Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 13, 2014

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of June 11 to June 17- Amended
Issued June 11, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• On the Deshka River, the use of bait and multiple hooks (treble hooks and two hooks) are allowed beginning 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 14. The remainder of the Susitna River drainage will continue to be managed conservatively during the king salmon season. All emergency restrictions currently in place, with the exception of bait and multiple hooks in the Deshka River remain through July 13.
• Other king restrictions which remain unchanged in the Susitna and Little Susitna drainages include the following:
o King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited within Unit 1 (except on Deshka River), on the Parks Highway streams within Unit 2, the upper Susitna (Unit 3), Talachulitna River (Unit 4), Talkeetna River (Unit 5), and Chulitna River (Unit 6). Fishing, but not harvest of king salmon, will be allowed during days and times normally open to king salmon fishing within these management units.
o The Deshka River is open to king salmon harvest 7 days per week, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. King salmon harvest in the Yentna drainage (except Talachulitna River) is allowed 4 days per week (Fridays-Mondays); king salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited Tuesdays-Thursdays; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days. The Talachulitna River is restricted to catch-and-release 7 days per week.
o Harvest on the Little Susitna is allowed Saturdays-Mondays. King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited Tuesdays-Fridays; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days.
o An annual limit of 2 king salmon over 20 inches applies to Susitna and Little Susitna drainages combined. King salmon that are intended to be released may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
o In the waters of Unit 2 open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon, fishing for trout and other species will not be affected by these emergency regulations for king salmon and will continue as written in current regulation.
o 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

• Fishing success on the Deshka River has picked up some and is expected to be good this weekend. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed beginning 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 14. Deshka River weir counts which are available on our website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/
• Fishing success this past weekend on the Little Susitna was considered to be good and expected to be the same this next weekend. Water conditions are low and clear making the possibility of spooking fish much easier.
• Kings are being caught at the Eklutna Tailrace. Early morning fishing has been the most productive.
• Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries are starting to produce some king salmon. Yentna and Lake Creek water levels remain good for fishing.
• Fishing success for king salmon along Parks Highway streams is picking up with several favorable reports from the mouths of Willow, Sheep, and Kashwitna rivers over recent days. Remember that Parks Highway streams are catch-and-release only for king salmon through June 16 and on the following two weekends (June 21-23 and June 28-30).

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams from Willow north to Talkeetna are dirty from recent rains. However, they could quickly clear. Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling fishing is expected to be good. Try a float trip on Willow or Little Willow to take out at the Willow mouth camp ground.
• Remember that Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

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. In the freshwaters of West Cook Inlet and Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release live pike back into the water.
• 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

• Lakes recently stocked with Arctic char include: Lynne, Prator, Long (mile 86 Glenn Hwy), Seventeenmile, Echo, Memory, and Carpenter.
• Grayling have been stocked in: Ida, Long Lake (mile 86 Glenn Hwy), Knik, Florence, Reed, Kepler / Bradley, Canoe, Finger, and Meirs.
• If you are looking for rainbows, try: Bruce, Coyote, Slipper, North Knob, Knob, Weiner, Ravine, Long (mile 86), Tanaina, South Rolly, Memory, Knik, Irene, Reed, Walby, Canoe, and Echo.