Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek open for early Mat-Su sockeye, with strict time and boundary rules

Two Mat-Su sockeye fisheries opened this week under restrictions that anglers must review before heading out: Fish Creek off Knik Goose Bay is open seven days a week through July 14 from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Cottonwood Creek is available only on Saturdays and Sundays during those same hours, with fishing allowed from the mouth upstream one mile.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game installed a weir at Fish Creek on Wednesday to begin monitoring the run; a few early sockeye are already present in the inlet. Samantha Oslund, Palmer Area Management Biologist for the Northern Cook Inlet Management Area, described Cottonwood Creek as early but worth trying. Both fisheries carry gear and boundary rules that differ from general statewide regulations, and ADF&G is directing anglers to review current emergency orders before heading out.

The openings come alongside other current Mat-Su opportunities. Eklutna Tailrace remains the only king salmon harvest site open in the Northern Cook Inlet management area, and fishing there is currently good. Jim Creek is open to fishing for all species except king salmon through July 31. Pike fishing is available at road-accessible lakes including the Nancy Lake Recreation Area, Big Lake, and Long Lake near Willow, and several local lakes have recently been stocked with rainbow trout.

Active emergency orders narrow king salmon options significantly. Emergency orders close the Susitna River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon and limit gear for other species in that drainage to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure with a gap of one-half inch or less. A separate order closes the Little Susitna to king salmon sport fishing and applies the same gear restriction when fishing for other species. A third order closes all waters of the West Cook Inlet Management Area to sport fishing for king salmon.

Emergency orders for the Northern Cook Inlet Management Area are posted at the ADF&G website and are the controlling document for current rules.