‘Alaska winter picnic’

MAT-SU — It may not be the same as having a line in the water as you are stared down by the summer’s midnight sun. But Alaska can also offer a winter version of a fishing wonderland.

With simple gear and a hole or two in the ice, avid anglers can fish their days away, on any of a number of the Mat-Su Valley’s frozen bodies of water. Ice fishing is an ever-popular winter activity in an area that is stocked full of now frozen fisheries. It’s a recreation that attracts young and old, novice to well-versed, and folks from every walk of life.

Even Alaska’s state balladeer likes to spend many of his winter days with a line through a hole in the ice.

“We set an igloo up on the ice, auger out four or five holes, make an afternoon out of it,” said Jim Varsos, better known as Hobo Jim. “It’s an Alaska winter picnic.”

A few lawn chairs make the experience complete for Varsos.

“It’s pretty laid back,” said Varsos, who lists Finger Lake among his favorite places to hit.

Andy Couch, author of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman’s weekly fishing column during the summer months, said the Valley is home to a number of lakes he likes to fish during the winter.

“There are a lot of stocked lakes,” Couch said. “It depends on what a person wants to catch.”

Couch said he likes to go after the Arctic char.

“The reason I like to catch char is they get bigger,” Couch said. “It’s about No. 2 on the list (of fish) I like to eat.”

Char aren’t available in as many lakes as a more common species like rainbow trout, but it’s not uncommon to see a 20-inch char hauled through an ice fishing hole, Couch said.

There’s even a greater possibility of that this year. Alaska Department of Fish and Game sport fish biologist Sam Ivey said the department recently recycled brute stock of Arctic char, placing them in Long Lake, which sits along the Glenn Highway at Mile 86.

“A couple hundred large brute stock char,” Ivey said. “Two to 10 pounds. These are lunkers. Some need a 10-inch hole to get out.”

Ivey said about 100 more char were placed into Matanuska Lake, which sits along the Glenn Highway just south of Palmer. Ivey said he’s heard reports of good fishing in Finger Lake, nice rainbows caught near the lake’s island. Another spot to hit, he said, is Seventeen Mile Lake, located in the Sutton area.

Ivey said new regulations have been adopted in regards to fishing for Northern pike in Big Lake and Nancy Lake. Ivey said anglers need to carefully follow the new regulations, which include rules about bait and gear, but the information can be found on Page 35 of the Alaska fishing regulations book.

“Following those stipulations, Big Lake is a good bet to do well catching pike,” Ivey said.

Both Couch and Ivey report fantastic ice conditions.

“It’s way thick now,” Couch said. “There’s plenty of ice.”

Both also recommend dressing for the weather. Warm clothing is always needed, and in some cases there may be a need for ice tents. Ivey said it’s a good idea to think about bringing an ice tent to Long Lake in particular.

“Probably four out of five visits you’re going to have wind,” Ivey said.

Matanuska Lake and Finger Lake, which has public access off Bogard Road, are among the ice fisheries in the Valley that are very child and family friendly.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.