Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 07, 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

• Fishing is reported as excellent, especially in lakes where catchable rainbow trout have been stocked. Try sinking flies such as dragon and damsel nymphs, or leech patterns for big rainbows.
• Lakes with catchable trout include Matanuska, Lucille, Rocky, Loberg, South Rolly, Kink, Memory, Meirs, Kepler/Bradley, Canoe, Knob, North Knob, Weiner, Kashwitna, Willow, Coyote, Slipper (Eska), Gate, Mile 180, Tanaina, Walby, Long (Mile 86), and Ravine.
• Lakes stocked with catchable char include Echo, Lynne, Memory, and Carpenter.
• If you enjoy Arctic grayling fishing, try Canoe, Meirs, Lorraine Lakes, Summit, or Weiner lakes.
• Fishing for big rainbows in stocked lakes this time of year can be fun. Find lake maps on our webpage and fish the deep holes as the temperatures get warm in the summer months. Drift small pieces of shrimp under a bobber, or for the fly fishers, try leech patterns.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• The Susitna River personal use dip net fishery opens this Saturday, July 10, in the lower Susitna downstream of the Yentna confluence. The area open is between markers located one mile down from the old Susitna Station, downstream to the Alexander Creek cut-off (northern tip of Bell Island). This fishery is open 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of July. Dipping success will progressively improve throughout the month of July.
• This is the final week of the king salmon season (except for Eklutna Tailrace).
• As the Deshka is open to king harvest, 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. See emergency order 2-KS-2-23-21 below for more info.
• King harvest is open on the Little Susitna downstream of the weir only. Success has slowed since opening to harvest. Backtrolling with Kwik Fish, Wiggle Worts, or spin-n-glos on a jet diver works well on this river. This river remains catch-and-release only upstream of the weir and only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure allowed. Float trips from the Parks Highway down to the Little Susitna Public Use Facility can be a lot of fun this time of year. See emergency order 2-KS-2-33-21 below for more info.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is still producing some king salmon fishing and harvest opportunity. Eggs under a slip bobber is a good method to catch these fish.

Rainbow Trout

• 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, such as the powerline, Deneki Road, and Shirley Town Road. Montana Creek may be accessed at several locations off the Talkeetna Spur Road, such as Helena, Michele, and Yoder.
• This would be a good time of year for a trip to Clear Creek off the Talkeetna River, via the Talkeetna boat launch.
• Utilize the Alaska Railroad whistle-stop to fish Indian Creek of the upper Susitna.

Northern Pike

• Anglers may retain as many pikes as they catch – there is no bag or possession limit. In the freshwaters of West Cook Inlet, Knik, and Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release live pike back into the water.
• Pike fishing has been excellent. Try top-water weedless lures and flies fished in heavily vegetated waters.
• Roadside, try Nancy, Tanaina, South Rolly, Horseshoe, and Rainbow lakes. Fly-in, try Trapper, Shell, Alexander, and Eight-mile 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-RS-2-38-21 closes dipnetting in the vicinity of Anderson Creek as designated by markers posted approximately 300 feet downstream and 50 feet upstream of the mouth effective 6:00 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:00 p.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-33-21 lifts preseason restriction placed on the Little Susitna king fishery downstream of the weir. Downstream of the weir located at river mile 32.5, one king over 20 inches per day is allowed and multiple hooks are allowed. Bait is not allowed. From the weir upstream to the Parks Highway remains restricted to catch-and-release fish with only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure allowed. This emergency order is effective through 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-23-21 lifts preseason restrictions placed on the Deshka River king fishery. One king over 20 inches per day/ two in possession is allowed and bait and multiple hooks are allowed. Other king fisheries on the Susitna River remain catch-and-release fishing only for king salmon. See emergency order 2-KS-2-14-21. In these catch-and-release fisheries, sport fishing gear continues to be restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure. In addition, fishing time continues to be reduced in Unit 2 or 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. This emergency order is in effect through 11:00 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 no size limit.

Don’t forget to bring 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.