Bristol Bay Area Fishing Report

uly 28, 2010

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• All Bristol Bay waters currently open to king fishing, close for kings at 11:59 p.m. on July 31.
• Sport fishing for king salmon and the use of bait is prohibited in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 5, 2010. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon accidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• The bag and possession limit for king salmon on the Alagnak River is reduced from three, only one of which may exceed 28 inches in length, to one 20 inches or greater in length. In addition, the annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is reduced from five to three fish in all waters of the Alagnak River drainage. These restrictions are effective Thursday, July 15, 2010.

Fresh waters

King Salmon

• Naknek drainage: Sport fishing is reported as fair on the Naknek River.
• Alagnak drainage: The bag and possession limit for king salmon on the Alagnak River is reduced from three, only one of which may exceed 28 inches in length, to one 20 inches or greater in length. In addition, the annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is reduced from five to three fish in all waters of the Alagnak River drainage. These restrictions are effective Thursday, July 15, 2010. Sport fishing is currently reported as poor to fair.
• Nushagak drainages: Sport fishing for king salmon and the use of bait is prohibited in all waters of the Nushagak-Mulchatna drainage effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, July 5, 2010. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. The sonar near Portage Creek finished counting on July 17 and 36,208 kings were counted by the sonar for the season which is far below the inriver goal of 75,000.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages: Sport fishing is currently reported as fair.

Silver Salmon

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages: Sport fishing is reported as poor to fair and should improve this week.
• Nushagak drainages: Sport fishing is currently reported as fair and will likely improve this week.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages: It is still early and sport fishing is currently reported as poor to fair and will likely improve throughout this week.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages: Sport fishing in the Alagnak is reported as fair to very good for rainbow trout. On the Naknek, sport fishing is reportedly good to very good for rainbow trout.
• Togiak River and nearby drainages: Sport fishing for Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and Arctic grayling is reported as fair to very good.
• Wood River Lakes system: Fishing remains good to very good at the outlets of salmon spawning streams.

Northern Pike

• Naknek and Alagnak drainages: Angling is reported as good.
• Wood River Lake system: Fishing remains fair to good along lake and slough shores and in shallow weedy bays.

Salt waters

Halibut

• Nushagak Bay: Fishing should be fair off the coast of Protection Point.

Mat-Su Area Fishing Report

July 28, 2010

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Fish Creek is open to dipnetting by Alaska residents for salmon (except kings) until 11:00 p.m., Saturday, July 31. Dipnetting is only allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Remember to carry your dip net permit, clip your fish’s fins, and mark them on your permit before concealing from view or transporting them from your fishing site. Plan on packing your fish out, respect private property, and please don’t use 4-wheelers on the stream bank, or to cross Fish Creek.
• Fish Creek does not open to rod-and-reel sport fishing until Saturday, August 14, at 6 a.m., and then it is a weekend-only fishery.
• In the west-side Susitna River tributaries, except for Alexander Creek, the bag limit for salmon is 3 per day and 6 in possession, and all may be silver (coho) salmon.
• The bag and possession limit for salmon on the east-side Susitna and Knik Arm streams, including Jim Creek, is three salmon, only two of which can be silvers.
• At the Little Susitna River, anglers are reminded that bait is not allowed until August 6, and the daily bag and possession limit for silvers is two fish. The Little Su has additional special regulations — please see page 35 of the Southcentral Alaska regulations booklet.
• In the West Cook Inlet area, which is described on pages 20 and 21, anglers must stop fishing for the day once they have taken their daily limits of silver salmon.
• Many area waters are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout and Arctic grayling, and some waters are closed to fishing for salmon. Remember, only catch-and-release fishing for rainbow trout and grayling is allowed on Montana Creek. On Willow Creek, rainbow trout must be released downstream of the Parks Highway. Please read the regulations carefully.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• The dipnet fishery at Fish Creek has been productive since opening this past Saturday. Many limits have been taken and the crowds have decreased during the week. Try fishing several hours prior to and after an incoming tide.
• Silver salmon are arriving in good numbers to Northern Cook Inlet streams.
• Fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace is good for silvers.
• Fishing on the Little Susitna River near the Little Susitna Public Use Facility is good with at least one fish being caught per angler. Some chum and pink salmon are also being taken.
• Red and silver fishing is good at the mouth of Jim Creek.
• Expect good silver fishing at the mouths of Deshka River and Alexander Creek. As of Tuesday, July 26, 3,500 silvers had crossed the Deshka weir.
• Good numbers of silver and pink salmon are being caught along the Parks Highway streams, mainly Willow, Little Willow, and Caswell creeks. Fishing at Kashwitna, Sheep, Goose, and Montana creeks typically picks up beginning next week.
• Some reds and chums have shown up on the Talkeetna River at the mouths of Clear and Larson creeks; it is still a little early for silvers.
• Lake Creek is producing a few silvers; be sure to try other Yentna River tributaries and sloughs such as Moose and Indian Creeks.
• Fishing is expected to be good this next weekend for reds on Cottonwood Creek. Some silvers will also be caught.
• Silver fishing should start improving this weekend in Wasilla Creek / Rabbit Slough.
• On the west side of Cook Inlet, silvers are entering the Chuit and Theodore rivers.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Fishing for rainbow trout on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is good. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be fair. Water levels are up and down depending on where you go with recent rains. If one stream is dirty, just drive a little further and try the next.
• Rainbows will be holding amongst spawning king salmon. Try egg patterns, beads, or flesh flies and don’t be surprised to catch a couple silver or pink salmon in the process.

Northern Pike

• Pike fishing has been good in the Nancy Lake canoe system lakes. Try using a weedless mouse or frog lure in weedy areas, especially later in the evenings.
• 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.
• For fly-in fishing try Alexander, Trapper, Hewitt, Whiskey, Vern and Donkey lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Rainbow trout fishing has been reported as excellent for those wanting to fish still water. Try one of our many stocked lakes. Our web page will steer you directly to the public access. Rainbows are stocked all over the valley and finding a lake near you is a sure bet. Try fishing earlier in the day for best results.
• A few great places to take kids fishing are Kepler/Bradley, Matanuska, Knik, and Finger Lakes. Each of these lakes have great shoreline access, plenty of fish, and room to safely play!
• If you would like a camping adventure, or a nice long day trip, and a lake with a view, try Knob, Long Lake (mile 86), Ravine Lakes, or Nancy Lake.


http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FishingReports/