Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 24, 2016

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of May 25 to May 31

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 remain in effect 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

• The Deshka River is producing a small number of kings each day and fishing should only improve throughout this week.
• The Little Su should pick up by this next weekend for king salmon.
• The weirs on Deshka and Little Su have been installed and counts are available online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/ .
• Fishing at Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace usually picks up in June. Water levels remain low.
• Parks Highway streams remain open to catch and release fishing for king salmon. Expect slow fishing until early June.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams, while on the high side, are providing good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. Try fishing fly patterns with a beaded head or a 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 is excellent.
• Recently stocked rainbow trout lakes include: Ravine, Kashwitna, Rocky, Memory, and Irene.
• For Arctic Char try: Carpenter, Echo, Long Lake (Glenn HWY), Lynne, Memory, Prator, and Seventeenmile Lakes.

Personal Use

• Hooligan fishing has slowed and the run appears to be winding down. Try the lower Yentna River and dip them while you can.
• 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.