Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 22, 2016

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of June 22 to June28
Issued June 21, 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. Surveys recently conducted by the department and weir counts to date on the Little Susitna and Deshka rivers indicate no further inseason changes to king salmon regulations at this time. The department will continue monitoring weir counts and will conduct more fish surveys throughout this next week. 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, especially when the fishery opens each morning at 6 a.m. 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 be fair to good this weekend.
• Deshka and Little Su weir counts are available online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/ .
• Kings continue to arrive at the Eklutna Tailrace and fishing has been mostly good there. Plan to put in a little time in case you hit it during a lull. Try early to mid-morning for best results.
• Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries are producing some king salmon. Both Lake Creek and Yentna are currently extremely high, but should drop to fishable levels before the weekend. Try the mouth of Fish Lakes Creek upstream of Lake Creek and Indian and Moose creeks lower down on the Yentna. Floatplane pilots, try fishing Lake Creek from Bulchitna Lake.
• King fishing has been good at the mouths of Parks Hwy streams. Remember that Parks Highway streams are catch-and-release only for king salmon this weekend June 25-27.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Fishing on Parks Highway streams is good 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 stocking in the valley has been extensive; you can drive in almost any direction and find a recently stocked lake in your area.
• Fishing is reported as excellent, especially lakes where catchable rainbow trout have been 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), and Ravine Lakes.
• Lakes stocked with catchable char include: Echo, Lynne, Memory, and Carpenter.
• Looking to camp and fish at a stocked lake, then head to Kepler/Bradley, Finger, South Rolly, Rocky, Lucille, or Matanuska lakes. Under-developed camping can be found at Long Lake (mile 86), and Knob and North Knob Lakes along the Glenn Highway.