Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 15, 2019

Week of May 15 - May 21

Freshwater Fishing

  • 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.
  • The gate is now open to the Eklutna Tailrace for those eager to wet a line for king salmon. It is still early; typically, the first kings are caught near the end of May, early June.

Rainbow Trout

  • Rainbow trout fishing is good near the mouths of Parks Highway streams, such as Willow, Kashwitna, Sheep, Montana, and the Talkeetna. The hot flies right now are Dolly Llamas and Sculpzillas. Water clarity is good.
  • Try spending the entire week fishing! There are many good places to camp and fish for rainbow trout or Arctic grayling, as you head up the Parks Highway. Several rivers with camping include, Willow Creek, Kashwitna River (Susitna Landing), and Montana Creek.

Northern Pike

  • Pike are now spawning and may be found in shallow, grassy waters. Along the shorelines and near outlets of Nancy Lake, Nancy Lake Canoe System, and Big Lake may prove productive. Try soft plastic lures like a black leach or nightcrawler. This is also a good time to try bow fishing for pike.
  • Deshka side sloughs would be worth the trip as well, fishing is good for pike.
  • Pike can be a little sluggish while spawning, so try a variety of lures.

Hooligan

  • Hooligan are widely distributed right now in the Susitna drainage. Look for gulls as they are a dead giveaway for locating hooligan along sandbars. The best fishing has been on the Yentna. Hooligan are in near the Deshka now too, there have been no reports of hooligan caught on any east side streams. All fish reported harvested have been from anglers with boats headed towards the Yentna.
  • You must have 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.

Local Lakes

  • Lake fishing has been hot! Reports of rainbow trout over 20 inches have been common. Many of these larger fish have held over the winter in our stocked lakes.
  • The hatchery has been stocking some nice sized rainbows. Catchable rainbow trout about 10 inches long are being stocked on a daily basis. Recently stocked lakes include Rocky, Crystal, Kashwitna, Willow, and Bruce.
  • If you would like to take the kids camping and fishing, the following lakes have camping facilities: Matanuska, Kepler/Bradley, Finger, Big, and Rocky. For primitive camping and fishing, try Long Lake (mile 86), North Knob, or Knob lakes near Eureka.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

  • Emergency Order 2-KS-2-05-19 closed king salmon fishing in the Susitna River drainage and only one, unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used while fishing for other species.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-2-06-19 closed king salmon fishing in the Little Susitna River and only one, unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used while fishing for other species.
  • Emergency Order 2-NP-2-16-19 closed Alexander and Sucker lakes to sport fishing.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-2-17-19 restricted theYentna Subsistence fishery to Wednesdays and Fridays each week in June. 

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Palmer Area Office at (907) 746-6300.

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Sep 05, 2019 Aug 22, 2019 Aug 14, 2019 Aug 08, 2019 Jul 31, 2019 Jul 24, 2019 Jul 17, 2019 Jul 11, 2019
Jul 03, 2019 Jun 26, 2019 Jun 18, 2019 Jun 14, 2019 Jun 06, 2019 May 29, 2019 May 22, 2019 May 15, 2019
May 09, 2019 May 03, 2019