Click to view our recommended fishing trips & lodges for Susitna/Lake Creek

General information on fishing the Susitna/Lake Creek Drainage:

The Susitna Drainage and Lake Creek are probably the most popular fishing areas in the State of Alaska for a number of reasons, the main one being easy access. Lake Creek is only a 45-minute floatplane flight from Anchorage’s Lake Hood. You can be sitting in your hotel room one minute looking out over Cook Inlet at Mt. Susitna and be eating lunch wading in the crystal clear waters of Lake Creek looking back over Cook Inlet at Anchorage. (Well if there weren’t any mountains in the way that is) The second reason is the tremendous run of all 5 salmon species that return every year to the Susitna River Drainage system. 

An added bonus is the nice size Rainbows, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling that inhabit the waters of Lake Creek year round. When the Salmon runs are slow you can always head up river and plan for some action with these guys. The upper waters of Lake Creek are super for the avid fly fisherman. With many wide-open spots and crystal clear water running down from Chelatna Lake, Rainbows and Dollys will rise to that woolly-bugger or nymph you just tied back at the lodge. Another little secret in the Susitna drainage is the Talachulitna River; Fly Fisherman and Spin Casters have long known about this small crystal clear running river that empties into the Skwentna River. The Tal , on the lower end where it meets the Skwentna, is a resting place where King and Silver Salmon stop after their long battle up the fast moving waters of the Yentna and Skwentna Rivers. Let me say you haven’t lived until you’ve hooked a 40lb King Salmon on a 10-weight fly rod and tried to battle that baby to the boat. Many anglers have lost the fight, but talked about it till the wee hours of the morning back at the Lodge.

The Yentna River and Alexander Creek run into the Susitna and are both popular spots for local anglers. And because of there location they are easy to get to. Most day trips from Anchorage take you to this area; it’s a great spot for that last minute trip before heading home. On the other hand if you want to experience the area, there are a few excellent lodges on Lake Creek and the Talachulitna River that provide you with everything you’d expect from a full service fishing lodge. All the Lodges we recommend offer stays from three days up to a full week. And the guides in the area know these waters well, as many return year after year to the same lodge to greet repeat guests and share winter war stories. Most of these lodges boast a 45 percent or better return rate from the previous year, the percentage goes up if you look at overall return percentages. Great fishing, comfortable accommodations, tasty meals and easy access all make the Susitna Drainage and Lake Creek a popular Alaska fishing destination. Talk to us today about your stay on the Tal or Lake Creek and let GoFishingAlaska.com help you plan your trip today!

FISHING CHART

peak period    available

May

June

July

August

September

NOTE: This chart is based on previous experiences and should be considered as only a rough guideline. Actual fishing during any given week may vary due to water conditions, fish runs, weather or other natural causes.

Click here to review recommended fishing trips and lodges