Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 24, 2017

Week of August 23 to August 29

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

• By Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-39-17, bait is allowed once again on the Little Susitna River through September 30, 2017. The bag and possession limit remains at three salmon, of which only two may be a coho salmon.
  By Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-38-17, the daily bag and possession for salmon was increased to four fish, except king salmon, in Wasilla and Cottonwood creeks. All four salmon may be coho. In addition, the two-day weekend only fishery was extended to include Monday; therefore, fishing is allowed Saturdays through Mondays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• By Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-37-17, the daily bag limit and possession limit for salmon was increased to four per day and eight in possession, except king salmon, in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) through September 30, 2017. All four salmon may be coho; however, no more than three per day and six in possession may be pink, chum, and sockeye salmon in combination.
• By Emergency Order No. 2-SS-2-36-17, Fish Creek is open to fishing for salmon seven days per week, 5:00 a.m. to10:00 p.m. The bag and possession limit for salmon is four fish, except king salmon, of which all four may be a coho salmon.
• Jim Creek is now closed to sport fishing for all species on Mondays and Tuesdays. Fishing is only allowed between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays.
• 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 very good in all locations of Susitna and Yentna. This is the weekend to target coho before the run starts to tail off and fish begin to turn color as they mature for spawning.
• Coho fishing on the Deshka River has been very good in recent days. Fishing upstream of the mouth has been best.
• 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. Fishing has been good and anglers are taking home daily bag limits.
• Coho fishing is very good at Lake Creek and all sloughs of the Yentna River. Some overlooked spots on the upper Yentna and Skwentna include Bottle, Donkey, Eightmile, and the Talachulitna.
• Later in August and into September, make sure you hit the Talkeetna River and nearby streams like Sunshine and Rabideux creeks for good silver fishing.
• Fishing success on the Little Susitna is good and success should improve as bait is now allowed once again.
• Coho fishing is expected to be good in the Wasilla Creek/Rabbit Slough, Cottonwood, and Fish creeks this weekend. By emergency order, Cottonwood and Wasilla creeks are open Saturdays through Mondays and Fish Creek is open seven days per week. Fishing is allowed from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Jim Creek fishing has been fair. This fishery is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Coho fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace has been fair to good. Fishing at the mouth has been best.
• 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

• Fishing for rainbow trout on the Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north and including the Talkeetna River is excellent. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be good.
• Try fishing egg and flesh fly patterns as rainbow trout are now targeting king eggs and feeding on king carcasses; don’t forget the occasional leech or sculpin pattern.

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, in addition to, 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 season catchable rainbow trout were recently stocked in Matanuska, Kepler/Bradley, and Lucille Lakes. Enjoy the opening of the state fair and fish on your way home!