Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 06, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Northern and Western Cook Inlet Area at its Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Northern and Western Cook Inlet sport and personal use fisheries regulations.

Emergency Orders

  • Emergency Order 2-NP-2-14-20 closed Alexander Lake and Sucker Lake to sport fishing through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2020.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-2-09-20 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Little Susitna River and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2020.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-2-08-20 closed king salmon fishing in Unit 2 of the Susitna River drainage, and allows catch-and-release fishing in Units 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In addition, sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna drainage through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2020.

Local Lakes

  • The stocking truck has been active this week with the first fish of the season stocked at Kepler/Bradley, Canoe, Irene, Lucile, Matanuska, Knik, Reflections, and Reed lakes.
  • Lake fishing is excellent! Catching rainbows is as easy as fishing a small piece of shrimp under a bobber.

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 early; typically, the first kings are caught near the end of May/early June.
  • Rainbow Trout
    • Rainbow fishing will pick up near the mouths of Parks Highway streams, such as Willow, Kashwitna, Sheep, Montana, and the Talkeetna once the water clears up. Use caution when wading these streams as spring runoff and recent rains have waters on the high side. Try smolt patterns, wholly buggers, leaches, and sculpins.
  • Northern Pike
    • Pike are now spawning and may be found in shallow, grassy waters. Try King or Anderson lakes. This is also a good time to try bow fishing for pike.
    • Pike can be a little sluggish while spawning, so try a variety of lures.
  • Hooligan
    • The first places that hooligan will show are in the lower Susitna River, downstream of and around the Yentna confluence area. Look for gulls as they are a dead giveaway for locating hooligan along sandbars. It is still a bit early for hooligan and anglers have yet to access the river with ice still going out.
    • You must have a 2020 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.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Sep 01, 2020 Aug 25, 2020 Aug 20, 2020 Aug 11, 2020 Aug 05, 2020 Jul 28, 2020 Jul 22, 2020 Jul 14, 2020
Jul 08, 2020 Jun 24, 2020 Jun 16, 2020 Jun 09, 2020 Jun 03, 2020 May 26, 2020 May 19, 2020 May 13, 2020
May 06, 2020