Ice fishing’s last hurrah

I talked with Dan Suprak, owner of Alaska Chinook Charters on Tuesday of this week. Dan told me he’d been ice fishing on three different lakes located several miles apart in the Mat-Su Valley, and was planning to guide a family group soon. Dan said they caught several fish at each of the lakes including some landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, and arctic char. On each of the lakes Dan said there was about 20 inches of hard ice, but conditions were often getting a bit sloppy as temperatures warmed and snow melted in the afternoons.

He mentioned that he was seeing less and less other ice fishing anglers as the days have grown longer — and also mentioned that he was no longer willing to drive a vehicle out onto the ice. One of the other guides he talks to has already discontinued guiding ice fishing trips for the season, so a person should be careful if planning an ice fishing trip over the coming weekend or in the following week.

While Dan has run some snowmobile trips to catch pike in the lower Susitna drainage area, it sounded like he was done with those for the season, and now fishing easier-to-get-to lakes stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Lately he has been fishing lesser known lakes that likely received considerably less fishing pressure during the colder months. They have been catching some fish up around the 20-inch range by following that strategy, but he is also willing to fish lakes with a good abundance of smaller fish — and particularly likes that option for young anglers who may favor quick or ongoing action throughout a trip, compared to catching a smaller amount of larger fish.

Larger Fish

Several people have mentioned fishing for burbot and lake trout a bit further north at Lake Louise or one of the other large lakes up toward Glennallen. Lake Louise, in particular, is known for producing large lake trout — but also some of the larger burbot in the area. Many people prefer to ice fish these more northern lakes during March and April, as the daytime temperatures get much more pleasant at this time. These northern lakes often have thicker ice / and or good solid ice later in the spring compared to lakes in the Palmer / Wasilla / Houston areas.

Ice Conditions

Ice on the lakes I’ve looked at this week still looked fine — but I noticed water starting to open around Spring Creek on the Palmer Hay Flats. When venturing out on a lake, avoid getting too close to outlet and inlet streams, or any open water. The snow and ice starts melting sooner and to a more significant level near south facing slopes. I have not seen any very dark colored ice on any lakes -yet this year — but always keep in mind that dark-colored ice can often be water saturated ice and may separate into needle-like splinters — even if it appears to have considerable thickness. Digging a test hole or two close to shore is always a good idea if there is any question about the condition of the ice or if venturing out at a new location. Be safe.

Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show — Coming Soon!

This year the show will run from Friday April 12 — Sunday April 14 at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. I’ve already looked at the exhibitors list, and hope to spend a day walking around the show and talking with exhibitors. This has been the largest outdoor show in the valley, and since COVID has also been larger than the Great Alaska Sportsman Show in Anchorage. A number of the fishing charters exhibiting at this show are from other parts of Alaska — for those interested in seeing / fishing other locations. Learn more here: https://matsuoutdoorsmanshow.com/show/

Good Luck and Fish On!