Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 16, 2017

Week of June 14 to June 20

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 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 five fish over 20 inches in length, of which only two may be from the Little Susitna River and only two 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 seven days per week; bait is allowed beginning June 1.
  • King salmon harvest in the Yentna drainage is allowed four 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 River is allowed seven days a week; only the annual limit of two 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. Please review the applicable regulations in the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
  • Anglers are reminded that a regulation passed by the Board in 2014 impacting boat motor use on the Little Susitna River is in 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.
• A Youth-Only king salmon fishery, for anglers 15 years or younger, will take place at the Eklutna Tailrace on Saturday, June 17 from 6:00 a.m. to 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 excellent in recent days.

Freshwaters

Salmon

• Fishing for king salmon at the Deshka River has been only fair in recent days. Bait continues to be allowed by regulation, although artificial lures such as vibraxes and wiggle warts can work equally well when fishing the mouth area. Early morning fishing is best.
• On the Little Susitna River, one-quarter to one-third of anglers are taking a limit of king salmon over recent days.
• The Little Susitna and Deshka weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online.
• Action at the Eklutna Tailrace is beginning to take off. Fishing should improve through the weekend just in time for the Youth-Only king salmon fishery this Saturday.
• King fishing at Lake Creek has been good and this trend is expected to continue this week. Large fish are common this year.
• Parks Highway streams remain open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon. Fishing success is expected to improve this week. Remember most of these streams only allow catch-and-release fishing Saturday’s through Monday’s for two consecutive weekends after June 19. Please consult the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet and be familiar with days and times fishing is allowed before you set out to fish.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams, while on the high side, 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 opened on June 15, to fishing per regulation.

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 Lake, and Prator Lake.
• 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 Lake, Shell Lake, Eightmile Lake, Trapper Lake, Flathorn Lake, and Sucker Lake.

 

Lake Fishing

• Lake fishing can be a good back-up plan as rivers rise from recent rains. Rainbow fishing has been outstanding.
• The stocking truck has been pumping out catchable fish all over the valley.
• Good fishing has been reported on Canoe Lake, Matanuska Lake, Finger Lake, South Friend Lake, Seymour Lake, Knob Lake, Long Lake (mile 86), and Knik Lake.
• Fishing early in the morning or late in the evening is best.