Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

On the Deshka River, the use of bait and multiple hooks (treble hooks or two single hooks) is allowed.
The annual limit was restored to 5 king salmon over 20 inches in length on the Deshka River and Little Susitna River on June 26. King salmon harvested in the Deshka River or Little Susitna rivers apply to the combined Cook Inlet annual limit of five fish.
Sport fishing gear and time restrictions implemented on the Little Susitna River in advance of the season have now been repealed and regulations listed in the regulatory summary booklet on page 46 are in effect, except bait will be allowed July 3 to July 13 by EO.
Parks Highway streams within Unit 2 of the Susitna River are now closed to king salmon fishing as written in regulation.
The remainder of the Susitna River drainage will continue to be managed conservatively during the king salmon season. All emergency restrictions currently in place for waters of the Susitna drainage open to king salmon fishing, with the exception of the Deshka River, remain through July 13.
The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.

Deshka River king salmon fishing is fair. Try fishing upstream of the mouth. Water conditions are low.
Fishing success this past weekend on the Little Susitna was good although water conditions are low. Bait fishing will start at 6 a.m., Friday morning, July 3 and continue through July 13, the end of the king season. Bait should only improve fishing success this weekend. King salmon are well distributed throughout the system.
Lake Creek and some of the lower tributaries of the Yentna River are producing some good king salmon catches. Also try Eight-mile Creek off the Skwentna River this next weekend.
King fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace has been good over the past several days and is expected to be good this next weekend.

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 but have bumped up a little over the past couple days. 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.
Rainbows will follow the King salmon as they ascend rivers to spawn. Try egg patterns and even flesh type flies.

Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (the arrow must be attached to the bow by a line) bait, spin, and fly-fishing. Try top water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs. Herring suspended under a bobber is a sure fire bet.
Anglers may retain as many pike as they catch— there is no bag or possession limit.
For road-accessible pike fishing, try Nancy Lake and other lakes of the Nancy Lake Recreation Area, 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 in Hewitt Lake.
For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker lakes.

Lake fishing continues to be excellent this summer with over 80 Matsu lakes stocked.
Lakes with catchable trout include: Matanuska, Lucille, Rocky, Loberg, South Rolly, Kink, Memory, Meirs, Kepler/Bradley, Canoe, Knob, North Knob, Weiner, Kashwitna, Willow, Coyote, Slipper (Eska), Gate, Mile 180, Tanaina, Walby, Long (mile 86), Ravine Lakes.
Try sinking flies such as dragon and damsel nymphs, or leech patterns.
Lakes stocked with catchable char include: Echo, Lynne, Memory, and Carpenter.