Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

By emergency order, the Little Susitna River is closed to fishing for king salmon for the duration of the season. Only one, single-hook, artificial lure will be allowed when fishing for other species through July 13.
An emergency order was issued to close the Susitna drainage (Units 1 – 6 of the Susitna River) to fishing for king salmon beginning 6 a.m., Tuesday, July 4, for the duration of the season. Only one, single-hook, artificial lure will be allowed when fishing for other species through July 13. The Deshka River is included in this emergency order.
The Deshka River continues to be closed to the use of bait by emergency order.
The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions. Please review the applicable regulations in the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
Anglers are reminded that a regulation passed by the Board in 2014 impacting boat motor use on the Little Susitna River is in effect this season. On the Little Susitna River, a person may not sport fish from a boat that is powered by use of a motor, unless the motor is a 4-stroke motor or direct fuel injection 2-stroke motor. Anglers may use a boat powered by a non-direct fuel injected 2-stroke motor to access areas to sport fish from the bank, but may not sport fish from the boat.

King salmon continue to be caught daily at the Eklutna Tailrace, which is open 24 hours per day. Bait is allowed.
It is still early for sockeye, chum, pink, and coho salmon; expect the first fish to show by mid-July.
The Little Susitna and Deshka weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online.

Fishing for rainbow trout on the Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is excellent. Water levels are favorable for fishing and clear. 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 Road; single day float trips are popular on Willow and Montana creeks.
Take a trip to Clear Creek of the Talkeetna River, accessible by boat via Talkeetna boat launch.
Freshwater tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek and Byers Creek should also provide good rainbow trout opportunity.

Pike fishing has been excellent lately. Try top-water weedless lures and flies fished in heavily vegetated waters.
For road-accessible pike fishing try Anderson, King, Horseshoe, and Rainbow 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 has been consistently excellent with recent cooler temperatures.
Anglers in pursuit of rainbow trout over twenty inches will find success on many stocked lakes; try Lalen, Visnaw, Seymour, South Friend, Loon, Finger, Matanuska, Long Lake (Kepler Bradley, special regulations apply), Knob, and Long Lake (mile 86).
For a 4-wheel adventure to a stocked lake try; Ruby or Wishbone Lakes.
If you are looking for a camping adventure with good fishing, Matanuska, Finger, Rocky, South Rolly, Lucille, have large campgrounds. More rustic and limited camping can be found on Slipper (Eska), Knob, North Knob, and Long Lake (mile 86).
Several wild lakes that have been reported excellent fishing recently include Bonnie, Big Lake, and Nancy lakes.