Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 05, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Northern and Western Cook Inlet Area at its Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Northern and Western Cook Inlet sport and personal use fisheries regulations.

Emergency Orders

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

• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-48-20 prohibits the use of bait in the Little Susitna River effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 6, 2020, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2020. Only unbaited, artificial lures may be used.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-2-47-20 closes Larson Creek and within one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River to sport fishing for all salmon species effective 6:00 a.m. Thursday, August 6 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-2-46-20 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, to six fish of which two may be coho in Fish Creek. This emergency order also allows fishing in Fish Creek seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. These regulatory changes are effective 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 4 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-R-2-24-20 added three new lakes - Leech, Summit, and Zero lakes - to the stocking program in the Northern Cook Inlet management area effective June 20, 2020. The bag and possession limit for rainbow trout in these stocked lakes is five fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length. For Arctic grayling, the bag and possession limit is five fish, no size limit.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Fish Creek bag limits for salmon other than kings was increased to six fish of which two may be coho. The Fish Creek fishery is also open 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sockeye are still being counted in big numbers. Fishing has been excellent. (see Emergency Order 2-RS-2-46-20.)
• Wasilla and Cottonwood Creeks remain 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 Alaska Railroad Bridge; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream one mile. Expect both sockeye and coho at these locations this next weekend.
• The use of bait is closed on Little Su by emergency order (see Emergency Order 2-SS-2-48-20), and angler success remains good. Coho fishing has improved this week and is expected to get even better into next week.
• Fishing for coho has been fair to good along the Parks Highway streams and excellent for pinks. Try the mouths and lower sections of Willow, Little Willow, Kashwitna, Sheep, Caswell, Montana, Sunshine, and the Talkeetna River.
• Deshka coho fishing should improve into next week. Coho fishing has been spotty but putting in your time should produce bag limits.
• Bait is now allowed in many -but not all- Susitna River tributaries. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before heading out.
• After August 1, Jim Creek will close to all sport fishing Mondays and Tuesdays. Fishing is only allowed between 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
• West Cook Inlet sockeye and coho fishing is good at Big River Lakes, and the Kustatan River, once you take your limit of coho in this area you must stop fishing for the day.

Rainbows

• Parks Highway rainbow fishing has been consistent if you can weed through the pink salmon. Try fishing egg and flesh fly patterns as rainbows trout are now targeting king eggs and feeding on king carcasses.
• Upper Willow has been good, but lots of pink salmon. Definitely go up high for rainbows. Egg patterns and cotton candy are working well. Willow Creek from the bridge down, try nymphs, flesh, and egg sucking leeches.
• Upper Montana Creek off Yoder Road and into the forks should be good for rainbow trout.

Local Lakes

• If you are looking for grayling try Canoe, Florence, Ida, Lorraine, Ravine, or Summit lakes.
• For rainbows try Canoe, Diamond, Finger, Kalmbach, Knob, Loberg, Loon, Matanuska, Seymour, South Friend, and X and Y lakes.
• A few lakes with many species which have been good include Memory, Finger, Long Lake (mile 86), and Matanuska.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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