Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 03, 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 in general is excellent. Nearly 85 Matsu area lakes are stocked on an annual basis. Recent stocking information can be found online.
  • Kid-friendly local stocked lakes include Kepler/Bradley, Finger, Lucile, and Matanuska.
  • Seymour Lake grows some big rainbows. Also, try Visnaw and Lalen lakes. Up the Glenn try float tubing Bonnie and Knob lakes. Bonnie has some nice rainbows and grayling.
  • Nancy Lake State Park Recreation Area offers come nicely quiet fishing and canoeing opportunities.
  • If you head out on 4-wheelers to Ruby or Wishbone lakes, bring the fishing rods. Remember Wishbone is a single hook, artificial lure or fly only, and catch-and-release only. Anglers report nice fish up to 20 inches.

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 are in operation. Weir counts are available online.

Salmon

  • King fishing at the mouth of the Deshka is becoming good with each day and will only improve into the weekend. Try a variety of spinners and wiggle worts and don't forget to change your hooks out for single hooks. See emergency order 2-KS-2-14-21 below regarding fishing gear and king salmon fishing restrictions.
  • Waters of the Little Susitna have cleared a little and some kings are being caught out of the Little Susitna Public Use Facility off Pt. MacKenzie Rd. See emergency order 2-KS-2-06-21 below regarding fishing gear and king salmon fishing restrictions.
  • A few kings have been caught below the Eklutna Tailrace and water levels are now excellent for fishing. King fishing typically begins to pick up at this location by the end of this week. This is the only location open to harvest of king salmon in the Mat-Su. Try bait under a bobber or casting and retrieving lures.
  • Parks Highway streams are open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon by emergency order through June 14 and then go to weekend only fishing on Sundays-Mondays only for three weekends.

Rainbow Trout

  • Rainbow trout fishing is very good along Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north to and including Talkeetna River. There are multiple access points along Willow Fishhook Road to fish Willow Creek and multiple points along Talkeetna Spur Road to fish Montana Creek. Fishing on these creeks gets better and better as the summer progresses. RJ woolly buggers, leeches, sculpin, dolly llamas, and numerous other weighted flies work well to catch these vibrant fish.

Northern Pike

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

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 may be 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 before you head out.

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

Archives

Mat-Su Area Archives for:
Aug 18, 2021 Aug 12, 2021 Aug 04, 2021 Jul 28, 2021 Jul 21, 2021 Jul 14, 2021 Jul 07, 2021 Jun 30, 2021
Jun 22, 2021 Jun 16, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 Jun 03, 2021 May 25, 2021 May 19, 2021 May 11, 2021 May 05, 2021