Mat-Su lakes

Mike Hudson with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla told me on Tuesday that he had been seeing some photos of nice rainbow trout t caught from Mat-Su Valley lakes recently. When I talked with Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fisheries biologist, Samantha Oslund, on Tuesday she indicated that many of the catchable-sized rainbow trout had already been stocked in local valley lakes, and that upcoming fish stockings this week would likely be mostly fingerling-size fish. As mentioned multiple times in past columns, ADF&G has a page on their website where people can look up what species of fish, the location, and the date of stockings. Some of the lakes with more angler effort are stocked with catchable-size fish (about 10 inches this year) that can provide quick action soon after being stocked. Other lakes are stocked with much smaller fish that may need to grow for a season before reaching a catchable size (depending upon how small of gear the angler uses). Finger Lake receives some of the largest stocking numbers in the valley with both catchable-size and fingering-size fish stocked. I’ve heard multiple guides mentioning Finger Lake as a place they take guests for better fish catching action. Bag Limits are generous at Finger Lake as well.

Big Lake is another heavily fished Mat=Su Lake that multiple guides offer fishing trips on. In the past several years Big Lake has been producing some of the largest northern pike from the entire Mat=Su Valley, although most pike from this fishery are smaller. Anglers fishing Big Lake and all other Mat-Su locations are encouraged to harvest all northern pike they catch — there is no daily or season limit. Other species of angler interest in Big Lake — Arctic char / Dolly Varden (must be released), rainbow trout and burbot have lower bag limits compared to many Mat-Su lakes stocked by ADF&G. If you have never fished Big Lake — it is exactly that — and it can be somewhat difficult for an angler fishing it for the first time to figure out where and how to catch some of the larger fish it holds. For that reason, anglers may want to fish with a local guide who is familiar with the fishery and has a boat / electronics to assist in finding and getting to the fish. I’ve fished with a guide on Big Lake multiple times, and know it helped me have some better experiences out on the lake.

Boat or Float Tube To More Water/Fish

Although some anglers experience good luck fishing stocked lakes from the shore, a boat or even a float tube may greatly increase the ability to move around many Mat-Su lakes and fish several different locations. Some lakes including Finger and Big Lake have good accessible boat launches, however, much of the shoreline is private property with lots of houses and yards close to the lake. Other lakes have lots of brush / trees right up to the water, making it difficult to walk around the shore line or even cast in some particularly brushy spots. In addition, at times, many fish and sometimes larger fish may be located beyond casting distance from shore.

Stream Fishing

Both Mike Hudson and Samantha Oslund mentioned people have been catching fish in the Susitna River tributary streams that cross the Parks Highway north of Willow. These streams are open to rainbow trout fishing on a catch and release basis currently, and also open to fishing for grayling and other resident species. There is a reason both Mike and Samantha mentioned the same streams —- that is because most streams in the Palmer -Wasilla Zone are closed to fishing until June 15, Be sure to review fishing regulations before going to a location you are not familiar with. Another note: Stream water levels can change rapidly and influence anglers ability to catch fish — especially after large rainfall events. Mike mentioned that the Talkeetna River system had been running quite high recently, making fish catching difficult. It could change for the better in a few days, or even by the time this column is published.

Mat-Su Salmon Counts Several people have asked about salmon migration numbers that are often posted on ADF&G’s website. This year the two Mat-Su locations with king salmon counts are scheduled to be Lake Creek and Deshka River. 2025 Lake Creek sonar counts are posted for several days — although when I wrote this column zero king salmon had been counted. Looking at the past 3 years of counts, it was revealed that in all cases the first king salmon had been counted at Lake Creek by June 8 — so I would expect to see a positive number of king salmon posted for Lake Creek soon. In last week’s column I mentioned ADF&G was hoping to get the Deshka River salmon counting weir installed.

Unfortunately, strong high water flows continued, and then additional rain occurred late last week, elevating the water level even further. ADF&G is making it a priority to install the Deshka River weir as soon as possible — and hopefully it will be fish tight, and counting king salmon before this column is published. Many Mat-Su anglers are also accustomed to seeing Little Susitna River king salmon counts posted on the ADF&G website. In 2025 ADF&G will be conducting a feasibility study for counting Little Susitna River king salmon by sonar located a short distance upriver from the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility boat launch, however, the sonar will be evaluated after the season and no inseason counts will be posted on the website. The Little Susitna River king salmon spawning escapement count will primarily be evaluated by aerial survey in 2025 — Such surveys are usually flown in mid -to-late July — I do not know if the results will be posted on ADF&G’s website.

Mat-Su salmon counts are also scheduled to occur at Little Susitna River for coho, chum, sockeye, and pink salmon starting in July, for coho and pink salmon at Deshka River (dependent upon fish arrival), at Fish Creek primarily for sockeye and coho salmon starting in July, at Jim Creek for coho and sockeye salmon starting in July, at Chelatna Lake (Lake Creek) for sockeye salmon starting in July, and at Larson Lake for sockeye salmon starting in July. Even though the legislature appropriated funds specifically for several of these salmon counting projects, there remains uncertainty as to if the projects will occur due to a State-wide hiring freeze / slow approval process for hiring the seasonal staff needed to operate these fish weirs.

Knik River King Salmon Last week I highlighted the Eklutna Tailrace / Knik River king salmon fishery, and since then I’ve had the opportunity to guide two trips to that location. My report: the Knik River side-channel water level was extremely low except for a period of time about an hour and a half before /after high tide backed up the river flow (with lower tides this will not occur as much). During both trips my guests did not see or hook any salmon, and we did not see anyone in the near-by boats having any success. Very slow fishing, but success should improve in the coming week.

Copper River Fish Wheel and Dip Net Fisheries Start: As mentioned last week, the state subsistence fisheries started on Sunday June 1, and the personal use dip net fishery may start next week (date to be announced by Emergency order on June 4). Alaska residents - get your permits online.

Good Luck and Fish On!

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