Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 27, 2017

Week of July 26 to August 1

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-2-33-17, Fish Creek is open to dipnetting for salmon (except kings) until 11:00 p.m., Monday, July 31. Dipnetting is only allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Remember to carry your Upper Cook Inlet dip net permit, clip your fish’s fins, and mark them on your permit before concealing from view or transporting them from your fishing site. Plan on packing your fish out and please don’t use 4-wheelers on the stream bank, or to cross Fish Creek. Most of the property along Fish Creek is privately owned; please be respectful by remaining below the mean high water mark and please carry out what you pack in. Fish Creek is located at mile 16 of Knik Goose Bay Road. Upper Cook Inlet personal use permits can be obtained online.
• Jim Creek, including all waters downstream to the Knik River and continuing downstream on the Knik River to within 100 yards of its confluence with Bodenberg Creek will close to sport fishing on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning August 1. A fishing time restriction from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. also begins August 1.
• 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 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., on 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 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.

Freshwaters

Salmon

• Coho salmon have been slow to enter Matsu area streams and consequently fishing success for cohos has been slow to date throughout the area.
• Fishing for chum and pink salmon is good along Parks Highway stream from Willow north to Talkeetna. Expect to put in some time to catch a coho salmon.
• Fishing is expected to be good this next weekend for sockeye salmon on Cottonwood Creek. Also try Jim Creek. Some sockeyes are being taken in the Larson Creek fishery on the Talkeetna River.
• Coho fishing has been slow and chum fishing good at the Little Susitna.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Fishing for rainbow trout on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is good. Stream conditions are clear and low. This is a good time of year for a float trip. 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, Tanaina, 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.
• For a 4-wheel ride fishing adventure check out Wishbone and Ruby Lakes.
• Over 80 lakes are stocked in the Mat-Su. To review the recent stocking records, please visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage.