Alaska Administrative Code
Title 5 - Fish and Game
Part 2 - Sport Fishing and Personal Use Fishery
Chapter 60 - Knik Arm Drainages Area
5 AAC 60.122 - Special provisions for the seasons, bag, possession, annual, and size limits, and methods and means for the Knik Arm Drainages Area

Universal Citation: 5 AK Admin Code 5 AAC 60.122

Current through August 30, 2024

(a) Unless otherwise specified by an emergency order issued under AS 16.05.060, the following are localized additions and exceptions to the general seasons, bag, possession, annual, and size limits, and methods and means specified in 5 AAC 60.120 and 5 AAC 75 for the Knik Arm Drainages Area:

(1) From June 15 - April 14, the flowing waters of the Palmer- Wasilla Zone are open to sport fishing, except that northern pike and Alaska blackfish may be harvested from January 1 - December 31 using bow and arrow or spear; the Palmer-Wasilla Zone consists of all flowing waters inside a zone bounded on the north and west by the Little Susitna River, on the south by Cook Inlet and Knik Arm, and on the east by the Matanuska River and Moose Creek, but excluding the Little Susitna River, the Matanuska River, Moose Creek, and Goose Creek;

(2) the Bodenburg Creek drainage, including all waters within a 100-yard radius of its confluence with the Knik River, is closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(3) from July 1 - April 14, the outlet at Upper Bonnie Lake to the inlet of Lower Bonnie Lake is open to sport fishing;

(4) in the Cottonwood Creek drainage,
(A) from June 15 - April 14, from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located one mile upstream from the Palmer Hayflat State Game Refuge access road, sport fishing is allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., except that sport fishing for king salmon is closed;

(B) the flowing waters upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located one mile upstream from the Palmer Hayflat State Game Refuge access road are closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(C) a person who takes a bag limit of salmon from Cottonwood Creek may not sport fish for any species of finfish that same day in waters open to sport fishing for salmon;

(D) all Cottonwood Creek drainage lakes are closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(E) repealed 6/21/2020;

(5) in the Fish Creek drainage,
(A) from its mouth, including all waters within a one-quarter mile radius of its confluence with Knik Arm at 61° 26.13' N. Iat" 149° 46.14' W. long., upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located one-quarter mile upstream from the Knik-Goose Bay Road, are open to sport fishing from June 15 - July 14, and beginning the second Saturday in August through December 31 from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., except that sport fishing for king salmon is closed;

(B) after taking a bag limit of salmon a person may not sport fish that same day in waters open to salmon fishing;

(C) the waters from an ADF&G regulatory marker located one-quarter mile upstream from the Knik-Goose Bay Road upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located one-quarter mile upstream of the Lewis Road Bridge are closed to sport fishing;

(D) the waters upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located one-quarter mile upstream of the Lewis Road Bridge, including Meadow Creek, are closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(E) Fish Creek drainage lakes, including Big Lake, are closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(F) in Big Lake, Mirror Lake, and Flat Lake.
(i) from November 1 - April 30, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used, except when fishing through the ice two lines may be used; if only one single hook is used on each line; a person may not place any substance in the water for the purpose of attracting fish by scent, including fish eggs in any form; natural or preserved animal, fish, shellfish, or insect parts: fish oil; natural or processed vegetable matter; and natural or synthetic chemicals.

(ii) from November 1 - March 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., five lines may be used to take northern pike through the ice; allowable gear is limited to standard ice fishing gear specified in 5 AAC 60.120(7) (B); only a single hook with a gap between the point and the shank that is three-fourths inch or larger may be used; each hook must be set above the bottom of the lake; only a whole and intact bait fish for which no seasonal or harvest limit exists as specified in 5 AAC 75.026(b) may be used as bait; fishing gear must be closely attended as specified in 5 AAC 75.033; all other species of fish caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(iii) from November 1 - March 14, the bag and possession limit for burbot is two fish, except that from March 15 - April 30, burbot may not be retained or possessed;

(G) Arctic char/Dolly Varden may not be retained or possessed;

(H) the waters from an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the mouth of Fish Creek to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one-quarter mile upstream of the Knik Goose Bay Road, are open to sport fishing to a person under 16 years of age, from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in August;

(6) repealed 6/21/2020;

(7) Johnson Lake (near Palmer) is closed to all sport fishing;

(8) in the Knik River drainage, including Jim Creek and the Eklutna Tailrace, as follows:
(A) the Knik River within a 100-yard radius of its confluence with Bodenberg Creek is closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(B) Upper Jim Creek (upstream of Leaf Lake), Leaf Lake, Mud Lake, Jim Lake, and McRoberts Creek are closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(C) in the Eklutna Tailrace, the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, 16 inches or greater in length is three fish, of which three may be coho salmon;

(D) in flowing waters from April 15 - June 15, rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(E) in the Eklutna Tailrace, and in the waters within a one-half mile radius and downstream a distance of two miles from its confluence with the Knik River, from January 1 - December 31, the bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is one fish; after taking a bag limit of one king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, a person may not sport fish for any species of finfish on that same day; bait is allowed; except as provided in (b) of this section, there is an annual limit of five king salmon 20 inches or greater in length and a harvest record is required as specified in 5 AAC 75.006;

(F) except as specified in (B) of this paragraph, in the Jim Creek drainage, downstream to the Knik River and continuing downstream on the Knik River to the boundary of the closed waters described in (A) of this paragraph, from January 1 - December 31, sport fishing is open for all finfish species except king salmon, except that
(i) from August 1 - December 31, sport fishing is only open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; and

(ii) after taking a bag limit of salmon, a person may not sport fish for the remainder of that day in waters open to sport fishing for salmon;

(G) a person 16 years of age or older may not sport fish in the Eklutna Tailrace youth fishery zone, established by ADF&G regulatory markers to include a portion of the Eklutna Tailrace between the confluence with the Knik River and upstream to the Pedestrian Bridge, during designated youth fishery days, which occur from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on the third Saturday in June and from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on the third Saturday in August;

(9) in the Little Susitna River drainage,
(A) from January 1 - July 13, in flowing waters from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway, sport fishing is open for king salmon with a bag and possession limit of one king salmon 20 inches or greater in length; except as provided in (b) of this section, there is an annual limit of five king salmon 20 inches or greater in length and a harvest record is required as specified in 5 AAC 75.006;

(B) from October 1 - August 5, in the flowing waters from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway, only unbaited, artificial lures may be used;

(C) from April 15 - June 14, in the flowing waters from its mouth upstream to the Parks Highway, rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(D) from May 15 - July 13, in waters open to sport fishing for king salmon, fishing is not allowed from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.;

(E) in waters open to sport fishing for king salmon, a person may not sport fish for any species of fish on the same day after taking and retaining a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length;

(F) a person, after taking a bag limit of salmon, other than king salmon, 16 inches or greater in length from the Little Susitna River, may not sport fish that same day for any species of fish in waters open to sport fishing for salmon on the Little Susitna River;

(G) from June 15 - April 14, the flowing waters upstream of the Parks Highway are open to sport fishing, except for salmon;

(H) the flowing waters upstream of the Parks Highway are closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(I) repealed 6/12/2011;

(J) in flowing waters upstream of the Parks Highway, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(K) the Nancy Lake Creek drainage upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one-quarter mile upstream of its confluence with the Little Susitna River is closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(L) a person may not sport fish from a boat that is powered by use of a motor unless the motor is a four-stroke motor or a direct fuel injection two-stroke motor;

(M) the waters from ADF&G regulatory markers approximately 1,500 feet downstream of the Little Susitna weir upstream to the weir are closed to sport fishing;

(10) in Nancy Lake Recreation Area Lakes, as follows:
(A) Nancy Lake is closed to sport fishing for burbot;

(B) repealed 6/21/2020;

(C) in Nancy Lake, from November 1 - March 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., five lines may be used to take northern pike through the ice; allowable gear is limited to standard ice fishing gear specified in 5 AAC 60.120(7) (B); only a single hook with a gap between the point and the shank that is three-fourths inch or larger may be used; each hook must be set above the bottom of the lake; only a whole and intact bait fish for which no seasonal or harvest limit exists as specified in 5 AAC 75.026(b) may be used as bait; fishing gear must be closely attended as specified in 5 AAC 75.033; all other species of fish caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(11) the Wasilla Creek drainage, including Rabbit Slough,
(A) repealed 6/8/2017;

(B) except as provided in (D) of this paragraph, is closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(C) repealed 6/12/2011;

(D) from June 15 - April 14, downstream of the Alaska Railroad Bridge is open to sport fishing for salmon, except king salmon, only on SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; bag and possession limit of three fish, of which only two may be coho salmon; a person who takes the bag limit of salmon from Wasilla Creek may not sport fish for any species of fish that same day in waters open to sport fishing for salmon;

(12) in Wishbone Lake (near Sutton) and Long Lake (Kepler-Bradley Complex)
(A) sport fishing is open from May 1 - October 31; only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(B) rainbow/steelhead trout may not be retained or possessed; rainbow/steelhead trout caught must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed;

(13) the Wolverine Lake drainage (near Palmer) from its confluence with Wolverine Creek upstream to and including Wolverine Lake is open to sport fishing from June 15 - April 14;

(14) repealed 6/21/2020.

(b) Notwithstanding an annual limit established in this section for king salmon, the annual limit for king salmon in the combined waters of the Knik Arm Drainages Area and the other areas in the Cook Inlet region that are open to sport fishing for king salmon under 5 AAC 56 - 5 AAC 62 is five king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, not more than two of which may be taken from that portion of the Kenai River drainage open to king salmon fishing, and not more than two of which maybe taken, in combination, from Deep Creek and the Anchor River, except that from January 1 through June 30, a king salmon less than 28 inches in length taken from the Kenai River does not count towards the annual limit.

Authority:AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.251

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