Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 30, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Emergency Orders

  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-2-44-18, effective July 24, through July 31, 2018, Fish Creek opened to dipnetting for salmon, except king salmon until 11:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 31. Dipnetting is only allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Dipnetters may harvest salmon from the shore or off a boat from the ADF&G markers located on both sides of the Fish Creek mouth, upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately one-quarter mile upstream from Knik-Goose Bay Road. Dipnetters may fish off the beach at the mouth but may not fish south of the southern marker or north of the northern marker.
    • Remember to must have your your Upper Cook Inlet dip net permit and fishing license on you, clip your fish’s fins, and mark them on your permit before concealing from view or transporting them from the fishing site. Plan on packing your fish out and please do not use 4-wheelers on the stream bank, or to cross Fish Creek. Most of the property along Fish Creek is privately owned; please be respectful by remaining below the mean high-water mark and please carry out what you pack in. Fish Creek is located at mile 16 of Knik Goose Bay Road. Upper Cook Inlet personal use permits can be obtained online.

Regulation Reminders

  • 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 Summary booklet for the waters you intend to fish.
  • 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
  • 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; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream one mile.
    • 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.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

  • Fish Creek is open to dipnetting through July 31, 2018, and it’s time to fill your freezer for the long winter. This fishery targets sockeye salmon. Dipnetting has been excellent, especially on incoming tides. Anglers are reminded to be aware of the 30-foot tides, strong tidal currents, and mud. And please be courteous of private property.
  • Don’t wait for August, it’s time to start fishing for coho and other salmon, except king salmon, now. Coho salmon are becoming more prevalent every day on Susitna and Little Susitna drainage streams. Chum and pink salmon numbers are now strong across the area.
  • Along the Parks Highway, 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, sockeye salmon fishing is good at Larson Creek on the Talkeetna and at Lake Creek of the Yentna River.
  • Coho salmon fishing is good on the Deshka River and will be even better during or following any rainy days this week. Pink salmon are in high abundance.
  • Coho and chum salmon fishing is good on the lower Little Susitna River.
  • Some sockeye salmon are being caught at Jim Creek; a few cohos are also expected this week.
  • 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 good.
  • King salmon are on the spawning grounds now; beads and egg patterns will be the ticket this week and into next for rainbows.

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 Lake (mile 86 Glenn HWY), 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. Visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage to find out which local lakes have recently been stocked.

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