ADF&G boat launch sites closing for season

I boated on the Little Susitna River a couple times during this past week, and saw flocks of ducks and swans along the river, noticed a single fish surfacing on Tuesday, and also spotted bald eagles along the river, along with a single moose standing out in the river until I approached quite close with the boat. Nearly all the leaves are off the trees, and sometimes by mid-October there can be ice chunks coming down the river, or ice forming on the boat ramp from people launching /retrieving a boat, then dripping water that freezes on the ramp as they exit.

This year’s unusually warm fall temperatures have kept the river and launch well thawed out, however, when I was at Little Susitna River Public Use Facility on Tuesday October 14, I talked with an Alaska Department of Fish and Game (AFD&G) staff member who told me the Department would be closing down the boat launch access sites on October 15. 3 sites likely to be closed before this column is published are Talkeetna Boat Launch, Susitna Landing (mile 82 Parks Highway), and Little Susitna River Public Use Facility. The pay for use Kiosk was removed at Little Susitna River Public Use Facility on Tuesday.

With cold weather / snow likely not far off I would expect other pay for use sites may be closing down for the season as well including Deshka Landing Outdoor Association boat launch and possibly some Alaska State Parks sites. Deshka Landing will likely post an update on their website announcing when their boat launch will be closed for the season. Note: Deshka Landing is one specific boat ramp that can get ice-covered making launching / retrieving a boat tricky / difficult - even with a 4-wheel drive vehicle if the weather gets cold. Yes, I am speaking from experience on that one!

With shorter daylight hours / cooler temperatures / variable water conditions sport fishing effort on Mat-Su Valley streams has been falling off quickly, although a few die-hards may still be fishing some Parks Highway Susitna River tributary streams from the bank until or after ice chunks start coming down the river. As temperatures drop and tributary stream levels drop, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and arctic graying retreat downstream from the upper reaches of tributaries into the lower stream stretches or the Susitna River itself to spend the winter months, While the conditions may be a bit uncomfortable or challenging the window of time near the end of the open-water season can provide some exceptional fish catching opportunities for resident fish species.

Mat-Su Lakes

I’ve done a bit of late-in-the-season lake fishing as well, and I can always count on cool ( colder) water conditions this time of year, with low fishing competition on most lakes (Finger can be somewhat busy especially on a weekend). While I have made a few great catches just before freeze-up, I would also say that I’ve had just as many trips with just so-so results and some where I did not catch any fish at all. Most Mat-Su anglers will likely simply stay off the water until the ice has formed and is solid enough to provide ice fishing opportunities. I usually don’t plan to go ice fishing on Palmer / Wasilla core area lake until Thanksgiving time in late November. Unusually cold weather may form solid ice fishing conditions sooner or a continuation of this year’s warm fall weather could delay the solid ice process into early December in the banana belt near Palmer and Wasilla. Lakes in the Meadow Lakes /Big Lake area and further north along the along the Parks Highway or lakes up the Glenn Highway from Sutton north often have solid ice a bit earlier in the fall / winter.

Kenai River Coho/Trout /Steelhead

I have not heard much about it lately, but coho salmon fishing for ocean-fresh salmon can still be good this time of year on the Kenai River. In the past, I’ve experienced some good catches in the stretch between Skilak Lake and Bings Landing in mid-October. If you go, dress warm. You may have to fish around a bit to find some coho, and this section of the river is now restricted to artificial lures only. Small plugs, weighted spinners, jigs, and flies can all be productive. This is also a prime time of year for anglers to catch some of the biggest fattest trout of the year on the Kenai — and especially In this specific stretch of the river. Although not as plentiful, there is also the chance an angler may hook into a fresh-run steelhead in this same stretch of the Kenai

Rod Building/Fly Tying /Lure Repair Season

For those who prefer to sleep in or stay warm mid-October is a good time to start thinking about building a new fishing rod, tying a new supply of flies, or assembling / repairing fishing lures. Although I have not been tiring many flies or jigs recently, I have already started ordering parts for some new fishing rod projects, and have also rebuilt some worn out spinners / replaced some hooks on plugs from last summer’s fishing adventures. With the current stocking / shipping delays on many rod or lure parts, now may be the right time to start ordering parts for winter projects.

Build to Fish On!

Andy Couch is a member of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee, however comments expressed in this column are his own unless noted otherwise.