Salmon run hit stride in Mat-Su

King salmon fishing has been good at the mouths of Alexander Creek, Deshka River and the Little Susitna River, both upstream and downstreamof the Little Susitna Public Use Facility. Fish are also being caught in the Yentna River at both Lake Creek and Fish Lake Creek and in the Skwentna River at Eight Mile and the Talachulitna River.

There arereports of a few anglers harvesting kings in the Talkeetna River at Clear

Creek. Fishing is expected to improve within all of these drainages for the upcoming weekend with the exception of the mouth of Alexander Creek where the fish are moving upstream.

Alexander Creek should be fair at the mouth and good to excellent upstream, you can retain a king salmon all the way up to Trail Creek. Peak fishing at the mouth of the Deshka River is usually between the June 8-12, so this up-coming weekend should be a good one.

The Deshka River is open for the retention of king salmon all the way up to Chijuk Creek so if you do not like the crowds try fishing upstream of the mouth.

As of June 7, the count of king salmon through the Deshka weir is 3,000. The Little Susitna River is expected to continue producing good catches of king salmon with most of the fishing occurring upstream of the Little Susitna Public Use Facility.

Catch rates should be picking up at Lake Creek and Willow Creek along with the remainder of the Parks Highway streams. Remember, the Parks Highway streams are open seven days a week through the third Monday in June (June 21 ) and then on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the following two weekends. Kings are also being caught up the Talkeetna River at Clear Creek. Although this run usually does not peak until the last week in June, fishing is expected to be fair this weekend.

Mat-Su lakes recently have been stocked with rainbow trout and grayling.

The best bet for lakes in the Palmer-Wasilla area include; Lucille, Farmer, Kashwitna, Kalmbach, Echo, South Rolly, and Crystal lakes for rainbow trout and landlocked salmon.

Also try Finger and Meirs lakes for Arctic grayling or Lynne, Matanuska and Marion lakes for Arctic char.

The limit for rainbow trout in stocked lakes is five fish a day (of which only one may be over 20 inches). Only two trout may be harvested in lakes having native trout populations. Stocked lakes are listed on page 19 of the Cook Inlet Sport Fish regulations. An informational handout on stocked lakes is available from Department of Fish and Game offices in Palmer and Anchorage.

Remember, all flowing waters in the Palmer-Wasilla Zone are closed to sport fishing through June 14 to protect spawning rainbow trout (See Page 20 & 21 of the Cook Inlet Sport Fish Regulations Booklet).

Most Susitna River tributary streams from Willow Creek north and the westside Susitna River tributary streams are open to fishing, however, rainbow trout can not be retained until June 15.

Catch and release fishing is allowed. Rainbow trout and grayling are available in the majority of these streams. Additionally, only catch and release fishing is allowed

year-round when fishing for rainbow trout and grayling in Montana and Willow creek drainages.

Pike should be into their post spawning feeding frenzy and catches should be good. Try top water weedless lures and flies in the heavily vegetated bays and sloughs. For road accessible pike fishing try Memory, Long and Prator lakes or lakes in the Nancy Lake canoe system.

For fly-in pike fishing try Hewitt, Whiskey, Figure Eight, Vern and Donkey lakes.

Remember in Alexander and Trapper lakes a slot bag limit has been established (page 14 of the sport fishing regulations).

The Susitna River hooligan run is starting to wind down, catches for the weekend are expected to be fair to poor.

Check the 1999 Sport Fishing Regulation Summary for Cook Inlet before venturing forth. These regulation books are available from all license vendors. If you have any questions regarding the regulations please give us a call at 746-6300.

Cook Inlet personal use dip net permits for the Kenai and Kasilof rivers and Fish Creek are available from license vendors. Only Alaskan residents may participate in personal use fisheries. There is no cost for these permits.

The first Chitina personal use dip net fishery period is scheduled for June 11 at 8:00 a.m. and closes June 12 at 8:00 p.m. The anticipated Chitina fishery schedule is available on the Chitina hotline recorded message (822-5224).