Mat-Su open water fishing

More than 10 days ago, Fisheries Biologist, Samantha Oslund, who works at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) in Palmer, told me people were calling her on a daily basis wanting to know about any good fishing opportunities in the Mat-Su Valley.

“Starting about mid-April there is a period of time when ice on the Palmer — Wasilla core area lakes is unsafe to venture out on, and the few streams that have open water in the Palmer — Wasilla area are closed to fishing to protect spawning rainbow trout. The snow is melting, daylight hours are getting longer, and people start going nuts looking for some place to go fishing,” Oslund said.

Kepler-Bradley Lakes

In the last week of April, with ice starting to melt on local waterways, I’ve spotted people out casting as the first significant amount of open water appeared at Kepler — Bradley Lakes Park along the Glenn Highway west of Palmer. This is one of the first location stocked with catchable rainbow trout each spring, and although I thought I saw a hatchery truck at this location on Friday April 23, an online search of the ADF&G stocking database did not yet show any Mat-Su Valley stockings in April 2022. According to Samantha Oslund, she expects the hatchery truck to start delivering stockings to various Mat-Su Valley locations as soon as favorable conditions and a scheduled truck are available. Other locations that typically receive some of the earliest stockings of catchable-sized rainbow trout include Loberg (Junction) Lake, and Lucille Lake in Wasilla. I saw a small patch of open water appearing near the boat launch area at Loberg Lake last weekend, and a friend of mine drove to Lucille Lake even before the weekend and told me that Lucille Lake was starting to open on the east side near the Parks Highway in downtown Wasilla. Finger Lake near the Alaska State Parks campground and boat launch often has a later stocking schedule, but usually provides some early open water catches of rainbow trout near the boat launch dock.

Eklutna Tailrace

On Tuesday morning this week I drove over to Eklutna Tailrace, in an attempt to catch an impossibly early, April 26, ocean-run salmon. When I arrived I discovered two men casting lures baited with shrimp tails. They too were attempting to catch the first ocean-run king salmon of the season. Although there was still some snow and ice along the tailrace, water conditions looked favorable with a decent volume of water flowing down from the power plant. The water also had a enough green color to provide any salmon that might be in the tailrace some means of cover. The three of us casted for several minutes, near each other, where the tailrace channel runs into the Knik River side-channel. I attempted to walk and fish further up the bank, but there was a layer of slippery ice along the west bank of the tailrace making it difficult to stand and fish. So after the other two anglers left I moved back downstream and worked my way further down the Knik River side-channel before turning around and heading for home. Although there is little chance of catching a fish this time of year at the tailrace, I simply enjoy being outside, casting and swinging a spinner in some moving current. Even though they did not hook any fish either, the two other anglers appeared to be enjoying their trip to the tailrace as well.

Note: the gate was still locked, closing off the main parking lot, but one can always park near the gate and walk down or there is a much larger area to park directly across the highway from Eklutna Power Plant. Note: Eklutna Tailrace /Knik River side -channel is open to fishing 365 days per year, and is also the one Mat-Su Valley location where ocean-run king salmon harvest is also allowed 365 days per year. Starting May 1, 2022 ocean-run king salmon harvest will be closed in all other freshwater Mat-Su Valley locations for the remainder of 2022.

Check Fishing Regulations and Get Your 2022 Fishing License/King Salmon Stamp

Samantha Oslund thought ADF&G would likely issue a press release soon, reminding anglers that flowing waters (streams) in the Palmer -Wasilla zone are now closed to all fishing in order to protect spawning rainbow trout. They will open again for fishing in mid-June. This is also a reminder for anglers to remember and get their fishing license before fishing — A new license is required starting January 1 of each year. Anglers can fish in streams north of the Palmer — Wasilla zone at this time, but are required to release all rainbow trout. Streams starting at Willow Creek and further north are open to fishing, however, gear is restricted to single hook artificial lures, and there is still a considerable amount of snow and ice cover. Anglers and boaters often check the webcam at Deshka Landing http://www.deshkalanding.com when considering an early season fishing trip near Willow or further north. As this article was being written on Tuesday, there was a bit of open water in the Susitna River off of Deshka Landing boat launch, however, most of the Susitna River and the boat launch was still iced-covered and the hill decending to the boat launch was covered with snow. After the ice goes out on the Susitna River, Deshka Landing is usually closed to general day use until May 15. Depending upon launch and parking lot conditions, Deshka Landing Outdoor Association Members and Annual Pass holders may be allowed to use the launch earlier in May.

Little Susitna River Public Use Facility

Samantha Oslund mentioned that the road to Little Susitna River Public Use Facility has been closed at the Susitna Flats Wildlife Refuge gate until snow melts and road conditions improve. I will not be driving that far for a while — and anyone thinking about driving out toward the lower Little Susitna River may want to call ADF&G at 907-746-6300 and inquire about the status of the road and gate beforehand.

With the appearance of more ice-free water the open water fishing season is starting. Good Luck and Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide who writes a weekly Frontiersman fishing column during the open-water fishing season. You may read Mat-Su Valley fishing report updates at his Fishtale River Guides website: https://www.fish4salmon.com