Mat-Su Anglers Column: Mat-Su Christmas Fishes

Some of my friends know that my wife and I just finished a winter sun / warm weather break to the big island of Hawaii, returning in time to enjoy Christmas with my extended family in Palmer. On Christmas Day, while some of us talked about fishing with both past and future planned trips discussed, no one mentioned a planned trip before next summer. I am sure some of my family will likely be out ice fishing throughout the remaining winter months, however, with the additional heavy snowfalls to deal with and colder weather called for, no one had set any fishing trip plans for the near future. Future ice fishing trips for us are likely to occur when temperatures and weather turn more favorable. That being said, my wife and I have already enjoyed a wonderful grilled salmon dinner (after Christmas) from a fish caught during warmer weather from a boat.

Our extended family get-together was more of a shared meal and talk session than gift giving, although everyone did get a gift, and each person also had a Christmas stocking filled with small goodies. My wife contributed some small food items to the stockings, and I provided each stocking with a specialized fishing bobber. Most of the family is now old enough to have already accumulated what fishing gear they need, or make enough money to purchase what specific fishing items they may want closer to the warm weather season when our family does most of its fishing and the vast majority of our fish harvesting.

The Next New Thing — Christmas Present

Although I have plenty of fishing reels, most years there is some new technology I would like to try—or to be more accurate — I would like my charter fishing guests to try, as they fish much more from my boats each summer than I do. Many of my guests may know that I purchased several models of Daiwa and Shimano spinning reels before last summer’s open water fishing season, and I was quite pleased with those reels. They are very refined and provide a mostly worry-free fishing experience. Anyone who has fished much with spinning reels, knows that one or more tangles (partially resulting from twisted slack line) can cause a problem during just about fishing trip. As a Christmas gift to next summer’s fishing guests, I purchased a couple new model spinning reels with a small plastic-type piece designed specifically to reduce / eliminate some of those tangles. While two reels are not enough for everyone who may be fishing from my guide boat during many trips — it will be enough reels to tryout the new technology and determine how well it works. From past experience I’ve learned that what sounds good in writing, sometimes does not always work as well as hyped. Over 40 years of guiding Mat-Su Valley fishing trips I’ve continually been investing in gear that over time has made the fishing experience considerably more worry-free for both my guests and I (the guide).

There were also additional new features that sounded better for the latest reel model, but the biggest improvement (I’m hoping to see) may be provided by that one small piece of plastic-like material. For those who may be interested, the reel model I purchased is the 2023 Shimano Stradic C3000FM.

The Next Custom Fishing Rod

I’ve been building custom fishing rods since 1976, when I talked a Palmer junior high school art teacher into giving me credit for building my first custom rod in art class. Definitely not the typical art project for that class, but the rod building skill developed and improved over time have served me well in my chosen profession. Only problem, I get so many ideas of what might make a more effective or enjoyable fishing rod that I now have an entire room full of different fishing rod options. I enjoy putting together different types and lengths of rod handles, paired with different guide options or guide spacings, and built with a wide variety of wrap colors. Some of my now favorite rods were the result of trying new rod blanks, that I obtained more by chance, than through ordering specific blanks. That has been the case with a model I hope to try out next summer — it feels very light and sensitive, but I also hope it is stout enough that most guests will be able to set hooks well enough to go past the barbs. The finished rod will also need to be stout enough to take a bit of guest abuse, since that is invariably what occurs, sooner or later. I usually enjoy seeing how these experiments work out, however, over the years I’ve built up a couple rods that did not even survive some of my own pre-testing and were broken before even hooking a single fish. So, once again, it is often better to thoroughly check out a single item or two before purchasing a set for the whole boat.

Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Thanks to all who submitted comments on the proposed fishing regulation(s) for federal management of commercial drift gill netting in the Cook Inlet EEZ. There were several groups / individuals mentioning the devastating impacts additional nonselective salmon harvests from the EEZ could have on Northern Cook Inlet salmon stocks, and to the user groups that depend on them (many in the Mat-Su Valley). I believe those concerns were expressed well, and from differing perspectives. The comment period closed on December 18, 2023, so it is now, wait-for-the-next-development time.

Happy New Year and Best Fishes

It will be a new year before long — so remember to purchase a 2024 fishing license (if you are required to have one) before fishing in the new year.

Fish On!

Andy Couch

Fishtale River Guides

(907) 746-2199

fishing@fish4salmon.com