Snowmachines, pike and a sad farewell

For those who enjoy snowmachining in the Valley, we are coming into the best time of the season to pursue that activity, at least in my opinion. The days are getting noticeably longer, the daytime temperatures are warming and we’ve got the benefit of all the snowfall so far this season to ride on. Mid-February through March is my favorite time to get out and ride.

The International Snowmobile Manufacturers’ Association (ISMA) has announced its annual Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, Feb. 12-21. It is encouraging family and friends to get out and do some snowmachining together and to take some non-snowmobiling folks out during the long week as well.

According to an e-mail I received from the ISMA, roughly half of all adults in North America would like to try snowmachining. The ISMA further states that, with over 225,000 miles of scenic, groomed and marked trails in North America, there are plenty of places to see and trails to explore. I don’t know if our local trails are included in that mileage figure, but we have literally hundreds of miles of groomed and marked trails in the Mat-Su. Many of those trails serve as jumping off points to explore a vast network of unmaintained trails heading off into the Alaska wilderness. There are no shortages of sights to see and places to visit on your snowmachine.

If you do decide to get out and ride, and especially if you decide to visit some of that Alaska wilderness, keep the following 10 points in mind: never consume alcohol or drugs before or while operating a snowmachine; run at safe and reasonable speeds; stay on trails and areas where snowmachining is permitted (no trespassing); avoid travel on unfamiliar frozen water bodies; use extra caution at night; keep your machine properly maintained; listen to the weather forecast before snowmachining; always wear a helmet and proper clothing; never ride alone and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return; and, finally, carry emergency supplies and learn basic survival skills.

Unfortunately, we hear regular reports in Alaska of folks dying in snowmachine accidents. A good percentage of those accidents happen right here in the Valley. Virtually all of these incidents could be avoided with the application of a little common sense. Some contributing factors include drowning after breaking through thin ice, unsafe operation, inattention while operating the vehicle and operating under the influence. Snowmachining is a fun and exciting activity enjoyed by more than 4 million people across the United States and Canada. It is a safe activity and is an enjoyable form of recreation when properly practiced.

One reason to go snowmachining is to access some fantastic ice fishing in lakes all over the Valley, and some lakes out in that Alaska wilderness. One of the prime species folks will travel to fish for is northern pike. While pike are catching on as a fun winter fish to catch, the species is not native to this area. Since pike have been illegally introduced into Southcentral, they have increased their range significantly and are causing a lot of problems in some of our salmon producing systems. Alexander Lake/Creek is a notable example of pike getting established and decimating the king salmon population native to that drainage.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is putting significant effort into trying to reduce pike numbers in the Alexander system by netting the fish as they move into the sloughs in the spring to spawn.

The efforts are preliminary at this time, but the anticipation is that pike numbers can be really reduced with these efforts. ADF&G has set aside $127,000 to wage a war against the pike in Alexander. Recently, another $635,000 grant was awarded to the department by the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund to continue efforts to combat pike and their detrimental predatory effects on salmon in Southcentral. The war has been declared. Let’s hope we win!

On a sad note, personally, I was shocked to read of the passing of Russell K. Butts in the paper earlier this week. I knew Russell from the Mat Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee, where he was a longtime regular attendee. I would also run into him at virtually all of the local area gun shows and we would chat about guns or, more commonly, political issues. Russell was never shy about expressing his opinion on any given topic and he always knew what he was speaking about. You could argue with his opinions, but rarely with his facts. He did his homework and knew what the facts were.

I think Russell had a special passion for the Palmer Hay Flats Refuge. I know he really enjoyed spending time around Reflection Lake and he had a strong dislike for those who would dump trash in the parking areas off the Hayfield Road entrance.

Russell knew I wrote this column and would periodically send me information about various topics and suggest I write a column or two. Some of his suggestions were beyond the scope of a local outdoor column and others were a little too controversial for me to try and slip by my editors, even if I wanted to comment. However, I did occasionally use some material he would provide.

Russell sent me some information on the state hatchery program that looked like original paperwork rather than the photocopies he usually sent. The envelope was postmarked this past Jan. 24. He finished his handwritten cover letter with the words, “You will not be hearing from me again.” I figured he was moving — little did I know! Rest in peace, Russell. You’ve earned it!

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.