Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 02, 2023

Local Lakes

• Lakes recently stocked with catchable rainbow trout include Canoe, Rocky, Bruce, Echo, Anderson, Matanuska, Kepler/Bradley, Memory, and Lucille. Try small pieces of shrimp under a bobber or small flies. Size 1 spinners and spoons will also do the job.
• Stay tuned to our webpage for more information as additional Mat-Su lakes are stocked throughout this week.

Freshwater Fishing

• Waters at the Eklutna Tailrace continue to be on the low side and fishing is slow. King fishing here will start picking up with each new day in June and peak around the third week in June. Harvest is allowed in this stocked fishery as well as bait and multiple hooks; fishing is allowed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The Little Susitna Public Use Facility boat launch and campground are open. Catch-and release fishing for king salmon is allowed and weir counts indicate some kings are beginning to arrive. Backtrolling plugs is common practice in this river, but remember, only one single hook is allowed by emergency order.

Northern Pike

• Northern pike are finished spawning and will be hungry. Try top-water lures, imitation frogs and mice or weedless leeches.
• For road-accessible pike fishing, try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes, Big Lake, Long Lake near Willow, Memory Lake and Prator Lake.
• 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 Lake, Shell Lake, Eightmile Lake, Trapper Lake, Flathorn Lake, and Sucker Lake.

Rainbow Trout

• Parks Highway streams from Willow Creek north to Talkeetna River should provide good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. Rainbows are well distributed throughout area streams. Try a variety of flies, including fry patterns, prince nymphs, egg sucking leaches, wholly buggers, leeches, and sculpins.
• Remember that Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.
• The flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone will be open to fishing per regulation on June 15.

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-2-07-23 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 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-05-23 closes sport fishing for king salmon in the Susitna River drainage, except for the Yentna River. Fishing for king salmon (any size) is closed in units 1,2,3,5, and 6 of the Susitna River. Unit 4 (Yentna River drainage) of the Susitna River is open to catch-and-release fishing only. Sport fishing gear is limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all flowing waters of the Susitna River drainage. This emergency order is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-2-06-23 closes all waters of the West Cook Inlet Management Area to sport fishing for king salmon, including catch and release fishing. The area affected by this Emergency Order includes all freshwater drainages flowing into Cook Inlet from Cape Douglas north to the Susitna River. This emergency order is in effect through 11:50 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023.
• Emergency Order 2-R-2-02-23 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 no size limit. This emergency order is effective for the 2023 season.
• Emergency Order 2-DV-2-01-23 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. Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! These can be purchased through the ADF&G online store and printed off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2023 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.