Mat-Su stocked lakes producing

When I talked with A.J. Hoffman at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla on Tuesday he mentioned the Mat-Su Valley’s stocked lakes as the best opportunity to catch fish recently.

A.J. mentioned fly anglers doing well on some specific lake flies, but also catching fish by casting or trolling small spinners. Most of the local lakes are open year-round to the use of bait, and kids will often catch more fish on salmon eggs or worms that may be purchased at fishing tackle dealers in the Wasilla area. For those that would like to keep some trout or char to eat — most Mat-Su Valley stocked lakes are managed on a put and take basis. Limits are more liberal on the stocked lakes with the goals of providing harvest opportunity on the lakes, while conserving wild trout in flowing waters.

A.J. said many anglers continue to travel north along the Parks Highway in search of wild rainbow trout and grayling in the Susitna River tributary streams, however, with recent warmer temperatures increasing spring run off and causing high and muddy water, success rates have dropped recently. Still some anglers just prefer to fish the streams for wild trout and grayling.

Pike

This past week, Jason Perrego of Alaska Lakes Guide Service emailed me some pictures of over-sized pike caught from one of his boats. He mentioned the pike fishing had been slow for a long time, but with shallow water temperatures increasing on some lakes into the 55 degree range the bite has turned on — at least for a while.

While fishing the Deshka River on Tuesday we were unable to hook into any pike in one of my favorite pike sloughs along the river, however, I simply took that to mean that anglers had already cleaned out most of the larger pike from that particular slough this spring. On the Susitna River drainage, anglers are not allowed to release the non-native pike back into the water alive.

Earlier this spring anglers (including myself) had removed some particularly fat pike from this slough and perhaps it is making a difference. First thing in the spring I expect to catch pike or at least get bites from this slough on the first few casts. Yes I said bites per cast. It can be somewhat difficult to hook pike on a single hook lure as required at this time when fishing the Deshka River and its sloughs.

The fun thing about pike — when not hooked — the same fish may hit the lure three times on a single presentation.

Marilynn Rouswell at Susitna Landing reported they were overfull with people camping at the landing this weekend. People were camping in some of the rarely used spaces, but most seemed to have a good time and she reported have several call her about making reservations for the coming weekend. Reservations, however, are not taken with all space available on a first -come first-served basis. Marilynn and Joe were busy enough this weekend that they did not hear many fishing reports — although Marilynn echoed some of what A.J. Hoffman had told me in saying the water was rising and getting darker colored, and the did not know what kind of success people would have at this time.

People launching boats seemed to be primarily bear hunting along the river system, or simply out to take a boat ride along the river. People had been asking about the availability of hooligan at or near the landing, but Marilynn had not see any this year.

Additional comment on hooligan — after reporting on hooligan availability near the Deshka River last week I did not see any abundance of sea gulls and bald eagles when I fished there this week. Mike Hudson of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle mentioned there was a small abundance of hooligan the weekend before — but then it just seemed to fizzle out earlier than normal.

When I talked with Margo Nealis at Phantom Tri River Charters in Talkeetna, she was talking a now familiar theme, higher off colored water had slowed trout fishing in the Talkeetna River drainage, although she mentioned they do have some places where they catch fish during periods of high water. They have still be running spring trout trips, but success rates would likely be better with lower clearer water conditions.

King salmon

Last weekend and earlier this week, Deshka River has been producing the best king salmon catching of any Mat-Su location I know of. I’ve already made a couple trips to the Deshka this year, and the last one (an afternoon outing with Ben Allen of Miller’s Riverboat Service during the week) was particularly memorable.

Another guest and myself caught and released several ocean-bright king salmon on spinners, a Pixie Spoon, and a Kwikfish. Nonexistent were the crowds of anglers often present when king salmon regulations allow harvest at the Deshka. Because of high spring run off at Deshka River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was unable to install Deshka River weir until late on Tuesday May 29. Unlike many other streams in the Mat-Su Valley early spring run off on the Deshka River produces some of the peak water flows of the entire season. But now, while other Mat-Su streams are increasing in water volume and muddiness, the Deshka River is running lower and quite clear. A prime time to catch king salmon at the Deshka will be the next couple weeks before water levels drop so low that the big salmon become spooky.

Little Susitna River king salmon catching was extremely slow last weekend, despite a good turn out of anglers seeking to harvest the big salmon on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (the only days in which king salmon harvest is allowed). Through Tuesday May 29 a total of 18 king salmon had passed Little Susitna River weir. Like other steams along the Parks Highway, water conditions have become high and muddy. High water tends to draw more king salmon into the river, however, if conditions are too muddy or if there is a large amount of debris floating down the river catching those salmon becomes very difficult.

Angler participation in the Eklutna Tailrace/Knik River king salmon fishery has increased significantly in the past week, however, because of low Knik River water levels few (if any) king salmon seem to have made it to the tailrace. This is the only Mat-Su Valley fishery other than the Little Susitna River where king salmon harvest is allowed.

Good luck and fish on!

Andy Couch owns Fishtale River Guides and posts free daily salmon fishing reports on his business website at http://www.fish4salmon.com