Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 01, 2018

Regulation Reminders

• An emergency order was issued increasing the sockeye salmon limit on Larson Creek to six fish per day, and in possession. Of the bag limit of six fish per day, no more than three fish per day and in possession may be pink, chum, and coho salmon in combination.
• A youth only fishery on Fish Creek will open on Saturday and Sunday, August 4-5 from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 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 11.
• 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 5:00 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; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream to ADF&G markers one mile upstream from the Palmer Hayflats State Game Refuge access road.
• At Jim Creek, beginning August 1st, sport fishing for any species is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and fishing is allowed only between 5:00am-10:00pm Wednesdays – Sundays.
• Motorized watercraft capable of producing more than 42 pounds of thrust or 3 horsepower 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.
• 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 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations. 

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Silver salmon are becoming more prevalent every day on Susitna and Little Susitna drainage streams. Chum and pink salmon numbers are strong across the area.
• Along the Parks Highway, try the mouths and lower sections of Willow, Little Willow, Bull Frog Slough, Kashwitna, Sheep, Caswell, and Montana creeks. Silvers are beginning to show on the Talkeetna River as well.
• Anglers have reported catches of coho and pink salmon at the mouth of the Deshka River; water levels are extremely low and anglers should use caution attempting to navigate upstream. Precipitation is expected going into the weekend, which should boost fish passage and fishing success.
• Silver and chum fishing is good on the lower Little Susitna River. Anglers are reporting 1.5 silvers per angler.
• Fishing is expected to be good this next weekend for sockeye salmon on Cottonwood Creek. For those with a boat, sockeye fishing is good at Larson Creek on the Talkeetna River.
• Sockeye salmon and some silver salmon are now being caught at Jim Creek.
• The Little Susitna, Deshka, Fish, and Jim Creek weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Fishing for rainbow trout on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is good. Stream conditions are clear. This is a good time of year for a float trip down Willow, lower Sheep, and Montana creeks. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be fair.
• Deception Creek is productive right now for rainbow trout. Don’t forget bear protection.

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, Tainiana, 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

• Kid friendly locations include Kepler/Bradley, Finger, Matanuska, South Rolly, and Lucille Lakes.
• Excellent fishing has been reported at Matanuska, Kepler/Bradley, Loberg, Eska (Slipper), and Long Lake (mile 86).
• Lakes with camping include Kepler/Bradley, Finger, Matanuska, South Rolly, Lucille, Nancy, Rocky, Knob and North Knob (undeveloped), Long Lake (mile 86) has a few undeveloped sites.