A number of things on my mind

This past week has been busy with, of all things, work. I know, I’m supposed to be retired, but those part-time jobs have a nasty habit of occasionally wanting me to show up and be productive. As a result, I didn’t get to do some things I was hoping to so I could give a first-hand report here. That’s the way things go sometimes.

In reading the paper, I see that the ATV accident reports are already showing up. I guess I’m old-school, but why do folks have to go out and do stupid things on ATVs?

While coming home this afternoon, a teenager with his girlfriend on the back of the ATV was recklessly running at full speed down our subdivision gravel road and intentionally throwing the ATV into sideways and 180 degree skids and turns. Neither person was wearing a helmet or even a long-sleeve shirt. As loud as the machine was, I don’t think the kid could have heard a vehicle coming up behind him and he never bothered to look before throwing the machine into the skid of the moment in the middle of the road.

Had I been a little closer, he might have gotten a rude awakening as I could have run over him while he was doing his unsignaled and unannounced skidding spins. What an idiot. And all of that dangerous activity just to impress the girlfriend, who was equally as stupid for riding with that clown. They think they’re invincible until they get hurt or killed.

I also read about the hooligan starting to show around Twentymile River, south of Anchorage. This hooligan fishery is a resident-only, personal use dip net fishery. You need to have a sports fishing license in your possession but no other permits are required. There is no bag or possession limit on the fish, but wanton waste is illegal. Harvest only the number of fish you actually anticipate using.

The saltwater season closes May 31 but the freshwater season runs through June 15. My wife and I usually spend a part of the Memorial Day weekend checking out some “secret” spots on the Susitna River for hooligan. We don’t always find fish but we have fun just getting out and making a few sweeps with the dip net to see if our timing is right for the year.

If you have a boat, I hear the mouth of the Deshka River can be a real hotspot for hooligan when they’re in and running. However, like salmon, you need to fish when the fish are present. Too early or too late and all you’ll pick up with each sweep of your dip net will be water and river trash moving downstream with the current. Check with Fish and Game or State Parks to see if folks have started to report the hooligan are up this far in the rivers.

While we’re talking about boats, if you’re planning to get the courtesy inspection given out by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary annually, bring your boat to Greatland Welding, on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Gary Feaster, Greatland Welding’s owner, has made arrangements for the Mat-Su Flotilla of the Auxiliary to do the inspections.

I’ve had my boat inspected for the past several years. The Auxiliary folks are looking for the state and federally mandatory safety equipment and proper functioning of things like vessel lights, horns, bilge blowers, bilge pumps and other boating equipment. They also inspect your boat trailer, looking for proper functioning lights and hitch and safety chain setups. If your boat flunks the inspection, no citations are issued – you will be given a list of the missing or malfunctioning equipment you need to acquire or fix to have a safe and “legal” recreational boat for your operation and enjoyment this season.

I live fairly close to one of the many stocked lakes here in the valley and one of the things I was hoping to do, until work got in the way, was take my canoe out and try some fishing for rainbows. With the ice going out in the last couple of weeks, fishing should be really good about now.

I’ve got a No. 4 weight fly rod set up just for this lake fishing, but I’m not very good with that equipment yet. I actually prefer using an ultalight spinning rod and reel with four to six pound test line. I’ve always had good luck using Rooster Tail spinners, but this time of the year about any style spinner or spoon should work because the fish are becoming more active and are looking for food.

Another activity which should be happening soon involves northern pike and spawning. The pike move into the warmer shallow waters in lakes and sloughs to spawn and this provides an excellent opportunity to stick one with a fish arrow. Only northern pike are legal to shoot with a bow and arrow in this area. The best times usually start in later May and run well into June, depending on the lake system. Check the current sportsfishing regulations for legal gear and licensing requirements.

I just may have to quit that job so I can go do this stuff.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.