Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 23, 2015

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of June 24 to July 1

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.
  • 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

  • All evacuation and road closures have been lifted for the Sockeye Fire. Both Deshka Landing and Susitna Landing are open, as well as local campgrounds.
  • Deshka River fishing has slowed; fishing is fair to good. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed.
  • Fishing on the Little Susitna has been fair, harvest is allowed 7 days per week.
  • 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. The water has come up, slowing fishing at McDougal slough.
  • King fishing has been good at the mouths of the parks highway streams. Remember that Parks Highway streams are catch-and-release only for king salmon this weekend 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

  • If you would like a nice quiet fishery all to yourself, ADF&G stocks over 80 lakes.
  • Lake fishing has been excellent. Several lakes recently stocked with rainbow trout include: Canoe, Coyote, Echo, Irene, Kepler/Bradley, Knob, Knik, and Lucile Lakes.
  • Grayling can be found in Finger, Florence, Ida, Kepler/Bradley, Knik, Meirs, Ravine, Reed, Long Lake (mile 86), and Lorraine 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