Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 22, 2019

Week of August 21 - August 27

Freshwater Fishing

• Fire Activity Closure: Fishing along the Parks Highway right now is extremely limited due to the recent wildfires. We are advising anglers to avoid traveling through the area and to yield to emergency vehicles.All sport fishing access sites within the evacuation area between Mile Post 82-99 are closed until the evacuation notice has been rescinded. The following angler access locations are currently closed:
  1. Susitna Landing, Mile Post 82.5 - Susitna Landing Road
  2. Caswell Creek, Mile Post 84 - East Susitna Shores Road
  3. Sheep Creek, Mile Post 86 - Resolute Drive
  4. Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
• Larson Creek drainage and all waters within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River is closed to all salmon fishing by emergency order for the remainder of the season. See corresponding Emergency Order below.
• By emergency order, the Little Su is closed to coho fishing as of August 21, 2019, and bait is prohibited on the Little Susitna River through September 30. See corresponding Emergency Order below.
• Also by emergency order, the Deshka River will close to coho fishing as of August 21, 2019, through September 30, bait is also prohibited. See corresponding Emergency Order below.
• Fish Creek is open by emergency order seven day per week, 5:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. each day. Six salmon are allowed per day and in possession, of which only two may be coho salmon. Remember once a limit of salmon is taken, such as two coho salmon, an angler must stop fishing for all fish species in waters open to salmon fishing for the remainder of the day. See corresponding Emergency Order below.
• Wasilla Creek and Cottonwood Creeks are weekend-only fisheries, from 5:00 a.m. - 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 AK Railroad bridge; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream one mile. Coho fishing should be good at Cottonwood and fair at Wasilla Creek this next weekend.
• Eklutna Tailrace fishing has been good for coho salmon in the early morning and late evenings.
• Jim Creek is closed to sport fishing for any species on Mondays and Tuesdays and fishing is allowed only between 5:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesdays – Sundays. Fishing for sockeye and coho has been slow.
• On the Yentna River, fish the mouths of Lake Creek, Fish Lakes Creek, Indian Creek, and Moose Creek. Fishing has been fair.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, coho fishing is good on the Chuit and Theodore rivers.

Local Lakes

• From now to October is probably the best time of year to fish for Arctic grayling. With cooler water the bite picks up. Grayling really like gold or silver. Anything small and flashy will get them to hit. Stick to size #10 or smaller, mosquitos, gnats, elk hair caddis, egg sucking leech, gold bead headed nymphs.
• Lakes stocked with Grayling include Lorraine, Meirs, Ravine, Reed, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Long (mile 86), Florence, Finger, Canoe, and Goober.
• Visit the ADF&G stocking webpage to find out which lakes have recently been stocked.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-50-19 closed the Deshka River, including all waters within a one-half mile radius of its confluence with the Susitna River, to fishing for coho salmon effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2019. The use of bait is also prohibited.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-49-19 closed the Little Susitna River from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway to fishing for coho salmon effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2019. The use of bait is also prohibited.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-2-47-19 closed sport fishing for all salmon species in the Larson Creek drainage and within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River effective through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-2-46-19 increased the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, to six per day and six in possession; however, no more than two per day and in possession may be coho salmon. In addition, sport fishing is allowed on Fish Creek from seven days per week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. effective through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
• Emergency Order 2-NP-2-16-19 closed Alexander and Sucker lakes to sport fishing.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Palmer Area Office at (907) 746-6300.