Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 10, 2017

Northern Cook Inlet Area

Week of May 10 to May 16
Issued May 10, 2017

Emergency Orders and Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 15.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout until June 15.
•  Anglers are advised that, in an effort to meet king salmon escapement goals in the Susitna River and Little Susitna River drainages, the following sport fishing restrictions are in effect beginning Thursday, May 1, 2017, in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) and Little Susitna River:
  • Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed, except in the Deshka River and Little Susitna River where multiple hooks are currently allowed.
  • The annual limit for king salmon in Cook Inlet is five fish over 20 inches in length, of which only two may be from the Little Susitna River and only two may be from the Yentna River drainage (Unit 4). King salmon that are intended to be released may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
  • Deshka River is open to king salmon fishing per regulation seven days a week; bait is allowed beginning June 1.
  • King salmon harvest in the Yentna drainage is allowed four days per week (Fridays-Mondays). King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited Tuesdays-Thursdays; only catch-and-release fishing is allowed on these days.
  • King salmon harvest (of any size) is prohibited within Unit 1 (except on Deshka River), on the Parks Highway streams within Unit 2, the Upper Susitna (Unit 3), Talkeetna River (Unit 5), and Chulitna River (Unit 6). Fishing, but not harvest of king salmon, will be allowed during days and times normally open to king salmon fishing within these management units.
  • Harvest on the Little Susitna River is allowed seven days a week; the annual limit of two kings over 20 inches applies here.
  • In the waters of Unit 2 open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon, fishing for trout and other species will not be affected by these emergency regulations for king salmon and will continue as written in current regulation.
  • The Eklutna Tailrace and Deshka River are excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
  • Anglers are reminded that a regulation passed by the Board in 2014 impacting boat motor use on the Little Susitna River goes into effect this season. On the Little Susitna River, a person may not sport fish from a boat that is powered by use of a motor, unless the motor is a 4-stroke motor or direct fuel injection 2-stroke motor. Anglers may use a boat powered by a non-direct fuel injected 2-stroke motor to access areas to sport fish from the bank, but may not sport fish from the boat.

Salmon

• It is early for king salmon in the Susitna and Little Susitna drainages. However, at least one king salmon has been caught at the mouth of the Deshka River as of May 9.
• The waters downstream of Burma Landing on the Little Susitna River and the mouth of the Deshka River are the first places anglers report catches.
• The gate is now open to the Eklutna Tailrace; typically the first kings caught there are at the end of May.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• The mouths and lower sections of the Parks Highway streams from Willow north to Talkeetna are providing good rainbow and grayling fishing with a few Dolly Varden being caught.
• Remember that Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Northern Pike

• Pike can be a little sluggish while spawning, so try a variety of lures. Where bait is allowed, herring under a bobber can’t be beat. This is also a good time to try bow fishing for pike.
• For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes and Big, Prator, and Memory lakes.
• Take a spring boat trip on the Susitna and try fishing the side channel sloughs of the Deshka River, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), or Moose and Indian creeks on the Yentna River.

Lake Fishing

• Most area lakes are ice free and the stocking truck has been out this week. Lakes recently stocked with arctic char include: Matanuska, Benka, Finger, Seventeenmile, Long Lake (mile 86), Irene, Marion, and Prator.
• Rainbow trout will be stocked the rest of the week.
• To see what lakes have been stocked, visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking web page. 

Personal Use

• Hooligan fishing is open; however, it is early. The first reported catches in the lower Susitna are usually around mid-May. The best dipping is generally down river from Deshka Landing; try downstream of the Deshka mouth and in the vicinity of the Yentna River (first couple miles of the Yentna and downstream of its confluence with Susitna). The presence of gulls along shallow sand bars is a dead giveaway for the place to fish.