Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 24, 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-R-2-24-20 added three new lakes - Leech, Summit, and Zero lakes - to the stocking program in the Northern Cook Inlet management area effective June 20, 2020. The bag and possession limit for rainbow trout in these stocked lakes is five fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length. For Arctic grayling, the bag and possession limit is five fish, no size limit.
• 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.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• King salmon fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace is at its peak for the season. This fishery will start to tail off in July. This fishery is open 24/7, bait and multiple hooks are allowed. Remember your king salmon stamp and a pen to immediately record your harvest. Once you retain a king salmon at Eklutna Tailrace you are no longer allowed to fish in any waters open to king salmon that same day.
• Catch-and-release king fishing on the Deshka has been good in the early morning. King salmon are being counted daily at the weir and counts are available online.
• The Little Susitna waters are starting to drop and catch-and-release fishing for kings in the lower river has improved.
• Catch-and-release king fishing on Lake Creek was good last weekend and should be good all week.
• It’s a little early for sockeye; however, Cottonwood, Jim, Wasilla, and Fish Creeks are open to fishing for salmon (other than kings) on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Rainbows

• Fishing for rainbows on the Parks Highway streams has improved. Willow, Montana, Kashwitna, and Goose creeks have been good.
• Willow Creek has multiple access points off Willow Fishhook Road. Montana Creek may be accessed at several locations off the Talkeetna Spur Road; single day float trips are popular on Willow and Montana creeks.
• Further north, tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek and Byers Creek should also provide good rainbow trout opportunity.

Northern Pike

• Side sloughs of the Deshka have been good for pike this week, as well as, Anderson and Memory lakes. This is a good time of year to try bow fishing for pike around the islands on Big Lake.

Local Lakes

• Lake Lucile offers good rainbow trout fishing, try trolling near the islands in deeper waters or fish a leech pattern with sinking tip line on a fly rod.
• Meirs and Matanuska lakes are two of the hot spots for trout right now. Anglers have reported catching rainbows all day long.
• Canoe Lake in the Matanuska Lake complex is a very nice place to target Arctic grayling and rainbow trout.
• Try your luck for grayling at Summit Lake. It’s brand-new to the stocked lakes program in Hatcher Pass off Palmer-Fishhook Road. This lake boasts amazing mountain views, an incredible drive over the pass and remarkable hiking.

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.