Ice fishing catches

When I talked with Corey Berg of Berg’s Frontier Fishing Guides on Tuesday of this week, he had been out on the ice and catching some whopper fish up north last weekend, and had guided his first big trip on a Palmer - Wasilla core area lake earlier on Tuesday. As many ice fishing regulars know, once the ice gets thick enough to safely bear significant weight — some of the best ice fishing of the season can occur early in the winter, while dissolved oxygen levels are still high in even the smallest lakes. Corey sounded excited with such success — including substantial- sized fish he had caught up north, and even the fish his guest caught from the Palmer - Wasilla core area lake were extra plump. For those interested there is a considerably amount of ice fishing eye-candy on Corey’s business Facebook page ( the more recent of which is from this year): https://www.facebook.com/salmonguide/?_rdr If interested in one of his guided ice fishing trips you may also give him a call at 907-232-0330.

Tuesday, Corey guided a group of 6 people, and they all spent some time in close proximity in his largest ice fishing tent — he said the ice at that core - area location was about 9 inches.

I would still be a bit cautious and drill a test hole or two before venturing too far out on unfamiliar ice, but it is now time to get out and experience some safe ice fishing fun at many Mat-Su Valley lakes. I had hoped to get out on the ice myself this past weekend, but ended up doing other chores instead. I am still hopeful about getting out on Thanksgiving Day with some family members before we get together for dinner — however — it remains to be seen how quickly I can peel and prepare enough potatoes for the extended families’ Thanksgiving Dinner. If I can accomplish my kitchen patrol duties in time, I may have some new fish catchings to be thankful for on Thanksgiving morning.

Preparing for 2026 Open Water Guide/Charter Season

An item that has been burning a considerable amount of my time in the past couple weeks is considering what Mat-Su Valley guided fishing trips / charters I want to offer for the next open water season. For more than 40 years I have primarily guided Mat-Su salmon fishing trips at Little Susitna River, with another considerable chunk of guided salmon trips to the Deshka River. Now that both Deshka River and Little Susitna River king salmon fishing has been closed for multiple years in a row, and since both Deshka River and Little Susitna River fisheries have also been restricted and then closed inseason to coho salmon harvest for the past 3 years, I’ve been seriously contemplating where and when I might want to offer fishing charters next May, June, July, August, and early September.

Of course, Little Susitna River and Deshka River are not the only Mat-Su salmon locations that have been experiencing fishing restrictions or closures during the past 5 years. What I am considering, is that while I still may offer specific trip opportunities to Little Susitna and Deshka, I believe I will sell them with the caveat that I intend to guide Mat-Su salmon fishing trips to the best location I have available — rather than offer a full - refund cancellations anytime Deshka and / or Little Su River are restricted or closed for king and / or coho salmon fishing.

The problem with restrictions / closures to Little Susitna River and Deshka River is that those are two of the largest wild king salmon / coho salmon fisheries in the Mat-Su Valley, and there are no — or at least very few — locations that could accommodate a similar number of guided and private anglers. When restrictions / closures are severe enough to displace all, or most, of the guided and private anglers from Little Su and Deshka, everyone can not go to a similar Mat-Su Valley fishery and expect to have the same level of boating access or salmon harvesting success.

Another major Mat-Su Valley salmon fishery is located at Lake Creek, way up the Yentna River, much too far of a boat trip for me or nearly all guides operating on the Mat-Su road system to consider on a daily basis. That leaves the Talkeetna River, a considerable road trip from the Palmer / Wasilla area. Of course there are already guides living in Talkeetna, and guiding to the limited number of prime fishing spots along the Talkeetna River. There are also some Mat-Su core-area guides who at times make the long road trip or camp in order to guide on the Talkeetna River drainage. I’ve considered guiding on the Talkeetna in the past, but it has always been and remains too long of a road trip for me.

An option I used more than ever this past season was fishing the Knik River drainage. Water conditions were unusually good this summer for guiding Knik River salmon fishing trips, however, such unusual water conditions are not something I would want to depend upon on a regular basis — and especially without backup options. The other issue I have with guiding on the Knik is that most of the limited number of good fishing spots are well known and already being fished on a regular basis.

That leaves very small, lesser known, Mat-Su salmon fishery locations. At times I have fished and depended upon some of these fisheries, and since Deshka and Little Susitna River restrictions / closures have been dictating less opportunity to fish / harvest king and coho salmon, it has become apparent I need to adapt my fishing options, shrink my season, or retire. For someone who loves fishing and river trips so much, those last two options hold little appeal. So adapt it is, and hopefully, . . . Fish On! Note: This pattern has become the new normal throughout Mat-Su Valley sport fisheries.

Although Andy Couch is a member of the Matanuska - Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Matanuska Valley FIsh and Game Advisory Committee the thoughts and opinions expressed in this column are his own - unless noted otherwise..