Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 17, 2023

Local Lakes

• Matanuska Lake is a good place to troll deep for char and pick up some nice rainbow trout. Also try fishing with small pieces of raw shrimp on a size 6 single hook.
• Lucille and Finger lakes are good places to catch a lot of rainbows, and good-sized fish.
• If heading north up the Glenn, try canoe fishing in Ravine, Wiener, and Knob lakes for rainbows.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Please see emergency order section below for streams that have been closed or will be closed this week to fishing for coho salmon.
• Catchable numbers of coho are entering Fish Creek daily. Try fishing the incoming tides and remember this is a weekend only fishery.
• Coho fishing success on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek and to the north and also streams and sloughs of the Yentna River are hit and miss for coho. Chums and pinks are still available. As fishing with bait is not allowed, try fishing a jig under a slip bobber or if fly fishing, try a Dolly Llama or an egg sucking leach. If spin casting, try spinners of a variety of colored blades in size 3 – 5.
• If camping while fishing for salmon, stop over at Sheep Creek, Big Su Landing at the mouth of the Kashwitna River, or Talkeetna boat launch.

Northern Pike

• Fishing is best when water temperatures are lowest, such as early in the morning or late in the day.
• For road-accessible pike fishing, try just about any lake in the Nancy Lake canoe system, plus Memory, Prator, King, and Anderson lakes.
• Fly-in fishing for pike can be excellent. Try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern, and Donkey lakes.

Rainbow Trout

• Rainbow trout fishing is good on Parks Highway streams. Take advantage of the good weather and clear waters. Fishing has been good from Willow Creek up to the Chulitna River and Clear Creek off the Talkeetna River. This is a good time for egg patterns, egg sucking leaches, and flesh flies. Also try sculpins, leeches, mice, and dolly llamas.
• Deception Creek, Byers, and Honolulu Creeks are a little more off the beaten path. You can also do a Railroad whistle stop off Indian Creek if you are feeling adventurous.
• August fishing will only improve as the salmon begin spawning.

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-2-60-23 closes the Deshka River to retention of coho salmon and continues to restrict the bag limit for coho salmon to one fish in all other waters of the Susitna River drainage. Bait is prohibited and only artificial lures are allowed.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-56-23 reduces the bag limit for coho salmon to one fish in all waters of the Susitna River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, August 14 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, September 30, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-59-23 restricts the daily bag and possession limit for coho salmon on the Little Susitna River to one fish on Thursday and Friday, August 17-18 of this week. Bait is prohibited.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-62-23 closes the Little Susitna River to the retention of coho salmon beginning Saturday, August 19 through Saturday, September 30, 2023. Bait continues to be prohibited under this emergency order. Coho salmon may not be targeted and must be immediately released if incidentally caught while fishing for other salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-SS-2-63-23 closes Jim Creek to all salmon fishing beginning Saturday, August 19.
• Emergency Order 2-R-2-02-23 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 maybe 20 inches or greater in length. The bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, with no size limit. This emergency order is effective for the 2023 season.
• Emergency Order 2-DV-2-01-23 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. Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! These can be purchased through the ADF&G online store and printed off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

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