Open season on northern pike

HOUSTON — The Houston Chamber of Commerce wants Mat-Su residents to help take a bite out of a toothy problem.

The chamber, along with the Houston Lion’s Club, is sponsoring a month-long northern pike fishing derby whose main goal is to kill as many of the predatory fish as possible.

“We just want people to catch pike,” derby coordinator Nancy Sult said.

With their voracious appetites and sharp teeth, pike have taken a big bite out of resident populations of salmon and trout in Mat-Su lakes in recent years. Sult said folks in Houston decided it was time to bite back — and have a little fun in the process.

“It’s kind of a combination of fishing and hunting,” she said.

The derby is offering cash and donated prizes in seven different categories, with divisions for the longest, heaviest, lightest and shortest pike; as well as most total pike caught, most total catch weight and greatest total length of fish entered.

“We want them to keep every one they catch,” Sult said.

Thanks to a donation from ConocoPhillips, the top prize in each division will be $500 cash, while second-place will be good for $250 in fireworks from Gorilla Fireworks. Third place in each division is worth a $75 shopping spree at Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Derby tickets are $10 each (or $25 per family) and can be purchased at a variety of local vendors. Sult said people can visit www.matsupikederby.com or call her directly at 232-1387 to find out more information.

“I’ve got unlimited minutes,” she said.

While event organizers want people to catch as many pike as possible, she said the mere purchase of a derby ticket is enough to get into the action. Everyone who buys a ticket gets entered into a drawing for a Caribbean cruise, as well as other prizes that include fly-in fishing trips.

“There’s lots of ways to win,” she said.

In conjunction with the derby, Sult said organizers are planning “pike parties” March 8, 15 and 22 on Prater Lake, where people can enjoy fishing demonstrations, vendors and even warm fishing tents to make the ice fishing more enjoyable.

“It’s going to be a blast,” she said.

Pike are widespread in the Mat-Su Valley, though a little know-how is needed to go after them. Alaska Department of Fish and Game area management biologist Dave Rutz recommended using a steel leader with double hooks and bait.

“The best success we’ve had is using herring with a double hook set-up,” he said.

Pike are attracted to shiny objects, so jigs and lures also work, he said.

A listing of lakes that contain pike can be found on the department’s Web site (www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/pike/index.cfm), as can informational brochures describing how to clean the bony fish.

Rutz suggested several area lakes for people to try, including Prater, the Nancy Lakes system, Long Lake, Memory Lake and Crystal Lake. Up to five lines can be used at one time on most lakes, although people should check regulations before they head onto the ice. There is no limit on pike except for on Alexander Lake, where people can catch as many pike under 22 inches, but must return pike between 22 and 30 inches to the water. Anglers may only keep one pike longer than 30 inches from the lake. Also, Rutz said that bait is not allowed in Big Lake.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a valid fishing license is required, and authorities will be checking. Earlier this week, an Anchorage man was cited for fishing without a valid license on Finger Lake in Palmer, earning himself a $210 fine.

The derby begins March 1 and runs through the end of the month.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com