Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

July 2, 2026

Palmer Management Area

Freshwater Fishing

• The Eklutna Tailrace is the only area open to harvest for kings in the Northern Cook Inlet management area. This is a stocked fishery; you can use bait and multiple hooks. Fishing at this site is good and should remain productive through this week. Try drifting with bait, bait under a bobber, or a variety of different colored spinners in sizes 3 to 5. This fishery is productive in the early morning hours.
• It is early, but anglers could try Cottonwood Creek for sockeye. This is a weekend only fishery open Saturdays and Sundays from 5:00am-10:00pm. You can fish from the mouth upstream 1 mile.
• Fish Creek off Knik Goose Bay is open seven days a week until July 14 from 5:00am-10:00 p.m. there are a few early sockeye in the inlet, the weir will be installed today.
• Jim Creek is open to fishing for all species except king salmon through July 31. Restrictions on time and days do not start until coho season - August 1.

Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north to Talkeetna River are still dropping from recent rainfall. If you are looking for places to camp, check out the mouth of Willow Creek and Montana Creek, or Susitna Landing on the Kashwitna.
• Rainbows will follow king salmon as they ascend rivers to spawn. Try egg and flesh patterns or a wooly bugger type fly with a beaded head.
• For the more adventurous angler, try hiking and fishing Montana Creek upstream of Yoder Road on either the Moddle or North forks.
• Further north, tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek, and Byers Creek should be good for rainbow trout.
• Clear Creek off the Talkeetna River would be a great trip this week. The rainbows will be following the kings.
• This is a good time to try lake fishing while we wait for the rivers to clear up. Long lake up the Glenn highway has just been stocked with 3,500 catchable rainbow trout.
• Deception Creek is now open to rainbow trout fishing and catches have been consistent.
• If you are looking to camp and fish you can do both on Willow, Kashwitna, (Susitna Landing), and Montana Creek. Willow and Montana Creeks are great places if you want a day trip to float.

Northern Pike

• Try Lalen, West Beaver, Nancy, Long lake (Willow) or Rainbow lake. Stick to the grassy areas where these fish spawn. 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.
• For fly-in pike fishing try Shell Lake, Eightmile Lake, Trapper Lake, Flathorn Lake, and Sucker Lake.

Local Lakes

• Rush lake and Buck lake up the Glenn highway have just been stocked. Those lakes are off the road system so if you are looking for a good ride or hiking adventure these would be the lakes.
• Bonnie lake is a great place for those who want to catch grayling this week.
• The local lakes in Palmer have been producing consistently good fishing all summer. You can fish multiple lakes in a day given their close proximities. Try Matanuska, Echo, Kepler/Bradley, Loberg, Meirs, Canoe, Irene, Long Lake (special regulations apply), Finger.
• There are some good fishing opportunities towards Sutton. Try Eska Lake. Reports of rainbows up to 20”.
• Stay tuned to our stocking webpage for more information.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip:

• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-12-26 Closes the Susitna River drainage to sport fishing for king salmon. In addition, sport fishing gear is limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap between the point and shank of the hook that is one-half inch or less in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6).
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-11-26 Closes the Little Susitna to sport fishing for king salmon and limits gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure with a gap of one-half inch or less when fishing for other species.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-6-26 Closes all waters of West Cook Inlet Management Area to sport fishing for king salmon.

Don't forget to purchase your 2026 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home.

Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2026 Southcentral Alaska 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.