Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su
Archived Sport Fishing Report
August 11, 2022
ADF&G News
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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 and fishing, and maybe even some hunting with some of our alpine lakes such as Summit, Knob, North Knob, Ravine, Goober, Weiner and Long Lake (mile 86 Glenn HWY)..
Freshwater Fishing
Salmon
- Fish Creek bag limits for sockeye salmon was increased to six fish. Coho may not be retained until this weekend. The Fish Creek fishery is open 7 days a week from 5:00am – 10:00pm. This emergency order expires August 12 and standard regulations take effect this Saturday, August 13th.
- Bait is now allowed in many-but not all – Susitna River tributaries. Check for exceptions to the general regulations before fishing.
- Jim Creek is now closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and fishing is only allowed between 5am-10pm on Wednesdays through Sundays through the remainder of the season.
- Little Su is at flood stage, use caution fishing the next few days. Bait is now allowed.
- Pinks and chums are available along Parks Highway streams with coho numbers steadily increasing, and so is the level of the water from recent rains. By highway vehicle, try the mouths of Willow, Kashwitna, Caswell, Sheep, and Montana creeks. By boat, try the mouth of Little Willow and Bullfrog Slough.
- Water levels are good for coho fishing at the Deshka mouth and lower river up to the weir. Try eggs under a bobber and just about any color of spinners size 3 – 5.
- Try the lower sloughs of the Yentna, such and Moose and Indian creeks, and also at Lake Creek. Coho fishing is expected to pick up in these areas this weekend and into next week.
- For sockeye, try Cottonwood (weekend only) and Jim Creek in the Knik Arm area and Larson Creek of the Talkeetna River. Sockeye are running strong this year in Cook Inlet.
- Fish counts and water stage is posted on our Fish Count webpage.
Northern Pike
- Anglers may retain as many northern pike as they catch - there is no bag or possession limit. In freshwaters of West Cook Inlet, Knik, the Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release live pike back into the water.
- Roadside, try Nancy, Big, Horseshoe, and Rainbow lakes. Fly-in to Trapper, Shell, Alexander, or Sucker lakes.
Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling
Rainbow trout fishing on the parks Highway streams will need to wait a few days for water levels to come down. The parks streams are high and muddy right now. Your best bet might be to try the upper stretches of Willow or Montana creeks. Lake fishing is a good back up in the meantime between rain events.
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-RS-2-62-22 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon, other than king and coho salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, to six per day and six in possession in all waters of Fish Creek open to salmon fishing effective 5:00 a.m. Monday, August 1 through 10:00 p.m. Friday, August 12, 2022. In addition, sport fishing on Fish Creek will be allowed seven days per week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day. Retention of coho salmon is not allowed.
- Emergency Order 2-R-2-19-22 adds Leech, Summit, Zero, Kings, and Anderson lakes to the list of lakes stocked with hatchery fish. The bag and possession limit for rainbow trout in these lakes is five fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length. The bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, no size limit. This emergency order is effective for the 2022 season.
- Emergency Order 2-DV-2-13-22 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in the Fish Creek (Big Lake) drainage. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! Purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review emergency order, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southcentral Alaska 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.