie, Long (mile 86), Weiner, Knob and North Knob Lakes have had out-standing fishing and provide a great back-drop for fish photos.
• Great places for kids include: Kepler/Bradley, Matanuska, Finger, Rocky, and South Rolly.
• Nancy Lakes Recreation Area provides some great hiking, camping, canoeing, and of course fishing opportunities.