Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 18, 2016

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of May 18 to May 24

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 15.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout until June 15.
• 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, 2016 in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) and Little Susitna River:
• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed, except Deshka River where multiple hooks are currently allowed. Deshka will open to bait June 1.
• 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.
• 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.
• Harvest on the Little Susitna is allowed Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited Tuesdays-Thursdays; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days.
• 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

• King salmon season has started early in the Matsu. By all indications, king salmon are just beginning to enter the Susitna and Little Susitna Rivers. Water levels have risen on the Susitna and there may be debris to contend with while boating.
• A few kings have been caught at the mouth of the Deshka River. Fishing should improve as the end of May approaches.
• The weirs on Deshka and Little Su have 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. The Little Su has been steadily rising; expect water clarity to be somewhat poor and semi glacial.
• Water levels are becoming typical for fishing at the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace. No kings have been reported yet, although fishing generally doesn’t pick up until June at this site.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Try the mouths and lower sections of the Parks Highway 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, Canoe, Echo, Kepler/Bradley, Loberg, Lucille, Matanuska, Meirs, Reed, South Rolly, Tanaina, and Willow Lakes.
• Arctic Char Lakes include: Carpenter, Echo, Long Lake (Mile 86 Glenn HWY), Lynne, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile Lakes.

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.