Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 16, 2012

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Beginning May 15, the total annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or longer taken from fresh waters of Cook Inlet remains at five (5), but no more than two may be taken from the Susitna River drainage Units 1-6, and no more than two may be taken from the Little Susitna River.
• Also within the Susitna and Little Susitna drainages, only one, unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed while fishing for king salmon. Deshka River is included in the two-fish annual restriction, but is excluded from the unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure-only restriction; anglers may continue to use bait and multiple hooks as outlined in the regulations summary booklet on the Deshka River only.
• King salmon fishing within Unit 2 of the Susitna River is further restricted beginning June 12 through July 13. In the waters of Unit 2 normally open to king salmon fishing, fishing for any species will be closed each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the following dates: June 12–15, June 19–22, June 26–29, and July 3-13. Beginning June 16, only catch-and-release fishing is allowed for king salmon from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the following three-day weekends (Saturday–Monday): June 16–18, June 23–25, and June 30–July 2.
• Waters in Unit 2 normally closed to king salmon fishing throughout the year (upstream of the Parks Highway bridges or department markers, etc.) are not affected by the restrictions and anglers may continue to fish for trout and other species. Please refer to pages 23–32 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for a complete description of Susitna River waters and location of boundary markers in these streams.
• King salmon fishing on the Little Susitna River is further restricted as follows: beginning May 15, harvest is allowed only on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days. King salmon that are intended to be released may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 15.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout until June 15.

 

Fresh waters

Salmon

• It is still early for kings, but expect the action to build slowly through the end of May.
• Fishing at the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace generally picks up in early June.
• King salmon will not show up in large numbers in Willow Creek and other Parks Highway systems until mid-June.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• The mouths of the Parks Highway streams, including Willow Creek and streams to the north should provide some action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, and perhaps an occasional early king salmon. Rainbows are starting to move around as waters rise and warm. Try the mouths and lower sections of these streams.
• Reminder, Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Northern Pike

• Northern pike may be found in shallow grassy waters where they are spawning. At this time, many pike have finished spawning and are beginning to feed aggressively while still in the shallows. Don’t forget to try a weedless leech. This is also a good time to try bow fishing.
• Anglers may retain as many pike as they catch – there is no bag or possession limit.
• For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes and Big, Prator and Memory lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Fishing should be good to excellent in most Valley lakes. Lake fishing is an excellent transition back into the summer season for anglers of all ages.
• The stocking truck has been busy! Recently stocked lakes include Kepler/Bradley for catchable rainbow trout; Echo, Lynn, Prator, and Memory lakes with catchable Arctic Char.

Personal Use

• Hooligan are expected in the Susitna River sometime this week.
• You must have in your possession a 2012 Alaskan resident sport fishing license (or ADF&G senior license or ADF&G Disabled Veteran’s license) in order to catch hooligan. You may take as many hooligan as you will use.
• Contact the hooligan hotline for more information area wide at 267-2515.

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