Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 15, 2016

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of June 15 to June21
Issued June 14, 2016

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• The annual limit has been restored to 5 king salmon over 20 inches in length on the Deshka River beginning 6 a.m., Saturday, June 11. King salmon harvested in the Deshka River apply to the combined Cook Inlet annual limit of five fish. Department staff will conduct aerial surveys of Yentna and Parks Highway streams north of Willow later this month and continue to monitor weir counts at Deshka and Little Susitna river weirs. Information from these surveys and weir counts will be used to determine if further inseason changes are warranted.
• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 15.
• A youth only King fishery (15 years or younger) will take place at the Eklutna Tailrace Saturday, June 18 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.
• 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 is now open to the use of bait and the annual limit has been restored to 5 kings over 20 inches for the Deshka only beginning 6 a.m., Saturday, June 11.
• An annual limit of 2 king salmon over 20 inches applies to Susitna (except Deshka) 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 fishing on the Deshka River continues to be good to excellent at times. Water conditions are good for fishing. Be careful when navigating the shallow waters upstream of the mouth area.
• King fishing at the Little Su is expected to again be good this weekend.
• Deshka and Little Su weir counts are available online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/ .
• King fishing is good at the Eklutna Tailrace; good numbers of kings are showing and available up and down the Tailrace. Try early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries are producing some king salmon. Water levels have been on the high side recently. McDougal slough and the mouth of Fish Lakes Creek are a good bet.
• Parks Highway streams from Willow to Talkeetna remain open to catch and release fishing for king salmon. Fishing success is expected to be good this week.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams are providing good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. 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 days.
• Some of our lakes with the highest catch rates include: Ida, Ravine, Weiner, Carpenter, Lorraine, West Beaver, Knik, Diamond, and South Friend lakes.