Area Sport Fishing Reports
Mat-Su

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 29, 2023

Local Lakes

• Lakes recently stocked with Arctic char include: Carpenter, Finger, Irene, Long Lake (Glenn HWY), and Matanuska Lake.
• For best success in fishing lakes, try fishing later or earlier in the day, let your flies or lures sink, and look for structure such as fallen trees, lily pads, weed beds.

Freshwater Fishing

King Salmon

• The Eklutna Tailrace is the only area open to king harvest in the Northern Cook Inlet management area. This is a stocked fishery where you can use bait and multiple hooks. Fishing is starting to improve near the mouth of the Tailrace. Try drifting bait under a bobber or a variety of lures in sizes 3-5. Kodiak customs, Vibrax, and Pixies work well.
• Waters of the Little Su have been high and catch-and-release fishing has been slow.
• Lake Creek catch and release fishing for king salmon continues to be fair to good.

Northern Pike

• Anglers may retain as many pike as they catch - there is no bag or possession limit. In the freshwaters of West Cook Inlet the Knik Arm, 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, Big Lake, Long Lake near Willow, Memory and Prator lakes.
  • For boat accessible pike fishing, try the side channel sloughs of the Deshka River, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), or Moose and Indian creeks on the Yentna River.
• For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Shell, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn, and Sucker lakes.
• Try top-water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs.

Rainbow Trout

• Deception Creek has been consistently good for rainbow trout.
• Willow and Montana creeks are both great places for a day trip if you want to float.
• Clear Creek off the Talkeetna River would be a great trip this week. The rainbows will be following the kings.
• Further north, tributaries of the Chulitna, such as Honolulu Creek, and Byers Creek should be good for rainbow trout.
• Weighted flies work well, such as any type of woolly bugger, with or without a beaded head, egg-sucking leeches in black, purple, or white, and dolly llama’s.

Sport Fishing Angler Access Sites:

• Sheep Creek Slough: walk in angler access and camping are OPEN.
• Susitna Landing (Kashwitna): Boat Launch and Campground are OPEN.
  • Online reservation system for the campground is up and running: Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • Payment via the iron ranger (Cash or Check) for Boat Launch & Day Use Parking
  • Season passes can only be purchased in person at the Palmer ADFG office.
• Bonnie Lake: Boat Launch OPEN, Day Use Only.
• Caswell Creek: Walk in angler access and camping are open.
• Eklutna Tailrace, Facility is open, Day Use Only.
• Little Susitna Public Use Facility (LSPUF): Boat Launch and Campground are OPEN.
  • Online reservation system for the campground is up and running: Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  • Payment via the iron ranger (Cash or Check) for Boat Launch & Day Use Parking
  • Season passes can only be purchased in person at the Palmer ADFG office.

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.