A busy time of year

I want to talk about a hodgepodge of topics this week as we head into the Memorial Day weekend. First, keep in mind why this national holiday even exists. Spend some time thanking our current and veteran military personnel for their service and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedoms.

Tomorrow I’ll be assisting in teaching a bow hunter education class at the Elks Camp north of Palmer. The ADF&G Hunter Education teaching season is in full swing with the nice weather and the demand from the public to get the necessary certifications to participate in this coming fall season’s hunts. If you need a basic, or muzzleloader, or bow hunter education certification to hunt this fall, now is the time to sign up for a class.

Many of the scheduled classes are already full, so check online or stop by the ADF&G Palmer office to see the class schedule and get enrolled. Visiting the Fish and Game office would also allow you to pick up the required packet for the class you are interested in taking. Don’t forget, you must have the workbook portion of the study materials completely finished prior to arriving for the class or you will not be allowed to participate in that class that day!

This is also the time to start planning your fall hunt. My hunting partners and I are seriously discussing a hunt off the Dalton Highway for archery caribou this fall. We last made the trip about ten years ago and we’re all figuring it’s about time to get back up there. We’re all about ten years older, too, and that adds a further element in planning the trip.

Now that age is beginning to become a factor in our hunt planning, we need to discuss methods and location more seriously. I, for one, will not be able to hike for miles across the arctic tundra for a shot opportunity because of an ankle injury I suffered since our last time north. We’re actually in better shape equipment-wise than we were ten years ago, but now the health and mobility issues need to be considered.

The latest Fish and Game weekly fishing forecast has been released and, according to them, the hooligan runs are in! Dipnetters fishing sandbars on the Susitna are catching them in large numbers. Fishing should be good through this week. Remember, you must hold an Alaskan resident sport fishing license (or ADF&G senior license or ADF&G Disabled Veteran’s license) in order to use a dipnet to catch hooligan. You may take as many hooligan as you will use. No special permit is required.

According to the release, “Lake fishing has been excellent. Anglers of all ages are taking full advantage of the freshly stocked lakes and the great weather. Recently stocked lakes include Reed, Walby, Canoe, Kepler/Bradley, Lucille, Echo, Loberg, Matanuska, and Meirs. Lakes will continue to be stocked, so stay tuned to the fish stocking web page-http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=SportStockingHatcheriesSearch.main.”

The release goes on to state, “Northern pike may be found in shallow, grassy waters. At this time, many pike have finished spawning and are beginning to feed aggressively while still in the shallows. For road-accessible pike fishing try the Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes and Big, Prator, Memory lakes. A couple large pike were recently caught in Big Lake (I heard one was 31 pounds!). 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.”

King salmon are beginning to enter the Susitna and Little Susitna rivers. The Deshka River is producing small numbers of kings each day. Fishing success should gradually improve into June. The weir has been installed and counts are available online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?adfg=main.home. Fishing at the Eklutna Power Plant Tailrace generally picks up in June. A few king salmon have been reported caught in the lower Little Susitna River, well downstream of the public use facility. Water visibility continues to be low with spring melt off.

At this past Tuesday’s Borough Assembly meeting, four of us from the Borough’s Fish and Wildlife Commission were honored with an Alaska Legislature citation for our “efforts to preserve the Northern Cook Inlet Salmon Fishery.” This is a great honor and is very humbling to receive. Many other folks contributed to this effort, so the citation is really a shared honor. Thank you.