Ice fishing and fishery regulatory meetings

My wife and I visited with our friend Dan Suprak on Tuesday, and he related that his past two ice fishing trips had been slower compared to catches he was experiencing earlier in winter at some of the same fishing locations. A late winter downturn in catches through the ice often occurs for multiple reasons. On stocked lakes that may have more liberal bag limits and heavier fishing pressure, fish populations can be harvested down during the ice fishing season. Less fish present can simply mean less bites and action. This can sometimes be overcome by moving to various locations in search of active fish. Many lakes may only be stocked once, just before the ice fishing season starts, but on other lakes the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) may plant additional fish during the winter season. If a person does a stocking search on the Department’s website, lakes with the most recent stocking can be easily identified.

Water temperatures and oxygen levels may be lower during the mid-winter period, causing fish to be less active, and especially on smaller or shallower lakes. Sometimes oxygen levels can become so depleted as to cause significant mortality of fish populations and particularly in smaller and shallower lakes. I’ve found that fishing larger lakes with a variety of depths, throughout, often produces better catches for me later in the winter. If a person talks with ADF&G fisheries biologists, they are usually willing to mention which lakes are more frequently impacted by lowered oxygen content, and point to lake fishing locations that maintain better fishing conditions in later winter.

Another strategy I often utilize when ice fishing is attempting to fish locations that may have decent fish populations, reasonable fishing conditions, and for some reason Get Less Fishing Pressure. Good luck on figuring that out —- and if you do — I would advice keeping a tight lip on a good late winter fishing location with low pressure —- unless you want that to change — and quickly!

When I talked with Mike Hudson of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle on Tuesday, he mentioned that winter fishing had slowed recently at many Mat-Su locations, but also mentioned that anglers had continued to make good catches at Finger Lake. For those not familiar with this location, it is often one of the most heavily stocked lakes within the Mat-Su Valley, with populations of landlocked king salmon, arctic char, and rainbow trout that can all provide decent catches throughout the winter.. Finger is also a larger lake that seems to be less affected by low oxygen levels. There is, however, a considerable number of people who fish through the ice at this location. Always worth a try — with access through the Alaska State Parks campground / boat launch / parking area.

Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) — Upper Cook Inlet (UCI)

Two weeks ago this fishing column closed by telling how to submit public comments to the Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries regulatory proposals — by the February 8, 2024 deadline. That comment deadline was extended to Monday February 12, so that the public had time to consider ADF&G staff comments on the proposals, that only became available after the original comment deadline. Current on time submitted public comments will go into BOF members’ binders to be used as the board considers action on the UCI proposals. As mentioned earlier this BOF meeting is scheduled to take place at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage from February 23 — March 5.

Additional Information

On the ADF&G website there is a considerable amount of information posted that will be useful for individuals and groups planning to participate in the BOF’s regulatory development process at the UCI meeting. A tentative Agenda and Road Map (that may be adjusted prior to or during the meeting), A list of all the proposed regulation changes, ADF&G staff comments to the proposals (RC 1 and RC 2), ADF&G reports, ADF&G comments to federal salmon fisheries management within the Cook Inlet EEZ, and more provide a plethora of information. To an average member of the public (including many who may have NOT participated in the past) this can appear to be information overload. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo&date=02-23-2024&meeting=anchorage

Effective BOF Participation — Making Sense of the Information

The Mat-Su Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) will provide a workshop session for members of the public interested in participation in the Upper Cook Inlet Board of Fisheries Meeting. Commission members Howard Delo, Larry Engel, and myself are scheduled to meet with interested individuals / groups both online and in person at the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Chambers on Monday February 19 at 6 p.m. For a link to use in online workshop participation or additional information contact borough staff member Maija DiSalvo at 907-862-7865.

FWC Materials already submitted as public comment to the BOF can be found on the Mat-Su Borough’s FWC webpage: https://matsugov.us/boards/fishcommission go to the right side of the page and click: 2024 It Takes Fish To Make Fish and also 2024 FWC Comments to Board of Fisheries

In hopes of successful participation at the UCI Board of Fisheries Meeting!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su fishing guide who also serves on the FWC and the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee.