Additional fishing regulations continue to be released

Emergency fishing regulations seem to be appearing in droves as we move toward the open-water fishing season. I’m glad to see the department making this effort in an early and timely manner for folks planning trips.

The following is a correction to an earlier issued regulation, “The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is issuing a correction to a previous emergency order dated January 22, 2021, that unintentionally limited the fishing area on the Deshka River. All waters normally open to king salmon fishing on the Deshka River are open to catch-and-release only for king salmon.”

Continuing, “Specifically, the Deshka River is open to catch-and-release fishing for king salmon from its mouth upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers near Chijuk Creek (river mile 17), and in all waters within a one-half mile radius of its confluence with the Susitna River. The rest of the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6) is restricted to catch-and-release only when sport fishing for king salmon. Sport fishing gear is restricted to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in all waters of the Susitna River drainage (Units 1-6). A single hook is defined as a hook with only one point. Any king salmon caught, must be released immediately. A person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish.”

If you think you might shift some of your rod-and-reel fishing time to using a clam digging shovel on east Cook Inlet clam beaches instead, you might want to watch a YouTube presentation by ADF&G. The live broadcast was this past Wednesday, but the video will still be available for viewing on the YouTube website.

Here’s the pertinent information, “Have you been wondering if the east Cook Inlet beaches will reopen to clamming in the future? If so, tune in to this presentation! The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Sport Fish, will be hosting an online fishing forum on the status of east Cook Inlet razor clams since the fishery closure in 2015. The presentation will cover a timeline of events that led to the closure, data collection and assessment, the recovery of razor clams, and the potential for the fishery to reopen…The video will remain on YouTube indefinitely following the premiere.”

That should catch you up on emergency fishing regulations, at least for this week.

Two more gun shows are scheduled in the Valley this spring, one on March 6-7 at Raven Hall in Palmer, and the second at the Big Lake Lions Club skating rink on April 17 — 18. There are other spring shows scheduled for Fairbanks and Anchorage as well.

As I understand things, the March show is sponsored by the Alaska-YESS youth shotgun program. The April show benefits the Houston High School hockey program. Both groups are worthy of support.

The Mount McKinley Mountainmen blackpowder club usually has a set of tables at the Big Lake Lions show. I plan to be helping at the table for this show since it’s just a mile or two down the road from my house. At the last gun show at Raven Hall where the blackpowder club had tables, the guys were all commenting on how they enjoyed doing this Big Lake show. I must agree. There’s a feeling of something like “small town homey” that seems to accompany this April show which makes it more relaxed and friendly. The feeling is hard to describe but I know I feel it!

A good friend came over the other day and re-cleared all my driveways and opened access to my storage building with his Bobcat machine. We were planning an icefishing trip and I needed access to the storage building and trailer stored there to get vehicles swapped out (take the four-wheeler out of the trailer and load the snowmachine in, along with my fishing gear). I also needed to check battery chargers and start some engines which hadn’t been run in a while.

Just as I was planning to take my truck back to the building to move the trailer and do some of the other necessary chores, we got 6 – 8 inches (or more) of new snow overnight. Now I need to break out the snowblower to clear some of the fresh snow so I can get vehicle access to the storage building once again. I guess the winter snows are still not winding down yet!

Contact your Congressional delegation and tell them to stand firm against Biden’s proposed gun grabbing legislation. It’s about control, not safety!