Mat-Su Valley Fishing Options Include Hooligan

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Local Lakes

• Lakes recently stocked with rainbow trout include Kepler/Bradley, Loberg, Lucile, Meirs, and Canoe. Try small pieces of shrimp under a bobber or small flies. These fish will hit aggressively on small spoons or spinners.
• Stay tuned! Additional Mat-Su lakes are being stocked throughout the week. Check out our stocking webpage for more information.

Freshwater Fishing

• Anglers are reminded that flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are CLOSED to all fishing until
  June 15. This includes Cottonwood Creek off the Seward Meridian.
• Many flowing waters along the Parks Highway are catch-and-release ONLY for rainbow trout until
  June 15.
• The gate at Eklutna Tailrace is now open. It is still early for this fishery. Typically, the first few fish are caught at the beginning of June. Parking is free and camping is not allowed.
• The Little Su Public Use Facility is now open as well. It is still early for king salmon. This facility does have camping, ADA restrooms, an RV dump station, and trailhead parking to access the My Creek remote campsites. Alaska State Park passes and DAV Camping passes are not accepted at the Little Su. Great Holiday Campgrounds now run this campground. Please visit their webpage for more information.
• The Little Su weir will be installed this week; you can see daily fish counts online.
• For northern pike, try Big Lake, Memory, or Prator lakes. Stick to the grassy areas where these fish spawn. 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.

Hooligan

• Hooligan should be in the lower Susitna River, downstream of and around the Yentna confluence area. Look for gulls as they give away the location hooligan can be found along the sandbars. This fishery should be good through the end of the month. These fish are available by boat only, and Deshka Landing opens tentatively this weekend.
• You must have a current Alaskan resident sport fishing license to dipnet for hooligan. Only Alaska residents may participate in this personal use fishery. You may take as many hooligan as you will use. See page 16 of the 2022 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for hooligan regulations.

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.