Open water fishing one month away?

Looking at the snow in our Palmer-area yard and along the driveway during the first week of April, I have to admit that I have serious doubts as to how many Mat-Su Valley locations will be ice-free enough to guide a boat fishing charter by May 10. Ice build up on many Mat-Su Valley waterbodies was considerably thicker this winter as a result of slow snow levels early in the winter combined with cold temperatures and a considerable amount of wind in combination at the same time. For those reasons I suspect the Knik River accessible from the Knik River Public Access off of the Glenn Highway may be one of a few possible boating locations — although the earliest I have ever seen a king salmon in the Knik River was May 16 — several years ago and downstream form the legal location where sport king salmon harvest is allowed.

Kepler and Bradley Lakes a little further north along the Glenn Highway and Loberg (Junction) Lake near the merging of the Parks and Glenn Highway often have some of the earlier ice breakups each spring as do Finger Lake and Lucille Lake closer to Wasilla. Although I’ve taken many start of the season boat checkout rides on Finger Lake, I’ve yet to guide a an open water fishing trip at any of these lake locations. Unless the overnight temperatures start staying above freezing, however, I have my doubts if even these early season locations may be ice-free by May 10 in 2026.

Driving to the lower Little Susitna River may be blocked by the gate at the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge entrance, and even on years when the Susitna River ice breaks up early Deshka Landing near Willow often does not open to the general public until May 15, and one year with a late cold spring I could not make it down the Susitna River to Deshka River until after May 20. I suspect that could also be the case in 2026.

For all the reasons expressed above, I suspect my guide boat may not experience open water until May 15 - 20 this year.

April Ice Fishing? I rarely venture out onto lake ice in the Mat-Su Valley’s Palmer - Wasilla core area after the first week of April, but ice conditions so far look like they could remain solid on specific lakes through the middle of the month. Further north up the Glenn Highway far north of Palmer solid ice normally remains even later in the Long Lake or Lake Louise areas. In the past I’ve talked with several individuals who made spring ice fishing trips to Lake Louise and found some of the best ice fishing conditions of the entire season — still solid ice, but warm daytime temperatures, and good fish catching. If you are planning a trip to Lake Louise review the regulations (especially if this is you first trip to Louise) as the regulations at this wild fish location can be considerably more conservative than what most people may be used to on lakes regularly stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. As always be careful and safe.

Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show — April 17, 18, 19 at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla is now only a week away. Even though I have not purchased a booth for my business this year, I plan to attend, walk around enough to see the entire show, and likely visit with several other Mat-Su outdoor-oriented folks that I do not see often enough. https://matsuoutdoorsmanshow.com/

Note: The emergency king salmon fishery closures and hook restrictions for the entire Susitna River drainage and Little Susitna River will be listed as CLOSED BY EMERGENCY ORDER in the sport fishery regulations books this year, according to two different source I’ve discussed the issue with recently. This should eliminate any confusion between what is listed on the fishery announcements and emergency orders page of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) website and handy dandy regulation booklet. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/index.cfm?ADFG=area.list&Year=2026&AreaID=29

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 the thoughts and opinions expressed in this column are his own - unless noted otherwise.