Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 01, 2017

Week of May 31 to June 6

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 in the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) and Little Susitna River:
  • Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed, except 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 fishing per regulation seven days per 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 is allowed seven days a week; only 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 Please review the applicable regulations in the 2017 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
  • Anglers are reminded that a regulation passed by the Board in 2014 impacting boat motor use on the Little Susitna River is in 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.

Fresh Waters

Salmon

• Kings in general are slow entering the Susitna drainage and this could be due to record low water conditions for this time of year. High mountain runoff and glacial melting is behind schedule so far this season.
• A few kings continue to be caught each morning at the mouth of the Deshka River. Bait is now allowed in the Deshka king fishery. Fishing typically becomes increasingly good throughout this week; however, the current low water conditions can contribute to lower fishing success. Early morning fishing is best.
• The Little Susitna is also seeing just a handful of kings caught each day. Water conditions remain low.
• The Little Susitna and Deshka weirs are in operation; fish counts are available online.
• No kings have been reported yet at the Eklutna Tailrace. Fishing success is expected to pick up significantly by the end of this week.
• Small numbers of kings are beginning to show at Lake Creek and some of the other Yentna River tributaries.
• Parks Highway streams remain open to catch and release fishing for king salmon. Expect slow fishing until mid-June.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams are providing good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. Try fishing wooly buggers, leaches, sculpins, and the infamous egg sucking leach.
• Remember that Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Northern Pike

• Pike fishing is excellent in early June.
• Anglers may retain as many pike 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 Lake, Memory Lake, and Prator Lake.
• 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 Lake, Shell Lake, Eightmile Lake, Trapper Lake, Flathorn Lake, and Sucker Lake.

Lake Fishing

• For Arctic char, try: Lynne Lake, Prator Lake, Long Lake (mile 86, Glenn Highway), Seventeenmile Lake, Echo Lake, Memory Lake, and Carpenter Lake.
• If you are looking for rainbows, try: Bruce Lake, Coyote Lake, Slipper Lake, North Knob Lake, Knob Lake, Weiner Lake, Ravine Lake, Long Lake (mile 86, Glenn Highway) Lake, Tanaina Lake, South Rolly Lake, Memory Lake, Knik Lake, Irene Lake, Reed Lake, Walby Lake, Canoe Lake, and Echo Lake.
• Fishing early in the morning or late evening is best.