Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 04, 2017

Northern Cook Inlet area

Week of May 3 to May 9
Issued May 2, 2017

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, 2017 in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) and Little Susitna River:
• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed, except Deshka River and Little Susitna River where multiple hooks are currently allowed.
• The annual limit for king salmon in Cook Inlet is 5 fish over 20 inches in length, of which only 2 may be from the Little Susitna River and only 2 may be from the Yentna River drainage (Unit 4). King salmon that are intended to be released may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Deshka River is open to king fishing per regulation 7 days per week; bait is allowed beginning June 1.
• King salmon harvest in the Yentna drainage 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.
• 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), 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.
• Harvest on the Little Susitna is allowed seven days a week; only the annual limit of 2 kings over 20 inches applies here.
• 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 and Deshka River are excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
• Anglers are reminded that a regulation passed by the Board in 2014 impacting boat motor use on the Little Susitna River goes into effect this season. On the little Susitna River, a person may not sport fish from a boat that is powered by use of a motor, unless the motor is a 4-stroke motor or direct fuel injection 2-stroke motor. Anglers may use a boat powered by a non-direct fuel injected 2-stroke motor to access areas to sport fish from the bank, but may not sport fish from the boat.

Fresh waters

Salmon

• It is early for king salmon in the Susitna and Little Su drainages. It is a good time to prepare boats and gear as king salmon will begin to appear in a few northern Cook Inlet streams by mid to late May. The waters downstream of Burma Landing on the Little Susitna River and the mouth of the Deshka River are the first places anglers report catches.
• The gate is now open to the Eklutna Tailrace; typically the first kings caught there are at the end of May.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Rainbows overwintering in the Susitna River are starting to move around. The mouths of the Parks Highway streams including Willow Creek and streams to the north may provide some action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and grayling.
• Reminder, 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.
• Pike are just now starting to spawn and may be found in shallow, grassy waters. Nancy Lake canoe system and Big Lake along the shore lines and near outlets may prove productive for spear fishing as the ice retreats.
• Pike can be a little sluggish while spawning, so try a variety of lures. Where bait is allowed, herring under a bobber can’t be beat. This is also a good time to try bow fishing for pike.

Lake Fishing

• The stocking truck will be on the move later this week. To see if your favorite lake has been stocked, visit our webpage.
• Many lakes will be partially ice free this week. Casting to edge of ice whether bait or a lure is a great way to catch large rainbows, commonly found in shallow areas near the edges of lakes this time of year.
• Ice free lakes include: Echo, Loberg, Meirs, Canoe, Irene, Finger, and Lucille.

Personal Use

• Hooligan fishing is open, however it is early. The first reported catches in the lower Susitna are usually around mid-May. The best dipping is generally down river from Deshka Landing; try downstream of the Deshka mouth and in the vicinity of the Yentna River (first couple miles of the Yentna and downstream of its confluence with Susitna). The presence of gulls along shallow sand bars is a dead giveaway for the place to fish.
• 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.