Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 19, 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

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

• 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 River drainage through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2020.

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing is where all the action is right now in the Mat-Su. Fishing has been excellent, and the stocking truck has been very busy. Stocked lakes are perfect places to take the kids fishing and teach them a lifelong sport.
• Kepler/Bradley, Matanuska, Lucille, Loberg, Canoe, and Irene lakes have all been fishing good this week.

Freshwater Fishing

• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until
  June 15. Examples of some of these systems include Cottonwood Creek in its entirety, (including access off Seward Meridian), Wasilla Creek, Fish Creek, Meadow Creek, and Deception Creek.

Rainbows

• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release ONLY for rainbow trout until June 15. Parks Highway streams remain high and muddy and potentially dangerous for wading until spring runoff subsides.

Salmon

• The first king salmon of the year has been caught on the Deshka River. Deshka remains single-hook, catch-and-release only. Waters are still high and muddy at the Deshka. Remember to have your king stamp and your 2020 sport fishing license.
• It will be any day now for the first fish to be caught at the Eklutna Tailrace. This is the only location open to the harvest of king salmon in the Mat-Su. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed in this stocked fishery. You must record your harvest immediately.

Northern Pike

• Road accessible lakes with northern pike include Anderson, Kings, Prator, Memory, Nancy lakes, Nancy Lake canoe system, and Big Lake. 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, and Hooligan are prevalent.

Hooligan

• The hooligan run is in full force on the Susitna River. Hooligan are now being found up to the Deshka River.
• 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.

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.