Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases and the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the Northern Cook Inlet Area before heading out on their next fishing trip. The Regulation Summary booklet is available on the ADF&G website, ADF&G offices, and local vendors.
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 May 1 – July 13:

Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-10-18, effective May 1, 2018, for Units 1-6 of the Susitna River drainage:

Sport fishing for king salmon (of any size) is open to catch-and-release in the Deshka and Yentna rivers.
Sport fishing for king salmon is closed in the remainder of the Susitna River drainage.
Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed in the Susitna River drainages. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
Fishing for other species, including trout, will be allowed seven days per week, this includes the waters within Unit 2 that are normally closed during the king salmon season.

Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-09-18, effective May 1, 2018, for the Little Susitna drainage:

Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed in the Little Susitna River drainage. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
Fishing for king salmon is allowed; however, king salmon may only be retained on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in the Little Susitna River drainage. King salmon may not be retained on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and any king salmon caught on these days may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
The annual limit of two king salmon 20 inches or longer is areawide. The total annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or longer taken from fresh waters of Cook Inlet remains at five, which only two may be from the Little Susitna River drainage.
The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
Anglers are reminded that 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.

The Little Susitna and Deshka weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online.
Catch and release king salmon fishing has been improving at the Deshka throughout the week and should be even better by this weekend.
Fishing has been slow on the Little Su; the water has come up even more from last week and is still dirty.
No kings have been reported yet at the Eklutna Tailrace, but fishing success is expected to pick up significantly by the end of this week.

Parks Highway streams, including Willow Creek and streams to the north, should provide fair action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling this week. Some of these streams remain on the high side due to continued spring melt off and recent rains. Try fishing fly patterns with a beaded head, leech patterns, or the trusty sculpin.
Reminder, Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Pike fishing is excellent in early June.
A few large pike were reported caught out of Big Lake this week.
For road-accessible pike fishing, try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes, Long Lake near Willow, Memory, Prator, King, and Anderson 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 has been consistently excellent.
For good rainbow fishing try South Friend (Montana), Lucille, Knik, Long (mile 86), Seymour, Loon, Eska (Slipper), Loberg, or Kepler/Bradley lakes.
Kid friendly lake fishing opportunities include Kepler/Bradley, Lucille, Matanuska, Finger, Wasilla, Knik, Rocky, and Reflections lakes.
Anglers can visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.