Palmer angler slays monster

June 12, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/Frontiersman

WASILLA - After spending more than an hour stalking his elusive prey, Palmer's Austin Manelick finally got close enough to the toothed beast to attempt a strike. The 19-year-old college student took his time, pulled his bow taut and took a deep breath before loosing his arrow.

Splash!

After the shot, a crowd of people began to gather around as Manelick held up his trophy for all to see. He grinned broadly and smiled for the cameras while holding up his freshly-killed 42-inch northern pike for all to see.

In an interview last week, Manelick retold the story of his encounter with the giant fish, the first he'd ever managed to shoot with a bow and arrow.

&#8220My dad told me he used to do it in Pennsylvania for pike,” he said. &#8220I was like, ‘Oh, I really want to try that.'”

Manelick tried hunting pike last summer once, but with no success. But he didn't give up, and returned home from school at Penn State University this summer more determined than ever.

He enlisted the help of friend Bryan Peters and decided earlier this month to try a local lake - which Manelick refused to name - in hopes of finding success.

The two prowled the shoreline in search of pike, and had seen a couple small ones early on. But Manelick's previous attempts with the bow failed to find their mark.

Then, out of nowhere, a monstrous shape appeared in the water.

&#8220It was like a miracle,” he said. &#8220All of the sudden we see this floating log. It was just huge.”

Manelick credited Peters with chasing the fish toward him, getting it close enough for a good shot.

&#8220He's the one who did all the work,” Manelick said.

Once the pike was in range, Manelick said he knew exactly where to aim.

&#8220The eye was basically like a big bullseye,” he said.

Manelick's shot was perfect.

&#8220It went right through the eye and out the gills,” he said.

The pike died instantly.

&#8220I just went crazy,” he said. &#8220All I could say was, ‘Oh my goodness. I just went crazy.”

Area residents quickly gathered to see what all the fuss was about.

&#8220All the neighbors around the lake just came out and were just like cheering me on,” he said. &#8220They tell everyone who goes fishing there to kill all the pike.”

Pike are a big problem in Mat-Su lakes and streams because they eat resident salmon and trout populations. According to area management biologist Dave Rutz, the infestation has gotten so bad that the state really has no way to control the predatory fish.

&#8220When they're in hundreds and hundreds of lakes and streams, there's just not enough manpower,” Rutz said.

Pike can now be found in pretty much any slow moving, shallow streams or lakes in the Valley.

Manelick said he wasn't really sure how good the fishing would be at the lake he and Peters chose, but had a feeling there were big pike there.

Now that he knows, however, he said he's reluctant to let people know which area lake it is.

&#8220I don't know if I want to give that info up,” he said. &#8220It's a lake between Palmer and Wasilla is all I'll say.”

Though he'd like to keep the location of his catch a secret, Manelick said he did let the location slip to a couple acquaintances - which turned out to be a mistake.

&#8220I went back the next day and you better believe all my not-so-close friends were in my fishing hole,” he said.

For a complete list of Mat-Su lakes and streams that contain northern pike, visit the ADFG on the Web at www.adfg.state.ak.us

Little Su still Valley's

king fishing hot spot

Anglers looking for salmon this week are still finding their best bet to be the Little Susitna River.

&#8220It seems like the only stream around that's doing anything is the Little Su,” Rutz said Monday.

Rutz said it's still a little early, and theorized that low water conditions are keeping fish out of traditionally strong fisheries like the Deshka River.

&#8220The water levels have never been this low before,” he said.

A cool spring and low snowpack in the Talkeetna and Alaska ranges has contributed to the low water on the Deshka. But Rutz said he believes things are about to change.

&#8220The Deshka has started to get some pulses early in the morning and late at night,” he said.

Rutz said anglers should be patient, and that he believes a good run is on the way.

&#8220The latter part of this week it should be pretty hot,” he said.

Trotter claims weekly Mat-Su derby prize

Anglers fishing the Little Su are again dominating the standings of the Mat-Su King Salmon Derby sponsored by the Greater Wasilla Chamber.

This week's big winner was Dan Trotter, whose 51.4-pound king was good enough for first place in both the pro and adult class for the week. Trotter caught his king on the Little Su. The fish was good enough to move Trotter into second place in the derby overall. Frank Peter's 52.1-pounder from last week is still the overall leader.

In the youth class, Eli Hife caught a 41.4-pound king on the Little Su last week, which won the weekly prize and moved Hife into the lead for the overall youth title.

For more information, visit www.matsukingsalmonderby

.com

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

frontiersman.com