Still Some Solid Salmon Fishing In Mat-Su Valley

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Mat-Su Fishing Report

August 31, 2022

ADF&G News

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Local Lakes

• 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.
• Lake trout are stocked in Matanuska and Long Lake (mile 86).
• 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.
• Chinook catchables will be stocked late October in Finger, Knik, Matanuska, and Memory lakes just prior to freeze up for ice fishing.
• Wishbone Lake, X Lake, and Long Lake (Matanuska Lakes Complex) have special catch and release, single-hook restrictions and close to all fishing November 1^st-April 30^th.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• Please be aware many streams become single-hook, artificial lure or fly as of September 1, as coho season slows down and rainbow trout start to move and concentrate in stream mouth areas for the winter. Check the regulations closely before fishing.
• Fish Creek is a weekend-only fishery from 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; fishing for coho has been good.
• The Little Su continues to provide good fishing. This fishery should be good for another week and will slow down into September.
• The best success for coho salmon this time of year comes from the Talkeetna River and nearby streams such as Sunshine and Rabideux creeks.
• Parks Highway streams such as Willow, Kashwitna, and Montana creeks and Jim Creek and Eklutna Tailrace within Knik Arm usually see late silvers trickling in. Fishing has been good at the tailrace and recently picked up on several Parks Highway streams.
• In early September, silvers can be found in the tributaries and sloughs of the Yentna and Skwentna rivers. Most anglers try Moose, Indian, Bottle, or Hewitt creeks.
• Wasilla Creek (Rabbit Slough) is a weekend only fishery, from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., where some late season coho may be found.
• Deshka River has been producing consistent coho catches.

Rainbow Trout

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. Kashwitna and Talkeetna rivers clear up nicely in late fall and are good bets for rainbows, dollys, and grayling. Talkeetna can be fished right outside of town. Flesh flies, egg patterns, beads, and sculpin patterns work well in fall.

Northern Pike

Pike fishing will be good until freeze up. Try the Deshka side-sloughs, Memory or Prator Lakes off the road system, or fly out to Sucker or Alexander Lakes.

Burbot

Until the big freeze around October, this is 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, particularly the streams north of, and including the Kashwitna River.

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-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.