Early spring brings earlier stocking at Mat-Su Valley lakes

I had an opportunity to talk with Alaska Department of Fish and Game fisheries biologist, Samantha Oslund, this week, and learned that the department is completing spring stocking of catchable and larger rainbow trout and arctic chart earlier than normal in 2016. I continue to see a considerable number of anglers out fishing and boating on some of the stocked lakes, and fishing on these lakes should once again provide some of the best fish catching opportunities over the weekend and next week in the Mat-Su Valley. In the department’s weekly fishing report fishing the area’s stocked lakes is rate as “excellent.”

I’m normally on the distribution list for these weekly fishing reports, but could not find it in my e-mails this week. Fortunately the department’s weekly fishing report (including a list of recently stocked lakes) is available online: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishingReports/index.cfm?ADFG=R2.ReportDetail&area_key=29

Susitna River hooligan

Last week I reported on the excellent hooligan catching opportunity down the Susitna River near the Yentna River confluence. Samantha Oslund told me that hooligan fishing remains excellent at this area and upstream along the Yentna River. Hooligan have now migrated upstream along the Susitna River and past the Deshka River confluence as well. Hooligan catching along the Susitna River near the Deshka River confluence has not been as good as many previous year. Lower than normal success rate may be at least partially a result of recent high runoff along the Susitna River, however, late May is usually the best time for catching hooligan in this area and success rates should pick up, soon.

For more information contact Pat Donelson of iFish Alaska Guide Service at 357-0131 or Ben Allen of Miller’s Riverboat Service at 892-6872. This fishery is often winding down by the first of June, so don’t delay if you want to catch hooligan.

King salmon

As reported last week, a few early king salmon are showing up at Mat-Su Valley locations. The ADF&G salmon counting weirs at Deshka River and Little Susitna River have both been installed and have already counted a few early arriving king salmon. This week the department was working at installing the Alexander Creek salmon counting weir. During the past week, my guests caught their first four king salmon of the season. Three of those king salmon were caught last Friday on the Deshka, however, since then higher Susitna River water flows and a considerable amount of floating debris seem to have temporarily slowed upstream king salmon migration. The already low king salmon success rate took a corresponding dip over the last several days, but before long catch rates will pick up as more salmon become available. To date all of the king salmon I know about have been taken on spinners or diving plugs like Magnum Wiggle Warts and Kwikfish. Half of the king salmon in my boat were caught while anchored and casting, while the other half were caught by back trolling.

Note: Before king salmon fishing in the Mat-Su Valley anglers should become familiar with ADF&G’s 2016 emergency king salmon fishing regulations for Mat-Su Valley waters. Over the past week I’ve talked with several people who were unfamiliar with regulations on waters they were fishing or intended to fish. I admit to rereading these regulations this week, and finding an item I had previously read, but previously not understood. There is a good overview of the emergency regulations in ADF&G’s weekly fishing report referenced earlier in this column. Please read them for yourself.

I talked with Mike Hudson of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle, Joe Rouswell at Susitna Landing, Rhett Nealis of Phantom / Tri River Charters in Talkeetna and heard a similar message from each of them. Higher water flows caused by last week’s hot weather had slowed fish catching opportunities throughout a large portion of the Susitna River drainage, however with cooler weather, and as the season progresses all were hopeful and expecting better fishing in the future. One thing about the higher water flows — it has made boat launching easier at several river locations. These individuals have all been helpful in providing useful fishing, boating, and camping information for this column, and I would encourage readers to contact them for further information.

Rhett Nealis, in particular, mentioned a willingness to talk about boating safety issues on the Talkeetna River drainage.

Many in the Mat-Su Valley consider Memorial Day weekend as the traditional start of Mat-Su Valley king salmon fishing — as this holiday weekend approaches check back next week for a more thorough king salmon fishing column.

Andy Couch has been guiding Mat-Su Valley fishing trips for more than 30 years. You may read his 12 years of archived fishing reports on his business website at http://www.fish4salmon.com/