Spring catching spreads north

I’ve talked with Joe and Marilynn Rouswell at Susitna Landing two times since my last column, and during both conversations they mentioned that people had been out to the landing and catching rainbow trout.

In the spring Arctic grayling can sometimes also be taken in the lower Kashwitna River, however, Joe and Marilynn did not know of any grayling caught so far. Fly fishing is the method of choice for most people fishing the Susitna River tributary streams from Willow north at this time, although small spinners will also catch both trout and grayling from these streams. Still a little ice in the boat launch at this location, but it may open before long. The campground is already open and being used.

Last week when I talked with Rhett and Margo Neails in Talkeetna (Phantom Tri River Charters) they expected fishing and boating opportunities were still a week away. When I talked with Margo this Wednesday, she reported they now had a boat in the Talkeetna, and had already run a few drop off trips. Clear Creek is a popular guided or drop off location up the Talkeetna River, but people also caught rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling from the main river in the spring before the water gets dark with glacial melt.

When I talked with Amy Davis at Deshka Landing she mentioned there was still a considerable amount of ice in the boat launch and expected they might open sometime after the weekend. Looking at the Landing’s online weather cam on Wednesday evening it looks to me like the boat launch ice is starting to breakup and melt more rapidly now. There is no definitely date for opening at Deshka Landing, however, river conditions look like they could soon be conducive for boating from this location. Amy also mentioned that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was hoping to start installing the Deshka River salmon counting weir next week.

While the Deshka River king salmon fishery will start out as a catch and release fishery seven days per week, many anglers are hopeful that enough king salmon might migrate past the weir for the fishery to open for harvest later around mid-June. The lower Deshka River also has rainbow trout and Arctic grayling in the spring along with northern pike in some the side-sloughs.

Remember that wild trout fishing in the Susitna River and Talkeetna River drainages is allowed on a catch and release basis this time of year.

I had the opportunity to get my boat out on Little Susitna River for a king salmon fishing trip last Friday. Boat launch and river conditions were good — considering the time of year. There was a little ice in places along the banks, but I imagine most of that has likely melted by now.

We did not see or hook any king salmon, but we did see lots of waterfowl and shorebirds along the river. An ADF&G spokesperson told me the department was installing the Little Susitna River salmon counting weir on Tuesday and expected to have it in operation by the end of the day.

Weir passage counts should therefore be available on the ADF&G website before long, although there usually on a limited number of king salmon passing Little Susitna River weir during the entire month of May. By emergency order for the 2018 season king salmon harvest on Little Susitna River is only allowed on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. It is still early in the season, but early-bird anglers will be out attempting to catch some of the first king salmon of the season this weekend.

A.J. Hoffman at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla told me that Mat-Su Valley lakes were now about the best fish catching opportunity in the Mat-Su Valley Most lakes in the Palmer- Wasilla core area are now ice free or nearly ice free. Three popular and recently stocked lakes include Kepler-Bradley, Loberg, and Memory.

As one travels north there is still ice covering some popular fishing spots. My friend Terry Nininger told me he and his wife drove to Big Lake this week, and while there was enough open water for shore fishing he did not think there was enough open water for launching a boat. I would suspect lakes in the Nancy Lake system likely have a similar icy scenario.

My dentist, Tony Paden told me a good number of boaters were out on Finger Lake last weekend, and he thought most of them were fishing rather than just zooming around in their boats. Finger Lake is one of the most popular fishing lakes in the valley with good populations of rainbow trout, Arctic char, and landlocked salmon. Most people use the public access through the Alaska State Park on the lake.

A few people have asked me about the Eklutna Tailrace fishery for king salmon, and although I fish out there nearly every year in May, I’ve also made the observation that king salmon seem to be caught at Ship Creek in Anchorage before they show up at the Tailrace. The tailrace is one of my favorite locations to get out and do some early season casting in flowing waters, while most of the king salmon catching starts in June.

Good luck and fish on.

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide and also a member of the Matanuska —Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission.