Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 08, 2022

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing has been excellent. The stocking truck has been very busy in our area. Check out our webpage to see the most recently stocked lakes.
• On Saturday, June 11, 2022, hatchery staff will be at Reflections Lake located at mile 30 of the Glenn Highway for the Reflections Lake Discovery Day from noon to 4:00 pm. Help stock Reflections Lake and take part in various educational activities with ADF&G and our partners in the afternoon.
• There are many places to camp and fish-stocked lakes. Kepler/Bradley, Finger, Matanuska, Rocky, and South Rolly lakes are just a few of those spots.

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.

King Salmon

• The Eklutna Tailrace is the only area open to harvest in the Northern Cook Inlet management area. This is a stocked fishery; you can use bait and multiple hooks. A few kings have been caught, most of them have been downstream of the Tailrace in Knik waters open to king salmon fishing. This fishery will continue to build into mid-June.
• The Little Su is running high and muddy, angling effort has been low, and catch rates are poor. Spring runoff is predicted to continue into the week and water levels are forecasted to stay about the same for the next few days.
• Deshka weir has been installed and a few fish have crossed the weir. Counts are available online. The river is dropping, and temps are rising, causing in-river fishing to be slow as the fish are holding in the cool waters of the Big Susitna. Fishing at the mouth has been good in the early morning hours. This fishery remains one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure, and catch-and-release only.

Northern Pike

• Try Horseshoe and Big lakes. This is a great time of year to try bowfishing. Try top-water lures or weedless leeches. Check out the April edition of Reel Times for info on bowfishing for northern pike.
• If you want a boat trip for pike try the side channel sloughs of the Deshka River, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), or Moose and Indian creeks on the Yentna River.

Rainbow Trout

• Rainbow fishing will improve as water levels recede. Many of the Parks Highway streams are high and muddy as snowpack melts and as water clarity improves so will the fishing. Be patient, the forecast looks like more high water for the next few days. The Deshka may provide an opportunity for both rainbow trout and Arctic grayling as the waters are dropping there.

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-R-2-19-22 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. This emergency order is effective for the 2022 season.
• Emergency Order 2-DV-2-13-22 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in the Fish Creek (Big Lake) drainage. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-06-22 restricts fishing for king salmon in the Little Susitna River to catch-and-release only, and sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure. This emergency order is effective from 6:00 a.m. Sunday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-05-22 restricts fishing for king salmon in units 1-6 of the Susitna River to catch-and-release only. Sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage. This emergency order is effective from 6:00 a.m. Sunday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2022 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, advisory announcements, and the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.

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