Kepler-Bradley Lakes catchable rainbows provide instant action

Earlier this month I wrote about Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s ability to stock larger catchable fish in various fisheries throughout the Mat-Su Valley. On Tuesday, I noticed a flurry of activity while driving past Kepler Park on the Glenn Highway and figured the first of the catchable rainbow trout must have been stocked.

A phone call to the Palmer ADF&G office confirmed that the first 3,000 catchable rainbows had been stocked in Kepler-Bradley Lakes. It is good to see people out enjoying the outdoors and an opportunity to catch some healthy 10- to 12-inch fish in one of the longest existing Valley stocked fisheries. According to ADF&G area fisheries biologist Sam Ivey (who also worked at Kepler Park in his younger years) the Kepler-Bradley fishery is the second most fished stocked lakes in the Mat-Su.

The heaviest fished stocked lake in the Mat-Su Valley is Finger Lake, and while it had not yet received a spring stocking when I talked with Ivey on Tuesday, he said it is on the list to receive some of the larger catchable trout this month as well. There were anglers out fishing Finger Lake when I drove to the lake to test run my boat earlier this month, and I’m sure fat 10- to 12-inch trout will catch anglers’ interest in this location as well.

Kepler-Bradley Lakes and Finger Lake have improved access sites for anglers to access the fisheries or launch boats out on the lakes. For more information on fees and available facilities visit http:keplerpark.com for information about Kepler Park or contact Alaska State Parks Finger Lake office at 745-3975. Anglers can get information about additional Mat-Su locations the Department of Fish and Game will stock this year by calling the Palmer field office at 746-6300.

Little Susitina River access

This spring has provided a very early ice break up on the Little Susitna River, with higher than average (but good visibility) water conditions since the ice broke up.

These are the ideal type water conditions for finding early arriving king salmon in the Little Susitna River. Those who have been following fishing reports on my business website know I have already made two 100-mile round trips driving to check out road conditions to the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility campground and boat launch. Most Little Su salmon fishing happens at this location; however, on each occasion I attempted to reach the river, I found road conditions on Little Su Access/Little Susitna River Road so deplorable that I turned around (both times) before reaching the river.

Since that time I’ve heard from another interested angler, and also from ADF&G’s Ivey, that while road conditions were still rough, the angler and ADF&G staff had driven out to the lower river location. On Monday, I called Alaska State Parks to ask when the road would be graded, and was told the agency hoped to have the road to Little Susitna River Public Use Facility graded before this weekend. I don’t know if the road grading has happened yet, but getting this annual grading accomplished will provide much improved access to what is usually the second heaviest used fishery for ocean-run salmon in the Mat-Su Borough. Alaska State Parks was scheduled to have staff training this week, but those interested in road conditions to lower Little Susitna River they may be able to get an update without driving all the way out to Point Mackenzie by calling Alaska State Parks at 745-3975.

Early Deshka River king salmon

I’ve been scout fishing for early king salmon on the Deshka River since May 7 and running my first king salmon charters there since May 11. On Wednesday, one of my guests hooked the first king salmon of the season from my guide boat while fishing with Pautzke Fire Cured salmon roe. Unfortunately, the salmon managed to shake free from the hook before it could be boated. Also on that same date a guest in Pat Donelson’s guide boat caught a 21- pound king salmon while casting with a magnum Wiggle Wart. Another king was caught in a private boat from the Deshka River as well. These were the first two king salmon of the season known to be taken by the staff at Deshka Landing. For more information visit the Deshka Landing website at http://www.deshkalanding.com or call Deshka Landing at 495-3374.

Continuing trout and grayling fisheries

As mentioned last week in this column, good fishing for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and arctic grayling has been occurring on steams located from Willow north to Talkeetna. For additional information about these fisheries, call Bob Meals of Tri River Charters in Talkeetna at 733-2400, Jeff Boatright at Susitna Landing at 495-7700 or Three Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla at 373-5434. Weather reports indicate this may be a great weekend to enjoy an early season fishing excursion.

Andy Couch owns and operates Fishtale River Guides (fish4salmon.com), is a Mat-Su Anglers Club member (matsuanglers.org) and member of the Mat-Su Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Sportsmen’s Committee. Email this column at sports@frontiersman.com if you have Mat-Su fishing questions or information readers may find useful.