Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 08, 2020

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

* The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Northern and Western Cook Inlet Area at its Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Northern and Western Cook Inlet sport and personal use fisheries regulations.

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-2-29-20 opened the Deshka River to harvest of king salmon downstream of the weir under standard regulation, except an annual limit of two applies; king fishing upstream of the weir continues to be catch-and-release only. King salmon fishing continues to be closed in Unit 2 of the Susitna River drainage, and continues to be catch-and-release fishing in Units 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Except in the Deshka River downstream of the weir, sport fishing gear continues to be restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-R-2-24-20 added three new lakes - Leech, Summit, and Zero - to the stocking program in the Northern Cook Inlet management area effective June 20, 2020. The bag and possession limit for rainbow trout in these stocked lakes is five fish, of which only one fish may be 20 inches or greater in length. For Arctic grayling, the bag and possession limit is five fish, no size limit.
• Emergency Order 2-NP-2-14-20 closed Alexander Lake and Sucker Lake to sport fishing through
  11:59 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2020.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-09-20 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Little Susitna River and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2020.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• A new personal use dipnet fishery will start this next Saturday (July 11) on the lower Susitna River. This fishery runs 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Wednesdays July 10 - July 31. The designated area for fishing is between regulatory markers posted approximately one mile downstream of Susitna Station (just below the Yentna River mouth) down to markers posted just below the Alexander Creek cut-off/northern tip of Bell Island. This fishery is part of the Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit. Boaters new to the Susitna are urged to use caution when navigating to this fishery, which is only accessible by boat.
  • A resident Sport Fishing License and Cook Inlet Personal Use permit are required. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. Please see page 15 of the 2020 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
• King salmon fishing at the Eklutna Tailrace is a little past the peak, but some late season kings are still available. This fishery is open 24/7, bait and multiple hooks are allowed. Try eggs under a bobber or casting various colored spinners.
• As the Deshka is now open to harvest below the weir only, try eggs under a bobber or drifted from the side. Casting spinners is also effective. The best fishing will be upstream of the mouth; use caution as the river is getting low. The season is winding down and fishing may be slow, but this weekend may be your chance to put away a late season king.
• Catch-and-release fishing on the Little Susitna River should be fair in the lower river and good in the upper river, downstream of Houston or near Millers Reach access.
• Late season catch-and-release king fishing should be good at Lake Creek and on the Talkeetna River. Remember the king season ends on Monday, July 13.
• Sockeye are just starting to come into Fish Creek and the weir is operational with daily counts available online. It’s a little early for sockeye at Wasilla and Jim creeks; try Cottonwood and Fish Creek this weekend for sockeye; both are open to fishing for salmon (other than kings) this Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• The Fish Creek personal use dipnet fishery can only be opened by emergency order after July 15 if enough sockeye salmon can be projected in the escapement. Stay tuned and watch the counts online.

Rainbows

• Fishing for rainbows on the Parks Highway streams is good. Try Willow, Montana, Kashwitna, Little Willow, and Goose creeks. Fish wet flies like wooly buggers, leeches, sculpins, and the infamous egg sucking leech.
• Willow Creek has multiple access points off Willow Fishhook Road. Montana Creek may be accessed at several locations off the Talkeetna Spur Road; single day float trips are popular on Willow and Montana creeks.
• Further north, tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek and Byers Creek should also provide good rainbow trout opportunity.

Northern Pike

• Roadside, try Nancy, Big, Horseshoe, and Rainbow lakes. Fly-in, try Trapper, Shell, and Eight-mile lakes. Try top-water weedless lures, leaches, and flies fished in heavily vegetated areas.

Local Lakes

• Lake Lucille offers good rainbow trout fishing. Try trolling near the islands in deeper waters or fish a leech pattern with sinking tip line on a fly rod.
• Meirs and Matanuska lakes are two of the hot spots for trout right now. Anglers have reported catching rainbows all day long.
• Canoe Lake in the Matanuska Lake complex is a very nice place to target Arctic grayling and rainbow trout.
• Try your luck for grayling at Summit Lake. It’s brand-new to the stocked lakes program in Hatcher Pass off Palmer-Fishhook Road. This lake boasts amazing mountain views, an incredible drive over the pass and remarkable hiking.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 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 2020 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.