Grayling

In the upper stretches of the mighty Susitna, and in fact all along its course, grayling abound, usually utilizing the massive water-way for over-wintering and then spawning and feeding in the hundreds of Clearwater tributaries that branch off to both the east and west.

Indian River and Portage Creek are both good possibilities for anglers looking to escape the summer crowds on the well-known Parks Highway streams, as well as west-side Susitna tributaries like the Tyone River and Alexander Creek.

The upper reaches of the Chulitna River and its many tributaries (Coal and Troublesome creeks especially) also play host to significant populations of summer-feeding grayling.

Another Susitna tributary, the Talkeetna River, offers excellent fly-fishing for the species in its feeder streams, most notably Clear and Prairie creeks.

Of course, the streams closer to the population centers are popular for more reasons than their proximity to a maintained road.

The Deshka River hosts a healthy grayling stock in its upper reaches. The river provides an exceptionally short float trip, with very few anglers venturing into the upper area where most of the grayling do their feeding.

Montana and Sheep creeks, accessible via the Parks Highway, can also offer plenty of room to anglers targeting Arctic grayling. Additionally, a healthy knowledge of the grayling's life history patterns will greatly aid the Sheep Creek angler, as the fish will begin to stage in the stream's mouth section during the fall, waiting for dropping temperatures to induce the final leg of their winter migration into the Susitna.

Hundreds of fish will pile into the area in late September and the early part of October, long after most anglers have quit fishing the stream, and fly fishers can generally time their arrival for a late afternoon mayfly hatch that sends the fish into a near feeding frenzy.