Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 17, 2017

Week of August 16 to August 22

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-35-17, the use of bait continues to be prohibited in the Little Susitna River from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway. Only unbaited, artificial lures may be used. The daily bag and possession limit for coho salmon is two fish.
• Jim Creek is now closed to sport fishing for all species on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fishing is only allowed between the hours of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
• A Youth-Only Fishery at the Eklutna Tailrace from the confluence with the Knik River, up-stream to the pedestrian bridge, will be open to anglers age 15 years and younger on Saturday, August 19, 2017, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity to take a youngster fishing.
• 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 are now widely distributed throughout the Susitna Drainage and fishing is generally good in all locations of Susitna and Yentna. Now is the time to take a break from work and go fishing.
• Coho fishing on the Deshka River has been very good in recent days. Favorable water conditions have spurred fish to move upstream and this is expected to continue into the weekend.
• Coho salmon are now widely distributed up and down the Parks Highway streams from Willow to Talkeetna. Try the mouths and lower sections of Willow, Little Willow, Caswell, Sheep, Goose, Montana, Sunshine, and Rabideux Creeks. The Kashwitna River is often overlooked and can be a great place to fish either by foot at the mouth or by boat a short distance upstream of the boat launch. The Talkeetna area has recently reported good fishing success at Clear Creek, mainstem Talkeetna between the launch and Clear Creek, and even a few from the boat launch itself.
• Yentna River sloughs such as Moose and Indian are good places to fish for coho. Lake Creek has produced some nice coho this past week. For floatplane access, land in Bulchitna Lake and hike a short distance to fish lower Lake Creek. Some overlooked spots on the Upper Yentna and Skwentna include Bottle, Donkey, Eightmile, and the Talachulitna.
• Fishing success on the Little Susitna is mostly good with one to two coho per angler being caught each day. Those with more experience are taking bag limits daily.
• Coho fishing is expected to be good in the Wasilla Creek, Rabbit Slough, Cottonwood, and Fish Creeks this weekend. Remember these streams are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
• Jim Creek fishing has been fair. This fishery is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Coho salmon are now arriving at Eklutna Tailrace; numbers should increase daily.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho fishing on the Chuit, Kustatan, and Theodore Rivers should be good this week.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Water conditions are good for rainbow trout fishing on Parks Highway streams. While trout are targeting king salmon carcasses, try egg and flesh fly patterns. Don’t forget about Byers, Honolulu, or the East Fork Chulitna. An Alaska Railroad whistle stop trip to Indian Creek could be just the ticket for you this week.
• Deception Creek is productive right now for rainbow trout. Bring bear protection.

Northern Pike

• Fishing is best when water temperatures are lowest, such as early in the morning or late in the day.
• For road-accessible pike fishing, try just about any lake in the Nancy Lake canoe system, plus Memory, Prator, King, and Anderson lakes.
• Fly-in fishing for pike can be excellent. Try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern, and Donkey lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Late summer float tube fishing is popular at Kepler/Bradley, South Friend, Ida, Knob, South Rolly, Christiansen, X Lake, and Long Lake (Matanuska Lake Complex).
• Arctic Char fishing picks up in the fall, try Matanuska, Marion, Memory, and Seventeen mile Lakes.
• Wild lakes performing well in August include Nancy, Big, and Bonnie Lakes.
• Remote stocked lakes include Wishbone, Ruby, Bench, and Goober for the early season hunter and gatherers.