Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 10, 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

• Lake fishing has been excellent. Check out our webpage to view the most recently stocked lakes.
• The Alaska State Parks have some really nice campgrounds with fishing opportunities as well. Try the Nancy Lakes area, or head up to Byers Lake north of Talkeetna.
• If you would like to avoid the crowds, try fishing some of the lakes up the Glenn Highway. Ravine, Bonnie, Long Lake (mile 86) Knob, or North Knob lakes.

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 and Deshka weirs are in operation. Weir counts are available online.

Salmon

• King fishing at the mouth of the Deshka has been good. Don’t forget to change your hooks out for single hooks. Early morning fishing has been the best. Counts are building but it’s still early in this fishery. See emergency order 2-KS-2-14-21 regarding fishing gear and king salmon fishing restrictions.
• Fishing the lower Little Susitna has produced a few early–season catches, this fishery is expected to pick up next week. See emergency order 2-KS-2-06-21 regarding fishing gear and king salmon fishing restrictions.
• Kings are now being caught at the Eklutna Tailrace. Most success is by boat downstream of the public access. This is the only location open to harvest king salmon in the Mat-Su. Try bait under a bobber and casting and retrieving lures. Expect bank fishing to improve into next week.
• Catch-and-release fishing on the Yentna has been spotty but should pick up next week.
• Parks Highway streams are open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon by emergency order through June 14 and then go to weekend only fishing on Sundays-Mondays only for three weekends. See emergency order 2-KS-2-14-21 regarding fishing gear and king salmon fishing restrictions.

Rainbow Trout

• Rainbow trout fishing has been excellent on the Parks Highway Streams from Willow Creek up to Montana Creek. Water conditions have been good and anglers are reporting steady catches of both rainbows and grayling. Camping is available on Willow Creek at the State Recreations Area, and just downstream of the bridge. You can also camp on the Kashwitna at Susitna Landing and Montana Creek has both private and State campgrounds.

Northern Pike

• Anglers may retain as many pikes as they catch – there is no bag or possession limit. In the freshwaters of West Cook Inlet and Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release live pike back into the water.
• For road-accessible pike fishing, try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes, Long Lake near Willow, Memory, and Prator lakes.
• Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), and Hewitt Lake.
• For fly-in, pike fishing try Alexander, Shell, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn, and Sucker lakes.

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 and 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 may be 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 before you head out.

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