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Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

September 5, 2019

Fall Fishing Report

Freshwater Fishing

  • Fire Activity Update: Fishing along the Parks Highway right now is extremely limited due to the recent wildfires. All fishing access sites within the evacuation area, Mile Posts 82-99, are closed until the evacuation notice has been rescinded. The following angler access locations are currently closed:
    • Caswell Creek, Mile Post 84 -East Susitna Shores Road
    • Sheep Creek, Mile Post 86 - Resolute Drive
  • Larson Creek drainage and all waters within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River are closed to all salmon fishing by emergency order for the remainder of the season. Please see corresponding Emergency Order below.
  • By emergency order, the Little Susitna River is closed to coho fishing and bait is prohibited on the Little Susitna River through September 30. Please see corresponding Emergency Order below.
  • Also by emergency order, the Deshka River is closed to coho fishing and bait is prohibited through September 30. Please see corresponding Emergency Order below.
  • Fish Creek is open by emergency order seven day per week, 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. each day. Six salmon are allowed per day and in possession, of which only two may be coho salmon. Remember once a limit of salmon is taken, such as two coho salmon, an angler must stop fishing for all fish species in waters open to salmon fishing for the remainder of the day. Please see corresponding Emergency Order below.
  • Wasilla Creek and Cottonwood Creeks are 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 AK Railroad bridge; and Cottonwood Creek from its mouth upstream one mile. Coho fishing is winding down.

Salmon

  • The best success for coho salmon this time of year comes from the Talkeetna River and nearby streams such as Sunshine and Rabideux creeks.
  • Willow, Montana, and Eklutna Tailrace usually see late cohos trickling in. Fishing has been slow.
  • In early September, coho salmon can be found in the tributaries and sloughs of the Yentna and Skwentna rivers. Most anglers try at Moose, Indian, Bottle, or Hewitt creeks. Expect slow fishing conditions.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

  • Rainbow trout fishing should be good to excellent well into freeze up. Look for trout with the spawning coho during the last two weeks in September. When the waters do drop, target trout in deeper holes and near or below the mouths of streams draining into the Susitna. Flesh flies and sculpin patterns work well in late fall.

Burbot

  • October until the big freeze is about the perfect time to target burbot as they start the fall migration. Good places to target them are the mouths of the Parks Highway Streams.

Northern Pike

  • Pike fishing will continue to improve until freeze up.
  • Road accessible lakes include Nancy, South Rolly, Tanaina, Anderson, King, and Memory lakes.
  • River fishing is good in the sloughs of the Yentna and Susitna rivers.

Lake Fishing

  • With the cooler temperatures of fall approaching, Mat-Su Valley lakes provide excellent fishing as fish become much more active, and feed in shallower water.
  • In the Palmer/Wasilla area, Lorraine, Carpenter, Knik, Lucille, Kepler, Rocky, and Echo lakes are stocked with rainbow trout.
  • Lakes stocked with landlocked salmon are Matanuska, Finger, Beverly, Loberg, and Klaire.
  • Arctic char are stocked in Benka, Finger, Irene, Long, Lynne, Marion, Matanuska, Prator, and Seventeenmile lakes.
  • Along the Glenn Highway northeast of Palmer, Seventeenmile, Slipper, Long, Ravine, Weiner, Knob, and North Knob lakes all have rainbow trout.

Emergency Orders

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

  • Emergency Order 2-SS-2-50-19 closed the Deshka River, including all waters within a one-half mile radius of its confluence with the Susitna River, to fishing for coho salmon effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2019. The use of bait is also prohibited.
  • Emergency Order 2-SS-2-49-19 closed the Little Susitna River from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway to fishing for coho salmon effective through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2019. The use of bait is also prohibited.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-2-47-19 closed sport fishing for all salmon species in the Larson Creek drainage and within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with the Talkeetna River effective through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-2-46-19 increased the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, to six per day and six in possession; however, no more than two per day and in possession may be coho salmon. In addition, sport fishing is allowed on Fish Creek from seven days per week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. effective through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
  • Emergency Order 2-NP-2-16-19 closed Alexander and Sucker lakes to sport fishing effective through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2019.

This is the last fishing report for the 2019 fishing season. This fishing report will be updated when additional information is available. For current seasonal information, please contact the ADF&G Palmer Area Office at (907) 746-6300.

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Sep 05, 2019 Aug 22, 2019 Aug 14, 2019 Aug 08, 2019 Jul 31, 2019 Jul 24, 2019 Jul 17, 2019 Jul 11, 2019
Jul 03, 2019 Jun 26, 2019 Jun 18, 2019 Jun 14, 2019 Jun 06, 2019 May 29, 2019 May 22, 2019 May 15, 2019
May 09, 2019 May 03, 2019