MAT-SU AREA FISHING FORCAST 6/23/05: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Salmon
• King salmon are now spread throughout the entire Susitna River drainage. Anglers have a choice of streams where they will find good king fishing.
• King fishing is still good to excellent at the Eklutna Tailrace. Anglers can expect to catch kings in the 20 – 30 lb. category.
• King salmon fishing at the mouth of Alexander Creek is just about over. Fishing upstream of the mouth should continue to be productive until the closure on June 30. Fishing for kings is allowed in the first seven miles, up to a marker at Trail Creek.
• King fishing at the mouth of the Deshka River is starting to slow, but don’t forget that the river is open to the retention of king salmon upstream 17 miles to the Department marker at Chijuk Creek. Presently, over 17,000 kings have passed through the weir at River Mile 7. Boating this shallow, upstream section of the Deshka requires a jetboat or airboat and some river boating experience. To avoid wear and tear on the weir, please slow your boat when crossing. An ADF&G technician is also available to guide you.
• The Little Susitna River is high and muddy and fishing is poor. Water levels are starting to recede and if this trend continues through the week, fishing conditions should pick up by the weekend, particularly near the Parks Highway.
• Currently, Lake Creek is high and muddy and fishing is poor. Fishing should be good by the weekend if water levels continue to drop.
• The smaller tributaries and sloughs of the Yentna and Susitna rivers are currently backed up by the high waters of the glacial mainstem Susitna and Yentna rivers, and fishing conditions are poor.
• The Talachulitna River, a clearwater tributary to the Skwentna River, should provide excellent fishing opportunities.
• King fishing on the Parks Highway streams should be good this weekend. Don’t forget, these are now weekend-only fisheries.
• King salmon are starting to show up in the East Fork of the Chulitna River. The East Fork Chulitna River (including only the first ¼ mile of Honolulu Creek) is open to king salmon fishing continuously through July 13; however, kings may be kept only on three weekends: June 25 – 27, July 2 – July 4, and July 9 – 11. A weekend is 12:01 a.m. Saturday through 11:59 p.m. Monday. During the weekdays, only catch-and-release fishing is allowed. This is a single hook area. A single hook has only one point, with or without barb.
• Water levels on the Talkeetna River are starting to drop and fishing should be excellent by the weekend. Fishing in this area typically peaks the last week of June.
• As for the West Cook Inlet streams, the Theodore and Lewis rivers are open to catch-and-release king fishing and should provide plenty of action this week. The Chuit River is clear and good fishing is occurring. Kings are also being taken in the Beluga River tributaries.

Resident Fish
• Rainbow trout and grayling are available in the majority of the Parks Highway streams; however, only catch-and-release fishing for these species is allowed year-round in Montana Creek.
• In Willow Creek grayling may not be retained year-round, and rainbow trout may not be retained downstream of the Parks Highway bridge.
• Don’t forget, portions of these creeks, and other Susitna River Unit 2 streams, close to all fishing during the weekdays for the next three weeks.
• Single-hook, unbaited artificial lures are required when fishing in Parks Highway streams upstream of the Parks Highway.

Lake Fishing
• Looking for open spaces, no crowds and lots of fish? Try one of the 90 stocked lakes in the Mat-Su Valley.
• Best bets for rainbows include Beverly, Canoe, Christiansen, Crystal, Farmer, Loon, Marion, Ruby, Seventeenmile, Tanaina, and South Rolly lakes.
• Canoe, Finger, Florence, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Lorraine, Meirs, Mile 180, Weiner and Reed lakes have Arctic grayling.
• Benka, Echo, Irene, Lynne, Marion, Matanuska, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile lakes are stocked with Arctic char.
• 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.

Northern Pike
• Northern pike have been illegally introduced into several Mat-Su area lakes, creating problems in those stocked with fingerling.
• 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.
• 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.
• For road accessible pike fishing try Memory Lake, Long Lake or lakes in the Nancy Lake canoe system. For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern and Donkey lakes. Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake.

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Jason Williams
coldnorthpole@alaskaflyfish.net
Eagle River, Alaska
www.alaskaflyfish.net