Fall fishing opportunities

At the Mat-su salmon habitat site tour of the Big Lake drainage, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fisheries biologist, Parker Bradley was asked if invasive northern pike in Big Lake could decimate the strong population of sockeye salmon that returns to the drainage. His response was that a much more immediate threat exists for coho salmon and rainbow trout within the Fish Creek, Big Lake, Meadow Creek waterway. According to Bradley, sockeye salmon often rear in deeper water sections of Big Lake, where they are less vulnerable to northern pike which spend a considerable amount of time in shallower weedy habitat locations. Rainbow trout and coho salmon, however, spend more time in the shallower water sections with heavier pike infestations. Bradley also mentioned that Big Lake has a limited amount of the type habitat that pike prefer, however, there are several predominately shallower and weedier lakes within the drainage which, even now, may be inhabited primarily by pike. Small coho salmon often rear in running water sections of Meadow Creek and Fish Creek, then migrate into some of the shallower lakes draining into these two streams. According to Bradley once the young coho migrate into some of these lakes, they never migrate out again, because of large abundances of hungery pike.

DoYou Like Pike?

This week I asked Parker what prospect were fro catching pike in the Mat-Su Valley. He said that some Mat-Su fishing guides have told him they specifically like to target pike at this time of year. He suggests possibly trying a variety of lures or bait. Parker mentioned liking to use something flashy or spinny, himself. He also mentioned many anglers do well with soft plastic lures. Finally he mentioned using herring under a bobber as a method to catch fish in deeper water where a spinner might not get down to the level of the fish. All can be effective, and if one lure type does not work, having some options may convince, what were previously reluctant, pike into biting. Pike are a non-native invasive species in the Mat-Su Valley and anglers may harvest as many of them as they can catch. Mat-Su fishing regulations even state northern pike may not be returned to the water alive.

When asked, Parker freely mentioned some of larger, but lesser known, pike populations in the drainage. Twin Lakes, West Beaver, Big Beaver, Stepan, and Lynda Lakes were all on his list. Parker also said that using a canoe or larger boat could greatly increase an angler’s access to better fishing locations / better catching opportunities. He mentioned that public access to some of these lakes might be a bit difficult for anglers, unfamiliar with them, to determine. Then he offered to assist anglers wanting access directions — Parker Bradley may be reached at the Palmer ADF&G office y calling the main number and asking for him: 907-746-6300. He also is a wealth of knowledge about many other Mat-Su locations where northern pike may be caught.

Parks Highway Trout and Grayling

When I talked with Mike Hudson at 3 Rivers Fly & Tackle in Wasilla on Tuesday, he mentioned that the tributary streams to the Susitna River, crossing the Parks Highway north of Willow, had dropped and cleared enough to provide good fishing for wild rainbow trout and arctic grayling. He expected good fishing to continue as long as stream levels remained stable (until the next heavy rain event). As temperatures cool in the fall larger concentrations of native trout and grayling migrate into the lower sections of these tributary streams.

Lakes

Hudson also mentioned anglers reporting some good catches of stocked trout and char from Irene and Matanuska Lakes (a canoe, kayak, or small boat makes accessing different spots along these lakes much easier). More experienced anglers have been finding some larger pike in Big Lake, however, it can take a newcomer a few or several trips to learn some of the better fishing spots on Big Lake — and most anglers use a boat at this location. Big Lake also has a population of large wild arctic char that develop brilliant spawning colors in the fall — char are currently open for catch and release fishing only in the Big Lake drainage.

Coho Salmon

Mike said he only had one suggestion for Mat-Su Valley salmon fishing at this time, and that is the Eklutna Tailrace fishery off the Old Glenn Highway.

Good Luck and Fish On!