Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

May 25, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face-covering when social distancing is not possible, and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing has been excellent. The stocking truck has been covering some ground with the big holiday weekend fast approaching.
• Catchable rainbows have been stocked in Meirs, Canoe, Lucile, Kepler/Bradley, Echo, Anderson, Slipper (Eska), Leech, Reflections, Matanuska, and Knik lakes.
• Arctic Char were stocked in Irene, Marion, Prator, Carpenter, Memory, Benka, Seventeenmile, Echo, and Finger Lakes.

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.
• The Little Su and Deshka weirs have been installed, and the first few fish of the season have been counted. Fish counts are available online.
  • Salmon
  • The first few king salmon of the year have been caught on the Deshka River. It is still early. The best king fishing on Deshka this week will be at the mouth. Try size 3-5 Vibrax’s or similar type spinners and even casting and retrieving wiggle worts will catch these early aggressive fish. Don’t forget to change your hooks out for single hooks. See emergency order 2-KS-2-14-21 regarding king salmon and fishing gear restrictions below.
  • The lower Little Susitna out of the Little Susitna Public Use Facility off Pt. MacKenzie Rd will be the place to access and fish kings this weekend. Try various sized plugs like wiggle worts and kwik fish out the back of a boat; back trolling works well on the Little Su. Like Deshka and other wild stock fisheries in the Matsu area, the Little Su remains single-hook, artificial lure, catch and release only. See emergency order 2-KS-2-06-21 regarding king salmon and fishing gear restrictions below.
  • It will be any day now for the first fish to be caught at the Eklutna Tailrace. The water has been low due to annual maintenance on a turbine at the Chugach power plant. Water should be flowing again by Thursday. This is the only location open to harvest king salmon in the Mat-Su. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed in this stocked fishery. You must record your harvest immediately.

Rainbow Trout

• Parks Highway streams are providing good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. Try fishing fly patterns with a beaded head or a leech pattern.

Northern Pike

• Northern pike may be found in shallow, grassy waters where they are spawning. At this time, many pike have finished spawning and are beginning to feed aggressively while still in the shallows. Try top-water lures or weedless leeches. This is also a good time to try fishing with a bow and arrow.
• 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 or Indian creeks on the Yentna River.

Hooligan

• Hooligan fishing is winding down as they spawn and die off. Try the lower Yentna River and dip them while you can.
• You must have a 2021 Alaskan resident sport fishing license (or ADF&G senior license or ADF&G Disabled Veteran’s license) in order to use a dipnet to catch hooligan. You may take as many hooligan as you will use.

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-2-14-21 allows catch-and-release fishing only in Units 1-6. In addition, sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage. In addition, fishing time is reduced in Unit 2 of the Susitna River to allow catch-and-release fishing for king salmon from Saturday, May 1 through Monday, June 14, 2021, and then only on Sunday and Monday for three consecutive weeks starting Sunday, June 20 (June 20 - 21, June 27 - 28, and July 4 - 5). This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-06-21 allows catch-and-release fishing only for king salmon in the Little Susitna River and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-R-2-03-21 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 maybe 20 inches or greater in length. The bag and possession limit for Arctic grayling is five fish, with a size limit.

Don't forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 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 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing for before you head out.

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