Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 08, 2023

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing has been excellent. Loberg, Reed, Seventeenmile, and Finger have recently been stocked.
• Stay tuned to our webpage for more information as additional Mat-Su lakes are stocked throughout this week.

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, where you can use bait and multiple hooks. A few kings have been caught, most of them 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 starting to produce a few king salmon in the catch-and-release fishery. Anglers are reminded the single-hook restriction remains in place through July 13.
  • Deshka weir has been installed and counts are available online. The Deshka remains closed to fishing for king salmon.

Northern Pike

• For road-accessible pike fishing, try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes, Horseshoe, 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 as water levels clear up from recent rains. If you are looking for camping this weekend, check out the mouth of Willow and Montana Creek. The Susitna Landing camping area on the Kashwitna is scheduled to open June 16.

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.