An Outdoorsman Show takeaway

On Sunday my wife and I walked through the entire Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla, and we purchased a few items, and talked with several booth operators, acquaintances and friends we saw at the show.

I saw only two Mat-Su Valley fishing guides at the show who operate primarily in the Mat-Su Valley. I talked with one of those individuals on Sunday, at which point he told me he had only made a reservation for a single Mat-Su Valley salmon fishing trip at the show.

This same fishing guide also called me on Tuesday, and gave a more detailed run down of what occurred for him at the show. He managed to book some fishing trips for trout and northern pike, however, he told me the only salmon fishing trip booked was made by an individual who had booked several salmon fishing trips with him in the past. He mentioned that some older folks had talked with him about how good sport fishing had been for salmon in the Mat-Su Valley in the past, but aside from the one individual who reserved a trip at the show, he hardly has anyone expressing interest in a Mat-Su Salmon fishing trip. He wanted me to include his experience in this column — That in the Mat-Su Valley it is common knowledge how unsustainable the sport fisheries (particularly for king salmon and coho salmon) have been over the past couple years. I would add, that the low number of Mat-Su fishing guides at the show — and the public’s lack of interest in Mat-Su salmon charters appears to me as an extremely accurate assessment of most Mat-Su salmon stocks — and in particular the increasingly lower numbers of king and coho salmon that have been allowed to migrate back into Northern Cook Inlet over the past 15 years — and in particular during the past couple years.

For both of this two highly-valued Northern Cook Inlet salmon species it is appearing likely that low salmon spawning escapements / quality may be nearing tipping points where if significant conservative management changes are not made soon, a much longer time frame (as in number of years) may be required to rebuild lost population numbers. More to come on this issue in next week’s column.

I talked with ADF&G fisheries biologist, Samantha Oslund on Tuesday of this week, and she had been up the Parks Highway — turning up the Talkeetna Spur Road and proceeding to and examining stream / lake fishing conditions along the way.

Before anglers fish any Mat-Su streams this time of year they should review the local fishing regulations, consider purchasing any necessary fishing license and / or king salmon stamp, and prepare for cool fishing conditions. Oslund told me that streams / flowing water in the Palmer / Wasilla Zone are now closed to protect spawning rainbow trout populations. Proceeding north from Wasilla along the Parks Highway the first stream currently open to fishing is Little Susitna River (downstream from the Parks Highway bridge only). Starting at Willow Creek and proceeding north along the Highway, streams are open to fish, but all rainbow trout caught must be released through June 14. Oslund mentioned that Willow Creek, Little Willow Creek, and Montana Creek were all open and flowing (but according to Mike Hudson with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle the fish catching in all these streams is usually slow until after ice break up on the mainstream Susitna River). Mike also mentioned that the best early-season fishing starts near the stream confluence areas with the Susitna River. “Expect no fish near the Willow Creek bridge or Little Willow Creek bridge this weekend.”

Oslund mentioned there was a bit of icy snow between the Willow Creek Recreation Area parking lot and the Willow Creek / Susitna River confluence. While there was still ice covering most of the Susitna channel on Monday, she reported there was a swath of open fishable water along the bank and downstream from Willow Creek. Once again, don’t expect to catch many fish this weekend, a few eager-beaver anglers will likely be out fishing this location for the next 4 or 5 weeks. At very least an angler may be able to cast and swing a fly or spinner in some open water. I am still watching the Deshka Landing weather cam for updates on ice breakup in the Susitna River. https://deshkalanding.com/weather-cam/

Note: Because of lower snow levels this year I read in a Deshka Landing Outdoor Association newsletter, that the landing / boat launch could open for members soon after the Susitna River breakup this year.

Mat-Su Lakes

Oslund mentioned several Palmer / Wasilla core area lakes that were already ice free or breaking up on Monday. For lakes starting to break up our recent high winds can greatly accelerate ice removal. Oslund specifically mentioned Kepler, Bradley, and Anderson Lakes as being ice free earlier this week, with Lucille Lake and Canoe /Lake partially ice free on Monday. Further up the Parks Highway the lakes were still ice covered. Still no definitive word on when the first open-water Mat-Su lake stocking event will occur in 2025.

Most Mat-Su anglers will undoubtedly wait for better fishing conditions, but for anyone going out this weekend,

Goodluck, and Fish On!