Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 11, 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-2-50-20 reduces the bag and possession limit for coho salmon in the Little Susitna River from two to one coho salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 13 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
  • 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 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 is now open seven days a week, 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. with six salmon allowed per day, of which only two may be a coho salmon. Try fishing right after high tide. See Emergency 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. Coho should be available at each location this weekend.
  • The use of bait has been prohibited on the Little Su and the bag limit for coho reduced to one fish by emergency order. Three salmon are allowed per day, of which only one may be a coho salmon. Coho fishing has been mostly good this season with pinks and chums readily available too. See Emergency Orders 2-SS-2-48-20 & 2-SS-2-50-20.
  • Fishing for coho has been fair to good at times 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 has been good early mornings. Coho fishing has been spotty other times of the day, but putting in your time should produce bag limits. Rain and any bumps in water level usually puts coho on the move and on the bite. Watch for those conditions and also the weir counts posted online to target any fish surges. Eggs under a bobber works great at Deshka.
  • Bait is now allowed in many -but not all- Susitna River tributaries. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before heading out.
  • Jim Creek is now closed to all sport fishing Mondays and Tuesdays. Fishing is only allowed between 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Coho are starting to show and this week would be a good time to find some bright ones.

Rainbows

  • Parks Highway streams are forecasted to bump up a bit in water volume due to the recent rain, fishing should improve into the weekend as waters recede.
  • 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

  • It is a beautiful time of year for lake fishing. Cooler temperatures have fish coming in shallow early in the morning and late in the evenings.
  • Combine blueberry picking, fishing, and maybe even some hunting with some of our alpine lakes such as Summit, Knob, North Knob, Ravine, Goober, Weiner, and Long (mile 86 Glenn Highway) lakes.

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.

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Sep 01, 2020 Aug 25, 2020 Aug 20, 2020 Aug 11, 2020 Aug 05, 2020 Jul 28, 2020 Jul 22, 2020 Jul 14, 2020
Jul 08, 2020 Jun 24, 2020 Jun 16, 2020 Jun 09, 2020 Jun 03, 2020 May 26, 2020 May 19, 2020 May 13, 2020
May 06, 2020