Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 01, 2022

Local Lakes

• Rainbow trout fingerling is being stocked now in the Mat-Su. These fish, though small, can grow over 20 inches and provide some of the best fishing in the area. Fingerling is stocked in lakes that don’t receive as much fishing pressure. Most of these lakes are very quiet and a nice place to retreat. Try the Nancy Lakes Recreation Area system. Lakes stocked with fingerling include North Rolly and Rhein.
• If you want a place to take the little ones, try Kepler/Bradley, Finger, Lucile, and Matanuska lakes.
• With the hot weather, try fishing in the mountains up the Glenn Highway. Give Long Lake (mile 86), Ravine, and Knob lakes a try. The views will not disappoint.
• Lakes with good rainbow trout catch rates right now are Anderson, Knik, and Lucile.
• Stay tuned to our stocking webpage for more information as additional Mat-Su lakes are stocked throughout 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, 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.

King Salmon

• The Eklutna Tailrace is the only area open to harvest in the Northern Cook Inlet management area. This is a stocked fishery; you can use bait and multiple hooks. A few kings have been caught, most of them have been downstream of the Tailrace in Knik waters open to king salmon fishing. This fishery will continue to build into mid-June.
• The Little Su weir has been installed; you can see daily fish counts online. Only 14 kings have been counted through the weir so far. Only one unbaited single-hook artificial lures and catch-and-release restrictions remain in place. See the emergency order below for more info. Waters of the Little Su are rising from snowpack melt and water clarity is poor.
• The weir is in the process of being installed at the Deshka and counts will be available soon. This fishery is restricted to catch-and-release and only one unbaited single-hook artificial lures are allowed. See the emergency order below for more info. Try size 3-5 Vibrax or similar type spinners or wiggle worts or Kwik fish. Kings are being caught at the mouth.

Northern Pike

• Try Big Lake, Memory, or Prator lakes. Stick to the grassy areas. This is a great time of year to try bowfishing. Try top-water lures or weedless leeches.
• 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.

Rainbow Trout

• Rainbow fishing will improve as water levels recede. Many of our streams are high and muddy as snowpack melts and water clarity improves so will the fishing. Be patient, the forecast looks like more high water for the next few days.

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-2-19-22 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 no size limit. This emergency order is effective for the 2022 season.
• Emergency Order 2-DV-2-13-22 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in the Fish Creek (Big Lake) drainage. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-06-22 restricts fishing for king salmon in the Little Susitna River to catch-and-release only, and sportfishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure. This emergency order is effective from 6:00 a.m. Sunday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-05-22 restricts fishing for king salmon in units 1-6 of the Susitna River to catch-and-release only. Sportfishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage. This emergency order is effective from 6:00 a.m. Sunday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! Purchase your 2022 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, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

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