Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 15, 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.
• A Youth-Only Fishery at the Eklutna Tailrace will take place Saturday, August 18, 2018, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The fishery allows anglers age 15 and younger to fish for all species in waters from the confluence with the Knik River upstream to the pedestrian bridge. Please see page 40 of the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for bag and possession limits on the Eklutna Tailrace.

Emergency Orders

• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-57-18, effective August 14, 2018, the bag and possession limits for coho salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, was increased to four per day and eight in possession in all waters open to salmon fishing in Units 1-6 of the Susitna River drainage.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-55-18, effective August 10, 2018, the bag and possession limits for coho salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, was increased to four per day and four in possession in all waters of Cottonwood and Wasilla creeks open to salmon fishing. In addition, fishing will be allowed on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays at Cottonwood and Wasilla creeks from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-54-18, effective August 9, 2018, the bag and possession limits for coho salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, was increased to four per day and four in possession in all waters of Fish Creek open to salmon fishing. The bag limit for salmon, other than king salmon, remains at six per day and six in possession, which of those six salmon only four per day and in possession may be coho salmon. In addition, sport fishing on Fish Creek will be allowed seven days per week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-51-18, effective August 8, 2018, the bag and possession limits for coho salmon was increased to three per day and three in possession in the Little Susitna River in all waters open to salmon fishing downstream of the Parks Highway bridge.
• Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-2-48-18, effective August 1, 2018, the sockeye salmon limit was increased 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.

Regulation Reminders

• 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.
• Jim Creek is now closed to sport fishing for all species on Mondays and Tuesdays and fishing is only allowed between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays.
• Bait is now allowed in many – but not all – Susitna River tributaries. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before heading out.
• 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 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Coho salmon are now widely distributed throughout the Susitna drainage and fishing is very good in most locations.
• Recent rains have produced high water along most parks highway streams and flooding in the Yentna River.
• Along the Parks Highway, try the mouths and lower sections of Willow, Little Willow, Bull Frog Slough, Kashwitna, Sheep, Caswell, and Montana creeks and the Talkeetna River. Water levels are high but predicted to come down by this weekend.
• Coho salmon fishing at the Deshka River has been good. Water levels are high and fish are moving upstream.
• Coho salmon fishing has been good on the lower Little Susitna River. Water is high but forecasted to drop into the weekend, fishing should improve if waters clear.
• Coho fishing remains excellent at Fish Creek off Knik-Goose Bay Road.
• Fishing is expected to be good this next 4-day weekend for coho salmon on Cottonwood and Wasilla creeks.
• Sockeye and coho salmon are now being caught at Jim Creek.
• Coho salmon fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace has been fair to good. Fishing at the mouth has been best.
• On the Yentna River, fish the mouths of Lake Creek, Fish Lakes Creek, and Indian and Moose creeks.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho salmon fishing on the Chuit, Kustatan, and Theodore rivers should be good this week.
• The Little Susitna, Deshka, Fish, and Jim Creek weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online. The Little Susitna weir is still inundated by high water, but hopefully will be back in operation later this week.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Water conditions are poor right now for rainbow trout fishing on Parks Highway streams. If water levels drop fishing should be good. 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

• Remote stocked lakes include Wishbone, Ruby, Bench, and Goober for the early season hunter and gatherers.
• 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.