Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 20, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases and the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the Northern Cook Inlet Area before heading out on their next fishing trip.

Emergency Orders

• There are currently no emergency orders in affect for the Northern Cook Inlet Area.

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 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet before you head out fishing.
• 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 coho salmon is two fish.
• Wasilla Creek and Cottonwood Creek are weekend-only fisheries, from 5:00 a.m. through 10:00 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.
  • Cottonwood Creek is open to fishing for salmon from its mouth upstream one mile.
  • Motorized watercraft may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturdays and Sundays, July 15 - August 15.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Chum salmon are now well distributed throughout Susitna and Little Susitna drainage streams. Chums are making a strong showing this season. Pink salmon numbers should build this week. 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 sockeye 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 sockeye salmon this week.
• Expect some coho salmon at the mouths of Alexander Creek, Deshka River, and some of the Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north this week.
• Coho fishing is picking up at the Little Susitna River and chum fishing is excellent.
• Coho salmon should start showing soon in Wasilla Creek / Rabbit Slough.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho salmon are entering the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day.
• The Little Susitna, Deshka, and Fish Creek weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Fishing for rainbow trout on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is good. Stream conditions are clear. 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

• Rainbow trout fishing has been excellent; try Lucille, Slipper (Eska), Ravine, Long (mile 86 Glenn Highway), Matanuska, South Friend, Knik, Lorraine, Lalen, and South Rolly lakes.
• For a 4-wheel ride in fishing adventure check out Wishbone and Ruby lakes.
• Over 80 lakes are stocked in the Mat-Su area. Visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage to find out which local lakes have recently been stocked.