Stocked lakes highlight Mat-Su fish catching opportunities

Even with our continued warm spring weather, the numerous lakes stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game continue to produce some of the best harvests of rainbow trout, arctic char, and arctic grayling during the late spring / early summer time frame.

The most popular lake in the whole Valley is Finger Lake and the few times I have been there this spring there have been anglers fishing from the Alaska State Parks boat launch dock and near shoreline. This is the most popular spring fishing spot on the lake for those who do not have a boat to access other portions of the lake. Like most years there are fish attracted this time of year to the gravel near the boat launch, and some of the larger rainbow trout exceed 20 inches in length, but Finger Lake also has arctic char, landlocked king salmon, and arctic grayling for anglers to pursue.

After Finger Lake, the Kepler-Bradley Lake system near Palmer — which includes Matanuska, Echo, Kepler, Bradley, Canoe, Irene, Long, Victor, and Klaire Lakes — offers a variety of easily accessible fish catching opportunities in the Palmer-Wasilla core area.

The Nancy Lake system near Willow has several additional stocked lakes and also provides a road accessible opportunity for anglers to catch northern pike. The pike are an introduced species that eat most other species of fish. There is no limit on the amount of pike anglers may keep in the Mat-Su Valley, and anglers are encouraged to keep every pike they catch.

If a person finds an abundance of pike they can produce plenty of fish catching activity this time of year. From my forays up the Parks Highway I know that Nancy Lake and Willow Lake are now ice free and therefore suspect that all the lakes in the Nancy Lake system should now be ice-free.

One of the reasons that the stocked lakes are producing the largest harvests of Mat-Su fish this time of year is that they are managed for harvest on a year round basis. Most streams in the Palmer-Wasilla area are currently closed to fish to protect spawning rainbow trout.

Further north along the Parks Highway starting from Willow Creek and going up the highway streams are open to fishing this time of year, however, rainbow trout must be released and the limits on other native species are more restrictive than limits for fish caught in stocked lakes. You’ll likely want to check up on fishing regulations for the specific spots you intend to fish. For people who primarily like fishing uncrowded waters and who are more interested in catching, but keeping few fish this is a very good opportunity. Talking with some the people fishing this area, they have been catching both rainbow trout and arctic grayling. These streams are popular destinations particularly for fly fishermen.

Big Lake should now be ice-free and provides one of the most popular Mat-Su destinations for boating and water activities, but also provides opportunity to catch larger arctic char, rainbow trout, and northern pike. Early morning hours may provide better fish catching opportunities at this location and less boat traffic. Big Lake is primarily a wild fish fishery, so check regulations before going to this spot for the first time.

King salmon

I’ve yet to hear of anyone catching an ocean-run Mat-Su king salmon in 2016, but from past experience I’m thinking some lucky angler should likely catch the first king salmon within the next week.

This is still extremely early season fishing for king salmon and the most likely outcome from fishing for king salmon this time of year is lots of fishing without much catching. Still for those interested in catching the largest of Alaska’s salmon, the opportunity is available. The most accessible Mat-Su locations are lower Little Susitna River and Deshka River. As mentioned in last week’s column the Eklutna Tailrace fishery should be pretty much shut down through May 13 as the outflow from the power plant is reduced for annual maintenance. If you are not familiar with the emergency regulations concerning king salmon that became effective starting May 1, 2016 you will definitely want to know the regulations before you fish for king salmon.

Contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Palmer at 746-6300.

Hooligan

I’ve heard one report of hooligan available in the lower Susitna River drainage, however, Mike Hudson with 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla told me his nephew went all the way down the Susitna River to the Yentna River confluence and did not see any hooligan or any large concentration of birds that might indicate their presence this past Sunday. I’m thinking it will likely be at least another week until there are any significant numbers of hooligan near the Yentna River confluence and likely not until around May 20 that they may be available closer to Deshka Landing. For updates on Susitna River hooligan activity people may want to call Deshka Landing at 495-3374 or Eagle Quest lodge and cabins at 495-1116.

Eagle Quest provides hooligan charter trips when the fish become available.

Even though summer fishing is just getting started, it is a great time to live in Alaska and experience the fishing opportunities so many of us enjoy in this special place.

Fish on!

In addition to being a Mat-Su Valley fishing guide, Andy Couch is a member of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee and the Matanuska Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission.