Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 25, 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-2-53-20 restores coho salmon bag and possession limits to two fish on the Little Susitna River and bait is allowed effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, August 25 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-52-20 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, to six per day and six in possession, of which no more than three salmon per day and in possession may be coho salmon, in all waters of Fish Creek open to salmon fishing. In addition, sport fishing on Fish Creek will continue to be allowed seven days per week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day. These provisions are effective 5:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020.
• 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. 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

• Coho fishing at Fish Creek remains good. For the remainder of the season, this fishery is open 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Six salmon are allowed of which only three may be coho. See Emergency Order 2-SS-2-52-20.
• 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.
• Little Su is open to the retention of coho and the use of bait once again. Fishing should be good. See Emergency Order 2-SS-2-53-20.
• Fishing for coho has been fair to good along the Parks Highway streams. Try the mouths and lower sections of Willow, Little Willow, Kashwitna, Sheep, Caswell, Montana, Sunshine, and the Talkeetna River.
• Deshka coho fishing has been slow, but good opportunities are still found with some effort.
• 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.

Rainbows

• Parks Highway streams are fishing good to excellent for rainbow trout. Try floating upper Willow Creek or Montana. If you are on foot, most Parks Highway streams are accessible at the bridge and water levels are favorable for wading.
• With salmon of various species actively spawning, now is a good time to drift glo bug patterns or eggs for aggressive rainbow trout action behind spawning salmon. Check with the local bait and tackle shops for various colors and sizes of bead or egg patterns. With the abundance of eggs in-river right now rainbows can be picky.
• Flesh flies, and cotton candy will be good as fall fast approaches and rainbows search for flesh. Don’t rule out a strike indicator, they can be very helpful with hook sets.

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing has been excellent. There are over 80 stocked lakes in the Mat-Su. To learn more check out the Alaska Lake Database.

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.