Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 19, 2012

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The Deshka River is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure beginning 6:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 20. In addition, fishing for king salmon is prohibited upstream of the fish counting weir located at River Mile 7.
• The Little Susitna River is closed to fishing for king salmon through the remainder of the king salmon sport fishing season. The closure includes all waters of the Little Susitna River from its confluence with Cook Inlet upstream to the Parks Highway bridge.
• 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.
• King salmon fishing within Unit 2 of the Susitna River remains restricted as follows: in the waters of Unit 2 normally open to king salmon fishing, fishing for any species is closed Tuesday - Friday during the following dates: June 19–22, June 26–29, and July 3-13. 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 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.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
• Bait fishing for king salmon is allowed at the Eklutna Tailrace only.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• Fishing is fair on the Deshka River with mostly small fish being taken.
• If Deshka weir counts and other indices of escapement don’t improve, additional restrictions or closure could occur on the Susitna River drainage.
• Lake Creek is producing small numbers of kings and fishing has been slow; some kings may be available in 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 salmon fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace has been poor. Try fishing Vibrax spinners or cured salmon eggs early in the morning.
• A small number of kings have been reported caught at Willow Creek and other Parks Highway streams.
• Kings are expected in the Talkeetna River this week, though catch rates will likely be low.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Fishing for rainbow trout on the Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north is good. Fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling should be good.

Northern Pike

• Pike fishing is excellent in 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, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Rainbow fishing has been outstanding. Many lakes have now received catchables. Opportunities and options for lake fishing are rapidly increasing for anglers of all ages.
• Lakes recently stocked with rainbow trout, include: Gate, Mile 180, Kashwitna, and Willow Lakes.
• Glenn Highway lakes recently stocked include Slipper (Eska), Coyote, Weiner, Long (mile 86), Knob, and North Knob Lakes.
• Canoe, Memory, Meirs, Knik, and Carpenter have also received catchable trout.
• Fish stocking up-dates with additional information are available on our web page. 

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