Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 27, 2015

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of May 27 to June 2
Issued May 27, 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

The Deshka River is producing a small number of kings each day and fishing should only improve through this week and weekend. Deshka River weir counts are available on our website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/  
• King fishing at the Little Su is expected to pick up this next weekend.
• Fishing at the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace generally picks up in June. Waters remain low due to annual maintenance at the power plant.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams, including Willow Creek and streams to the north, are providing good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. Try fishing fly patterns with a beaded head or the infamous leech pattern.
• Remember that Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Northern Pike

• 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.
• Northern pike may be found in shallow, grassy waters where they should now be aggressively feeding following the spawn. Don’t forget to try a weedless leech. This is also a good time to try bow fishing.
• For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes and Big, Prator, Memory lakes. A couple large pike were recently caught in Big Lake.
• Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough) and in Hewitt Lake.
• For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Lake fishing has been excellent.
• Lakes recently stocked with 10 inch rainbows include Lucille, Bruce, Knik, Rocky, South Rolly, Tanaina, Kashwitna, and Willow lakesWalby, Canoe, Kepler/Bradley, Lucille, Echo, Loberg, Matanuska, and Meirs.
• For Grayling try: Knik, Florence, Reed, Kepler/Bradley, Canoe, Finger, or Meirs.
• For Arctic Char try fishing Seventeen Mile, Matanuska, Echo, Benka, and Irene lakes.
• Lakes will continue to be stocked, so stay tuned to the fish stocking web page- http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=SportStockingHatcheriesSearch.main .

Personal Use

• Hooligan are in very high abundance this year along sand bars on the lower Susitna River. Dip them while you can. This run will begin to taper off at 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.