Mat-Su Fishing Report

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases and the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the Northern Cook Inlet Area before heading out on their next fishing trip. The Regulation Summary booklet is available on the ADF&G website, ADF&G offices, and local vendors.
• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until June 15.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release only for rainbow trout until June 15.
• Anglers are advised that, in an effort to meet king salmon escapement goals in the Susitna River and Little Susitna River drainages, the following sport fishing restrictions are in effect May 1 – July 13:

Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-10-18, effective May 1, 2018, for Units 1-6 of the Susitna River drainage:

• Sport fishing for king salmon (of any size) is open to catch-and-release in the Deshka and Yentna rivers.
• Sport fishing for king salmon is closed in the remainder of the Susitna River drainage.
• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed in the Susitna River drainages. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
• Fishing for other species, including trout, will be allowed seven days per week, this includes the waters within Unit 2 that are normally closed during the king salmon season.

Per Emergency Order No. 2-KS-2-09-18, effective May 1, 2018, for the Little Susitna drainage:

• Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure is allowed in the Little Susitna River drainage. Single-hook means a fish hook with only one point. Treble hooks and more than one single-hook are prohibited.
• Fishing for king salmon is allowed; however, king salmon may only be retained on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in the Little Susitna River drainage. King salmon may not be retained on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and any king salmon caught on these days may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• The annual limit of two king salmon 20 inches or longer is areawide. The total annual limit of king salmon 20 inches or longer taken from fresh waters of Cook Inlet remains at five, which only two may be from the Little Susitna River drainage.
• The Eklutna Tailrace is excluded from all king salmon emergency order restrictions.
• Anglers are reminded that on the little Susitna River, a person may not sport fish from a boat that is powered by use of a motor, unless the motor is a 4-stroke motor or direct fuel injection 2-stroke motor. Anglers may use a boat powered by a non-direct fuel injected 2-stroke motor to access areas to sport fish from the bank but may not sport fish from the boat.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon

• A few kings have been caught at the mouth of the Deshka River. Fishing should pick up as the end of the month approaches.
• The Deshka weir is in the process of being installed, fish counts will be available next week.
• The Little Susitna weir is up and running, only six fish have been counted, king salmon fishing is slow. Harvest is only allowed Fridays, Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays.
• The Eklutna Tailrace should provide a lucky angler with the first king salmon of the season by this weekend.

Trout, Dolly Varden, Grayling

• Parks Highway streams, including Willow Creek and streams to the north, are providing good action for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling. Try fishing fly patterns with a beaded head or leech patterns.
• Reminder, Deception Creek is closed to all fishing until June 15.

Northern Pike

• Anglers may retain as many pike as they can catch as there is no bag or possession limit. In the freshwaters of West Cook Inlet and Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release live pike back into the water.
• Northern pike may be found in shallow, grassy waters where they should now be aggressively feeding following the spawn. Don’t forget to try a weedless leech. This is also a good time to try bow fishing.
• For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes and Big, Prator, Memory, Anderson, and King lakes.
• Boat-accessible pike fishing can be found in the side sloughs of the Deshka River, Alexander Creek, Fish Creek (Kroto Slough), and in Hewitt Lake.
• For fly-in pike fishing try Alexander, Eightmile, Trapper, Flathorn and Sucker Lakes.

Lake Fishing

• Lakes recently stocked with Arctic Char catchables include: Echo, Seventeenmile, Long Lake (Glenn Highway), Lynne, Memory, Prator, and Carpenter Lakes.
• If you are looking for a good place to camp and fish a stocked lake try: South Rolly, Kepler/Bradley, Matanuska, Finger, Lucille, and Rocky.
• Long Lake (Glenn HWY), Knob, and North Knob lakes have a few places you can camp which are considered un-developed.
• If you want a 4-wheel adventure, try Ruby, and Wishbone Lakes.
• Anglers can visit the ADF&G Hatcheries and Stocking webpage for more information regarding when and where fish are stocked.

Personal Use

• Hooligan are in abundance this year along sand bars on the lower Susitna River. Dip them while you can. This run will begin to taper off at the end of May. There is no bag or possession limit for personal use hooligan.
• This is a personal-use fishery and only Alaska residents can participate. No permit is required, but you do need a valid 2018 Alaska resident sport fishing license or an ADF&G Permanent fishing license ID card with you.