Cool weather changes trout fishing conditions

When I talked with Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fisheries biologist, Samantha Oslund this week, she mentioned how cooling fall temperatures bring trout and grayling down the tributary streams and toward the Susitna River. According to Oslund, the fish often bunch up in the lower portions of the streams crossing the Parks Highway north of Willow starting in September. Later in October, as the silty Susitna River starts cleaning up anglers will be catching trout, char, and grayling in the Susitna River itself.

Talking with an angler I know who owns a place along one of the tributary streams along the Parks Highway, he mentioned catching grayling in the 14-inch range and a few rainbow trout over 20 inches this week. He was fishing small white jigs. With the Susitna River drainage now restricted to single — hook artificial lures at this time, anglers are also fishing beads or flies, but small spinners may also be extremely effective this time of year. The trout and grayling like to bunch up in areas where salmon are spawning or were spawning earlier. Often finding some old spawned-out salmon can be indicative of a good spot to try. With all the high water we’ve experienced lately, it may be difficult finding either old salmon or even carcasses that have not been washed away. Fishing conditions vary considerably with water currently at a good low level, as this article is written, but subject to a rapid rise with the next heavy rain. In the past I did a fun float fishing trip on one of these streams with Ben Allen of Miller’s Riverboat Service (907) 715-1095. He is much more dialed in on fishing these streams than I am.

Talkeetna River

If you talk with very many people about fall trout fishing in the Mat-Su Valley, sooner or later someone will mention fishing this stream late in the season as the river level starts to drop. Fish and anglers often bunch up around the Clear Creek / Talkeetna River confluence, but solid numbers of Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and some arctic grayling are also caught in the mainstream Talkeetna — and especially as the water level drops and clears. You may want to call Phantom Tri River Charters in Talkeetna for more information 907-733-2400.

Lake Fishing

A neighbor told me this week about a lake within a half hour’s drive of Palmer where they have been catching some very large arctic grayling recently. He did not mention any specific lake name — and I did not ask. For a person interested in doing a bit of prospecting, there can be some significant finds — and close to home. Finger Lake may be the most heavily stocked lake in the Mat-Su Valley, with ADF&G stocking rainbow trout, arctic char, landlocked salmon, and arctic grayling at various times during the year. I have not taken the time to learn the fish patterns during open-water season on this lake, but I’ve talked to many friends who have caught some particularly large fish out of Finger.

Big Lake is a wild fish fishery, so regulations do not allow as much harvest, however Big Lake is know for producing quality-sized fish. In particular anglers catch some of largest Arctic char in the Mat-Su Valley from Big Lake (catch and release only on this species at this time). Fall char from Big Lake often have beautiful orange /gold coloration — great for a quick picture before the release. Big Lake regulars often find rainbow trout near spawning sockeye salmon in specific locations around the lake. The rainbows can run in size up to about 20 inches. Burbot or freshwater lingcod are sometimes caught by anglers targeting char and can be some of the larger specimens caught near the Mat-Su Valley core area. In recent years, however the largest fish pulled from Big Lake have been northern pike, with a few fish topping 50 inches. Northern pike are best targeted in shallow weedy areas, but have also been caught by anglers trolling for trout or char.

There are lots of lakes to try so I’ve only mentioned two of the most popular. Even if you fish one of the lakes I mentioned, I would expect to see light fishing pressure this time of year.

Silver (Coho) Salmon

We are still getting calls from people looking to catch silver salmon, however, to catch table-quality salmon in late September / October likely requires a road trip. The one location that keeps coming up currently is the Kenai River. I’ve been told by many sources that people have been catching both good numbers and large fish. One friend of mine made a trip to Kenai each of the past two weeks and came back with limits of coho both times. The pictures he sent me were of beautiful chrome fish, and he mentioned catching them on both cured salmon roe and spinners. Coho season on the Kenai River runs through the end of October.

Good Luck and Fish On!