Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 19, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face-covering when social distancing is not possible, and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Local Lakes

• The hatchery staff has been busy moving catchable rainbow trout this week. Lakes stocked include Canoe, Echo, Kepler/Bradley, Loberg, Lucile, Meirs, Anderson, Leech, and Coyote.

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, and Meadow Creek.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release ONLY for rainbow trout until
  June 15.
• Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.
• The Little Su weir has been installed, and the first few fish of the season have been counted. Counts are available online.

Salmon

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

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. Try smolt patterns, woolly buggers, leeches, flesh flies, and sculpins.

Northern Pike

• Try Big Lake, Memory, or Prator lakes, and Nancy and Big Lakes. Pike are actively spawning right now and may be found in shallow, grassy waters, along shorelines, and near lake outlets.
• If you want a boat trip for pike try the side channel sloughs of the Deshka River, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), or Moose and Indian creeks on the Yentna River.
• This is a good time of year to bow fish for pike.

Hooligan

• The hooligan is well distributed now and this would be the time to harvest them. This fishery will begin to wind down by next weekend.
• This fishery is primarily accessed by boat from Deshka Landing.
• You must have a current Alaskan resident sport fishing license to use a dipnet to catch a hooligan. You may take as many hooligans as you will use.

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-KS-2-14-21 allows catch-and-release fishing only in Units 1-6. In addition, sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage. In addition, fishing time is reduced in Unit 2 of the Susitna River to allow catch-and-release fishing for king salmon from Saturday, May 1 through Monday, June 14, 2021, and then only on Sunday an0d Monday for three consecutive weeks starting Sunday, June 20 (June 20 - 21, June 27 - 28, and July 4 - 5). This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-06-21 allows catch-and-release fishing only for king salmon in the Little Susitna River and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-R-2-03-21 adds Leech, Summit, Zero, Kings, and Anderson lakes to the list of lakes stocked with hatchery fish. The bag and possession limit for rainbow trout in these lakes is five fish, of which only one maybe 20 inches or greater in length. The bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, with a size limit.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 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 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing for before you head out.

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