Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 20, 2015

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of May 20 to May 26
Issued May 20, 2015

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 14.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout until June 14.
• Anglers are advised that, in an effort to meet king salmon escapement goals in the Susitna River and Little Susitna River drainages, the following sport fishing restrictions are in effect beginning Thursday, May 1, 2015 in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) and Little Susitna River:
o Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed. Deshka River included.
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 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. 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 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.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• King salmon are just beginning to enter the Susitna and Little Susitna Rivers.
• A few kings are being caught each day at the mouth of the Deshka River. Fishing should improve as the end of May approaches. The weir has been installed and counts are available online at:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/  
• The Little Su should produce a few kings this weekend; waters remain very low.
• Fishing at the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace generally picks up in June.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams are low and clear. Try the mouths and lower sections of these streams for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling.
• Remember that 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. Try top-water lures or weedless leeches. This is also a good time to try fishing with bow and arrow.
• For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes and Big, Prator, and Memory lakes.
• Take a spring boat trip on the Susitna and try fishing the side channel sloughs of the Deshka River, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), or Moose or Indian creeks on the Yentna River.

Lake Fishing

• Lake fishing is excellent. The hatchery truck has been stocking large rainbow trout and Arctic Char catchables, providing instant fisheries.
• Lakes stocked with rainbows include: Bruce, Lucille, Memory, Irene, Echo, Loberg, Kepler/Bradley, and Matanuska.
• Arctic Char Lakes include: Seventeenmile, Finger, Echo, Matanuska, and Irene.

Personal Use

• Hooligan fishing should be good on the Yentna and lower Susitna through the end of May.
• You must hold an Alaskan resident sport fishing license (or ADF&G senior license or ADF&G Disabled Veteran’s license) in order to use a dipnet to catch hooligan. You may take as many hooligan as you will use.