Mat-Su Fishing Report: Plenty of opportunity for fishing in the early season

Finger Lake, the most popular lake stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), became ice-free back in late April, and people have been out fishing it ever since.

For Mat-Su boaters the Finger Lake State Campground and Boat Launch is one of the most popular sites in the core Palmer-Wasilla area for launching a boat and taking a preseason check run. Indeed, I launched my first guide boat at Finger Lake on May 3, and have already run three king salmon fishing charters to Deshka River since then.

While on the subject of boating and getting the season off to a good start, on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Greatland Welding and Machine will be hosting a free boating safety check. Boaters can bring their vessel to Greatland’s facility located off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway for a free inspection to be sure they have all the required safety gear. Greatland owner, Gary Feaster, said he intends to provide free hot dogs to all participants during the day.

His business also works on boats, trailers and outboard jet units, while also stocking many boating-related items to help get anglers off to a safe and successful season. I dropped by this week to get a replacement light for my second boat trailer.

Midway through May, trout and grayling are usually the most pursued and caught species in the Mat-Su Valley, and this year is no exception. Prime locations are the many lakes stocked by ADF&G, but all lakes are not equal in producing fish this time of year. For those seeking better catching opportunities, the Alaska Outdoor Journal website reports that Fish and Game recently stocked catchable-size rainbow trout (think fish about 6-12 inches) in Meirs, Matanuska, Loberg, Lucille, Echo and Kepler/Bradley Lakes.

While driving by, I’ve seen numerous anglers fishing and enjoying the opportunity to catch fish from these waters.

Fish and Game manages most stocked lakes on a put-and-take basis, meaning regulations allow extra harvest of rainbow trout, in particular, from these waters.

The use of bait is also allowed in most stocked lakes and can greatly increase young anglers’ chances of success. Popular baits include single salmon eggs, salmon roe, worms and large dragonfly larvae that can sometimes be found clinging to the bottom of larger pieces of wood along the shores of some of these lakes.

Mat-Su Valley fisheries targeting wild rainbow trout and especially stream fisheries are much more restrictive concerning spring fishing and harvesting of trout. While northern Mat-Su Valley streams from Willow Creek north along the Parks Highway are open to rainbow trout fishing, at this time, all rainbow trout fishing on these streams through about mid-June is regulated on a catch-and-release/artificial lure basis.

The streams north along the Parks Highway provide a quality fishery for larger wild rainbow trout and wild grayling. Catching early in the season is often better lower in the streams and near their confluences with the Susitna River in particular.

In May emerging pink and chum salmon smolt are out migrating and flies or spinners that imitate these small fish often produce some of the better catches of large trout and grayling. Harvest of a couple grayling per day is allowed from most stretches of most streams north of Willow Creek year round, but it is always a good idea to check the regulations booklet for each specific stream you intend to fish before getting on the water.

Salmon fishing just starting

I’ve already guided king salmon charters on three days. However, even with our warm spring and good water conditions, it is still very early in the season, and my guests have yet to hook even a single salmon. I usually figure right around mid-May is when the first king salmon will be caught from Mat-Su Valley streams, and it is now that time.

I’ve heard rumors of a king salmon or two already taken from the Deshka River, and on a May 10 trip to that location one of my guests had a very strong strike that we suspected was a king salmon. However, my guest was unable to hook the fish.

Aside from that one strike, we’ve seen many smaller fish (likely grayling and rainbow trout) surfacing in the Deshka River. Remember emergency regulations restrict fishing on the Deshka to single-hook artificial lures at this time, but king salmon harvest is allowed seven days per week in the lower 17 miles of the river.

Over on the Little Susitna River (where king salmon harvest is only allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays), Fish and Game has already installed the salmon-counting weir. The first king salmon swam past the weir on Sunday, May 11. However, there is plenty of water from runoff in the river at this time, making it harder to find the few king salmon available.

The best chance for catching a king salmon from Little Susitna River would be fishing the lower end of the river from the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility access. The road to this access site is often rutted and rough, especially in May. I know the Matanuska-Sustina Borough already graded and improved the section of road they are responsible for.

Before traveling out to the lower Little Susitna River, you might want to call the Alaska State Parks Finger Lake office at 745-3975 and find out if Parks has had their portion of the road graded. Now is a great time to live in Alaska, get out, enjoy the outdoors, and FISH.

Andy Couch owns and operates Fishtale River Guides www.fish4salmon.com and is a member of the Matanuska - Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission.