Fall fishing and interruptions

I stopped by 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla this week in hopes of collecting something newsworthy about Mat-Su Fisheries. Partner owner, Mike Hudson told me from angler reports he has heard lately, it appears rainbow trout in the Parks Highway tributaries of the Susitna River appear to be dropping out of those streams earlier than usual, likely as a result of very few spawning salmon remaining in the streams. I also heard anglers were using insect or fish imitating flies rather than the usual bead (imitating single salmon eggs) or flesh fly that imitates a piece of salmon flesh floating downstream. Mike mentioned people still making some good trout catches in the lower sections of these streams. I hear of multiple groups catching double digit numbers of trout and / or grayling (but floating a few miles of water provided better access and opportunity to find the fish. Foot traffic in the shop has dropped off significantly, and both Mike and an employee were working on rod building / rod repair projects at the shop in between assisting folks looking for specific items.

Aside from the usual Parks Highway streams and trout, char, and pike fishing option in local Mat-Su lakes, Mike also mentioned that he had heard a good report from an individual catching coho salmon near the Solomon Gulch Hatchery in Valdez. Not as many coho as usual at this location, but still some catching going on — it is getting late now, but there may still be some coho opportunity for those willing to make the long trip to Valdez and cast off the beach. Several folks have mentioned to me that a couple hours before and after high tide is often when the best bite occurs at this location.

One friend, I regularly talk to about fishing, is currently hunting for moose, and was earlier on a sheep with a grandson, and on a caribou hunt. After his current moose hunt he has been hinting about taking a trip for late-run coho salmon on the Kenai River (which sounds good to me), although I’ve recently heard from another friend that the Kenai River coho fishery has been slower than in years past. Sometimes if a significant fishing opportunity is available a person makes the trip — regardless of the latest fishing report, as nothing will be caught or experienced if a person does not go. A regulation change adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries last winter has restricted several miles of river downstream of Skilak Lake to artificial lures only. Kenai River regulations can be very area specific —so I would advise anyone not familiar with the new regulations, adopted last winter, to review Kenai River fishing regulations before fishing.

My brother-in-law, and several of his sons made a moose hunting trip by boat last weekend, and saw several people that looked to be hunting, but no one was observed fishing. Aside from two moose, and one bear with a couple cubs, they did not see much on the hunting trip. My brother-in-law did not see any fish, or smell any salmon carcasses along the river during the trip.

For those who find the time — or take the time and get out on Mat-Su streams or lakes in September, most locations have little fishing competition — and especially on a cool rainy day. I recently ran a stocking search on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website and found that both Loberg (Junction) and Kepler- Bradley Lake were stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout averaging 13 inches in length on August 20. I imagine nearly all of those fish are available, at both locations, and experienced Mat-Su lake anglers know there are a plethora of lakes available with stocked trout and char that have grown to significantly larger sizes as well. As temperatures cool in the fall, fish often move up higher in the water column and closer to shore. I’ve enjoyed some memorable fish-catching opportunities both from the bank and from a boat on Mat-Su lakes this time of year. The biggest obstacle, for most folks, is likely all the other activities, projects, or chores to accomplish before winter arrives.

Good Luck and Fish On!