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Alaska
fishing: Matanuska & Susitna area
Species
This
is an expansive region that offers a great variety of fish to anglers who
pursue opportunities via highway access, lakeside settings, or guided
excursions. Its diverse recreational opportunities encompass major
drainages that flow into Cook Inlet close to urban and
moderately remote settings. All five species of Pacific salmon enter this area including
good runs of king and coho salmon. There are
excellent offerings of rainbow trout, whitefish, Dolly Varden char, Arctic
grayling and northern pike, and to a limited extent, burbot, lake trout,
and even hooligan. The most aggressive stocking program in the state occurs here in over 90 lakes, and anglers who take to them will even
find landlocked cohos and kings as well as others. Most
of these fisheries are easily accessible by road or jet boat with the
exception of the west side of the inlet that can be reached only by boat or
aircraft. All opportunities are in fresh water.
Area Sponsor
If you are a Northern Cook Inlet provider of services or goods for sport
fishermen, we invite you to advertise in this space. We want to
provide both additional information about fishing and an opportunity for
you to make people aware of what you do. We can take up to 125
words. We will work with you on the exact wording so that it
provides information for those who read and helps you at the same time.
The text can include your website address and other contact information.
We would like to display one of your best photos in this space -- we
want to illustrate area fishing and at the same time show what you are
doing. If you would like to sponsor this page, please
contact Pam at
1.907.895-4919; 9 - 5 Alaska time. The cost is only $96 for one year.
Geography
This management area
encompasses over 35,000 square miles (56,330 km2). It is dominated by the
Susitna River that flows almost 200 miles (322 km)
before it enters Cook Inlet near Anchorage. To the north, the terrain is
characterized by the glacial valleys created by the glaciers in the Alaska and
Talkeetna mountains. To a lesser extent, even Knik Arm plays a
role in this drainage system. About 60% of the state’s population resides
within or adjacent to this area. Major communities include Wasilla,
Palmer, Talkeetna, Willow and Houston. Anchorage borders this area, but due to the immense size of this region,
much of the fishery is sparsely used. However, more easily
accessible portions of the area are heavily fished.
Road System
The George Parks
Highway connects Anchorage and Fairbanks and runs almost parallel to the
Susitna river. This paved route traverses many smaller
rivers and streams that flow into these tributaries along the highway
system. Anglers who elect to fish from the highway will find
just about any convenience needed. Accommodations vary from
roadside motels to lodges and campgrounds. Shopping and dining
opportunities dot the entire roadway, and numerous smaller pathways lead
to many angling locations. The ease of being able to pull of the road and
fish can result in crowded conditions especially during peak salmon runs.
Reservations are advised at overnight accommodations. Many opportunities exist for those who wish
to escape the crowds. Lakes generally receive little pressure and can be productive. Excursions by raft or jet boat provide services for
those who seek serenity. Even a moderate hike away from easily accessible areas
opens up space for the angler.
Best
freshwater fishing times in the
Northern Cook Inlet (ADF&G data)
Species |
Availability |
Peak |
King salmon |
May through August |
June and July |
Coho (silver) salmon |
July through September |
August |
Sockeye (red) salmon |
June through September |
July and August |
Chum salmon |
July through September |
July and August |
Pink salmon |
July and August |
July |
Dolly Varden Char |
all year |
July through October |
Rainbow trout |
all year |
August through October |
Lake trout |
all year |
May and June, September and October |
Northern pike |
May and June, September and October |
June through September |
Burbot |
all year |
January and December |
Grayling |
all year |
April through June, August through
October |
Hooligan (smelt) |
April and May |
April and May |
Whitefish |
all year |
all year |
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Sockeye (red) salmon -- one of the many fishing
options in these waters.
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Transportation
Anchorage is the
gateway to this region. Daily flights arrive here from various North
American, Asian, and European destinations. Even the AlCan Highway can bring
travelers to this area from the Lower 48. Anglers who wish to penetrate
the more remote locations in the region can find services offered in the
services directory on this website.
Weather
Weather is similar
to that of the Rocky Mountains. Summer find highs in the mid-70’s F (21 C) to lows reaching the mid-50’s F (13 C).
Shoulder months are proportionately cooler. Rainfall averages about 20
inches (51 cm) per year. Layer dressing is always the norm.
Visitors are advised to bring adequate bug protection, although insects
are not always a major problem.
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Destination Information Resources
You can find information about this area in a variety
of places on the web. The Matanuska-Susitna Convention and
Visitors Bureau has a useful website. The Alaska Department of Fish
and Game's Division of Sport Fish
has specific pages with valuable information for silver salmon,
king salmon,
and fishing the lakes in the Northern Cook Inlet.
Current fishing
report from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (updated regularly during the
summer months)
Northern
Cook Inlet Fishing Report
Magazine articles about
Northern Cook Inlet fishing
Alaska Fishing: Location and Times
Pre-Taxidermy Care of Trophy Fish
Representative
Alaska
fishing forum threads about
Northern Cook Inlet Fishing
North Cook Inlet Rivers
Fishing the Talachulitna River
Susitna River Kings
MatSu Ice Fishing
Willow, Wasilla, Palmer
Area Lakes
Forum search on
"Matanuska
Susitna fishing"
Search Google for area fishing information on OutdoorsDirectory.com
Useful books and videos about Northern Cook
Inlet fishing
How to Catch Trophy Halibut
Sportfishing Alaska
Fly Patterns of Alaska
The Secrets of Fishing Alaska Your Way
Alaska Fishing
Links
Internet sites offered by ADF&G are very specific to the numerous
opportunities in this area. Start by going to the
Sport Fish
Division pages for this area,
and then investigate. Much that you need to know about the Anchorage
gateway can be found at
http://www.anchorage.net.
The Anchorage Daily News contains
fishing reports during the summer in addition to normal news.
Search the Alaska Outdoors Supersite for
fishing information
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Area Descriptions for Southcentral
Alaska
Anchorage
fishing
Cordova fishing
Homer fishing
Kenai fishing
Kodiak fishing
Matanuska/Susitna/West Cook Inlet fishing
Prince William Sound fishing
Seward fishing
Upper Copper / Upper Susitna area
fishing
Valdez fishing
Whittier Fishing
Area Descriptions for other regions of the state
Southeast
Arctic, Yukon and Kuskokwim
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