ADFG Highlights Rainbow Fishing and a Youth-Only King Fishery

In a weekly Mat-Su Fishing Report, Sam Ivey, the Area Management Biologist for this region of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, highlighted good fishing for rainbows on streams crossing the Parks Highway, from Willow Creek to the north. He also suggested day floats of Willow and Montana Creeks and longer trips on Deshka River and Clear Creek.

There will be a Youth-Only King Salmon Fishery at the Eklutna Tailrace on Saturday, June 20th, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for angler 15 years old or younger. The Eklutna Tailrace is located at mile 3.5 on the Old Glenn Highway. Sections dedicated to this Youth-Only fishing are closed to anglers 16 years and up, including catch-and-release, but the remainder of the Tailrace will be open to fishing for anglers of all ages. Youth anglers do not need a sport fishing license but must have a Sport Fish Harvest Record Card. The bag limit is one king salmon per day. Adults can assist young anglers in baiting the hook and casting, as well as landing the fish.

Emergency orders prohibit the retention of king salmon in the Little Susitna River and close Unit 2 of the Susitna River drainage to king salmon fishing through Monday July 13th. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed in the other units. Sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage through July 13th. The weekly report says that catch-and-release king salmon fishing on the Deshka has been good in the early morning, but that it remains slow on the Little Susitna due to very high and muddy waters.