Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 12, 2012

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• 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.
• Bait fishing for king salmon is allowed at the Eklutna Tailrace and the Deshka River only.

 

 

Fresh waters

Salmon
• Fishing is mostly good on the Deshka River. Most fish are being taken in the mouth area and first seven miles of river.
• King fishing on the Little Susitna River is slow with fewer than a dozen reported caught each day over this past weekend.
• Lake Creek is producing small numbers of kings; numbers should improve through this week. Also, try fishing some of the smaller tributaries and sloughs off the Yentna River such as Fish Lakes Creek, Moose Creek, Indian Creek, Fish Creek, or Hewitt Creek.
• King fishing at the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace is poor with only a few fish sighted by anglers to date.
• A small number of kings have been reported caught at Willow Creek and other Parks Highway streams.
 

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling
• Fishing for rainbow trout on Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is excellent. For shallower water and easier wading, try Goose Creek upstream of the highway. For a more adventurous experience, try hiking and fishing either the North or Middle Forks of Montana Creek.
• Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic Grayling should be good.
 

Northern Pike
• Pike fishing is excellent in early June.
• 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, Long Lake near Willow, Memory and Prator lakes.
• Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and Hewitt Lake.
• For fly-in pike fishing, try Alexander, Shell, Onestone, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker lakes.
 

Lake Fishing
• For a very aesthetically pleasing trip, head to Knob and North Knob Lakes, both have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout.
• Lake fishing can be a good back-up plan as rivers rise from recent rains. Rainbow fishing has been outstanding.
• The stocking truck has been pumping out catchable fish all over the valley. Knik, Meirs, and Memory Lakes received rainbow trout last week and Carpenter Lake and Long Lake (mile 86) were stocked with some real nice Arctic Char.
• Lakes recently stocked with rainbow trout, which also provide camping opportunities include: Lake Lucille, South Rolly, Rocky, and Matanuska Lakes. Loberg and Kepler/Bradley also received catchable rainbow trout.
• Fishing early in the morning or late in the evening is best.