Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 18, 2015

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of June 17 to June 23
Issued June 18, 2015

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

  • On the Deshka River, the use of bait and multiple hooks (treble hooks or two single hooks) is allowed by EO. 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.
  • Little Su will be open to harvest seven days a week beginning Friday, June 19 at 6 a.m. Only unbaited, artificial lures are allowed (multiple hooks are allowed). The two fish annual limit remains in effect.
  • A youth only King fishery (15 years or younger) will take place at the Eklutna Tailrace Saturday, June 20 from 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. The area open is from the mouth of the Tailrace to the pedestrian bridge. Please be respectful to our youth in this area during this time. Fishing at Eklutna has been good in recent days
  • Other king restrictions which remain unchanged in the Matsu area include the following:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.

Fresh waters

Salmon

  • Recent wildfires in the Willow area have resulted in limited travel between mile 63 and 88 and road closures to Deshka Landing. Access to the Susitna River drainages is still available at Susitna Landing and this facility remains open at this time.
  • Fishing success on the Deshka River is mostly good overall and is expected to be good this weekend. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed.
  • Fishing success this past weekend on the Little Susitna was very good and expected to be good this next weekend.
  • King fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace has been good over the past several days and is expected to be good this weekend.
  • Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries are producing some king salmon. McDougal slough and the mouth of Fish Lakes Creek are a good bet.
  • Catch and release fishing success for king salmon along Parks Highway streams is good. Access to these fisheries may be limited from mile 63-88 with the recent wild fire. Expect delays in travel and smoky conditions.
  • Catch and release fishing has been good at the mouth of the Kashwitna River. Also try Sheep Creek. Remember that Parks Highway streams are catch-and-release only for king salmon on the following two weekends (June 20-22 and June 27-29).

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

  • Stream fishing has been good for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling from Willow up to and including the Talkeetna River. Water levels are low. Rainbows are well distributed throughout area streams. Try a variety of flies, including fry patterns, prince nymphs, egg-sucking leaches, wholly buggers, leeches, and sculpins.
  • The flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are open to fishing per regulation as of June 15.

Northern Pike

  • Pike fishing is excellent in June as they aggressively feed at this time.
  • 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, Big Lake, 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

  • Lake fishing has been excellent. The stocking truck has been busy the past few days.
  • Arctic char catchables have been stocked in Long Lake (mile 86), Seventeenmile, Finger, and Matanuska lakes.
  • North Knob and Knob lakes were stocked with Rainbow trout.
  • Catchable grayling can be found in Kepler/Bradley, Florence, and Finger lakes.

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Sep 01, 2015 Aug 21, 2015 Aug 13, 2015 Aug 05, 2015 Jul 30, 2015 Jul 22, 2015 Jul 08, 2015 Jul 02, 2015
Jun 23, 2015 Jun 18, 2015 Jun 11, 2015 Jun 03, 2015 May 27, 2015 May 20, 2015 May 12, 2015 May 06, 2015
Apr 30, 2015 Apr 27, 2015 Apr 15, 2015 Jan 05, 2015