Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 23, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

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

  • 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.
  • Starting September 1, the Parks Highway streams and many other Mat-Su and West Cook Inlet waters go to no bait and single-hook only. So check your regulation book before going fishing.

 Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • Coho salmon are now widely distributed throughout the Susitna drainage and fishing is very good in most locations.
  • 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.
  • Fishing for coho salmon at the Deshka River has been fair to good.
  • Coho fishing has been good on the lower Little Susitna River.
  • Coho fishing remains excellent at Fish Creek off Knik-Goose Bay Road. This little creek is still producing large daily counts of both sockeye and coho salmon. Take advantage of the increased bag limit to fill the freezer. Fishing shortly after high tide has been best.
  • Fishing is expected to be good this weekend for coho salmon on Cottonwood and Wasilla creeks.
  • Sockeye and coho salmon are now being caught at Jim Creek.
  • Fishing for coho salmon 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, Fish Lakes, Indian, and Moose creeks.
  • 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

  • Rainbow trout fishing on area streams is expected to be good to excellent through the weekend. These streams should also produce fair catches of Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden.

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

  • With the cooler temperatures of fall approaching, lake fishing should improve. Fish become more active, and feed in shallower water. Lake fishing can provide that feeling of solitude you may be longing for after a long summer of combat fishing. Now would be a great time to dust off the float tube and hit the lakes.
  • If you would like to fish several lakes in one day, try Loberg, Meirs, Echo, Matanuska, Canoe, and Irene.
  • Further north on the Parks Highway, for a day of rainbows try Visnaw, Seymour, and Lalen lakes.
  • Instead of waiting in line for fair traffic, try taking the kids fishing at Matanuska, or Kepler/Bradley lakes. You can also access Klaire and Victor lakes from the Kepler/Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area.
  • Wild lakes performing well in August include Nancy, Big, and Bonnie Lakes.

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Nov 20, 2018 Aug 30, 2018 Aug 23, 2018 Aug 15, 2018 Aug 09, 2018 Aug 01, 2018 Jul 30, 2018 Jul 20, 2018
Jul 12, 2018 Jul 05, 2018 Jun 27, 2018 Jun 21, 2018 Jun 14, 2018 Jun 06, 2018 May 31, 2018 May 24, 2018
May 18, 2018 May 10, 2018