07-24-2004, 03:17 PM
Mat-Su Area Fresh Waters
Personal Use [ul] [li]The Fish Creek sockeye salmon count as of July 20 was only 3,053 fish. It is not expected to reach a level that will allow the opening of the Fish Creek personal use dipnet fishery. [/li][/ul]
Salmon [ul] [li]King fishing has tapered off at the Eklutna Tailrace. A few silvers have been taken there. [li]Silver and sockeye salmon are showing up at Jim Creek. [li]Silver salmon fishing is picking up in the Little Susitna River (no bait until August 6). You will also find a few chums and sockeye. [li]Silvers and pinks can be found at the mouths of the Deshka River and Alexander Creek. Remember, in Alexander Creek if you hook a rainbow trout, Dolly Varden or Arctic grayling they must be released. In the Deshka River upstream of the forks at Moose and Kroto creeks, all rainbow trout must be released. [li]Pink salmon are expected in large numbers in the Susitna River drainage this year. Look for them in the Parks Highway streams this weekend along with a few silvers and chums. Willow Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of Deception Creek and Montana Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of a marker ½ mile above the Parks Highway crossing. [li]On the West Side of Cook Inlet, silvers are entering the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day. [li]On the west side of Cook Inlet, silvers are starting to enter the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day. [li]No sockeye or coho salmon have been reported at the mouth of Cottonwood Creek. This is a weekend only fishery, from 6:00 am through 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday only. [li]Wasilla Creek is open to fishing for salmon, other than king salmon, from its mouth upstream to the Alaska Railroad Bridge. This is a weekend fishery, from 6:00 am through 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday only. Motorized watercraft may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturday and Sundays, July 15 - August 15. [/li][/ul]
Resident Fish [ul] [li]Rainbow trout and Arctic grayling fishing in Willow and Montana creeks as well as other Parks Highway streams has been good. Remember that a portion of Willow Creek and the entire Montana Creek drainage are catch-and-release. Only unbaited single hook artificial lures are allowed upstream of the Parks Highway. In Willow Creek, only unbaited single hook artificial lures are allowed upstream from a marker placed ½ mile upstream from the mouth. Be sure to check the regulation booklet for other restrictions. [/li][/ul] Lake Fishing [ul] [li]Lake fishing continues to be good. Try Boot, Beverly, Canoe, Christiansen, Crystal, Farmer, Loon, Marion, Ruby, Seventeenmile, Tanaina, and South Rolly lakes for rainbow trout. [li]For Arctic grayling, · Canoe, Finger, Florence, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Lorraine, Meirs, Mile 180, Weiner and Reed lakes are good bets. [li]Benka, Echo, Irene, Lynne, Marion, Matanuska, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile lakes are all stocked with Arctic char. [li]For a single lake with a wide variety of fish, try Finger Lake. It has rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Arctic char and landlocked king salmon. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike [ul] [li]Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spin, and fly-fishing. Try top water weedless lures and flies in the heavily-vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure fire bet. [li]Except in Alexander Lake, there is no closed season or bag limit for pike in this area. Remember, wanton waste laws apply, so be sure to use or donate to charity all the pike you harvest. [li]For road-accessible pike fishing, try Memory Lake, Long Lake, or lakes in the Nancy Lake canoe system. [li]Pike are also present in the lakes, ponds and sloughs of the Susitna River drainage. Boat-accessible locations for pike fishing include the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake. [li]For fly-in fishing try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern and Donkey lakes.[/li][/ul]
Personal Use [ul] [li]The Fish Creek sockeye salmon count as of July 20 was only 3,053 fish. It is not expected to reach a level that will allow the opening of the Fish Creek personal use dipnet fishery. [/li][/ul]
Salmon [ul] [li]King fishing has tapered off at the Eklutna Tailrace. A few silvers have been taken there. [li]Silver and sockeye salmon are showing up at Jim Creek. [li]Silver salmon fishing is picking up in the Little Susitna River (no bait until August 6). You will also find a few chums and sockeye. [li]Silvers and pinks can be found at the mouths of the Deshka River and Alexander Creek. Remember, in Alexander Creek if you hook a rainbow trout, Dolly Varden or Arctic grayling they must be released. In the Deshka River upstream of the forks at Moose and Kroto creeks, all rainbow trout must be released. [li]Pink salmon are expected in large numbers in the Susitna River drainage this year. Look for them in the Parks Highway streams this weekend along with a few silvers and chums. Willow Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of Deception Creek and Montana Creek is closed to salmon fishing upstream of a marker ½ mile above the Parks Highway crossing. [li]On the West Side of Cook Inlet, silvers are entering the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day. [li]On the west side of Cook Inlet, silvers are starting to enter the Chuit and Theodore rivers. Once you take your limit of coho salmon in this area you must stop fishing for the day. [li]No sockeye or coho salmon have been reported at the mouth of Cottonwood Creek. This is a weekend only fishery, from 6:00 am through 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday only. [li]Wasilla Creek is open to fishing for salmon, other than king salmon, from its mouth upstream to the Alaska Railroad Bridge. This is a weekend fishery, from 6:00 am through 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday only. Motorized watercraft may not be used on Wasilla Creek on Saturday and Sundays, July 15 - August 15. [/li][/ul]
Resident Fish [ul] [li]Rainbow trout and Arctic grayling fishing in Willow and Montana creeks as well as other Parks Highway streams has been good. Remember that a portion of Willow Creek and the entire Montana Creek drainage are catch-and-release. Only unbaited single hook artificial lures are allowed upstream of the Parks Highway. In Willow Creek, only unbaited single hook artificial lures are allowed upstream from a marker placed ½ mile upstream from the mouth. Be sure to check the regulation booklet for other restrictions. [/li][/ul] Lake Fishing [ul] [li]Lake fishing continues to be good. Try Boot, Beverly, Canoe, Christiansen, Crystal, Farmer, Loon, Marion, Ruby, Seventeenmile, Tanaina, and South Rolly lakes for rainbow trout. [li]For Arctic grayling, · Canoe, Finger, Florence, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Lorraine, Meirs, Mile 180, Weiner and Reed lakes are good bets. [li]Benka, Echo, Irene, Lynne, Marion, Matanuska, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile lakes are all stocked with Arctic char. [li]For a single lake with a wide variety of fish, try Finger Lake. It has rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, Arctic char and landlocked king salmon. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike [ul] [li]Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spin, and fly-fishing. Try top water weedless lures and flies in the heavily-vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure fire bet. [li]Except in Alexander Lake, there is no closed season or bag limit for pike in this area. Remember, wanton waste laws apply, so be sure to use or donate to charity all the pike you harvest. [li]For road-accessible pike fishing, try Memory Lake, Long Lake, or lakes in the Nancy Lake canoe system. [li]Pike are also present in the lakes, ponds and sloughs of the Susitna River drainage. Boat-accessible locations for pike fishing include the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake. [li]For fly-in fishing try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern and Donkey lakes.[/li][/ul]