The search for open water

With lower than predicted temperatures during the past week slowing snow melt and spring run off, most Mat-Su waters bodies open to spring fishing remain ice covered — although the ice in most parts of the Mat-Su core area is too rotten for walking on or fishing from.

For those desperate for an open water fishing fix — there are exceptions.

Kepler-Bradley Lakes near Palmer

People continue to fish and catch rainbow trout in the small section of water near the bridge between these two lakes. This is a very small area of open water, but it continues to grow as the spring progresses, and has been one of the few spots where people have been consistently catching fish.

Finger Lake between Palmer and Wasilla

I drove into the Finger Lake campground and park on Tuesday and discovered there was enough open water that a couple people were fly fishing in front of the boat launch. At that time there was not much open water to run a boat — but certainly enough for people to do some open water fishing.

On Tuesday it looked like there was more open water on Finger Lake than at the Kepler-Bradley Lake area I already mentioned. I called Mike Hudson, owner of 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle in Wasilla, to mention the open water at Finger Lake, and he told me that an individual had already sent him a photo of a nice fish he had landed at Finger Lake. Many local anglers know that in the spring the area right in front of the boat dock can be one of the hottest fishing spots on the lake. If you go, however, keep in mind that this is a relatively small area that will attract some other anglers. In addition, before long boaters will be out making early season check runs at Finger Lake — as the Finger Lake launch is one of earliest opening maintained boat launches in the Mat-Su most years.

With cooler temperatures this week, I doubt there will be enough open water to do much boat running by this weekend — but it is a possibility. Just like anglers who have been restricted by ice all winter, there are many boaters who are tired of waiting for open water as well. Even without much open water there could be a few boaters at Finger Lake this weekend.

Susitna River tributary streams

In my last column I discussed in detail the Susitna River breakup situation. Since then, large open water leads have developed in portions of the river ice, including at the mouth of Willow Creek. Many of the tributary streams provided plenty of open water for fishing at this time, however, according to Mike Hudson, catch reports have been very limited. Nothing unusual for this time of year — and action could pick up any day.

Talking with Joe and Marilynn Rouswell at Susitna Landing more and more people have been driving to the landing — several have already been RV camping there this spring, however, earlier this week no one had yet attempted to fish. I am sure several folks will want to get out and fish some of these streams on the last weekend in April. Others will be waiting until after the weekend.

Deshka Landing

The Deshka Landing website is provides a considerable amount of Susitna River drainage information: Ice breakup has been occurring out on the Deshka River and a portion of the Yentna River, there are open leads and some ice movement in the Susitna River near the landing. The landing is not open a this point, and the parking lot is still soft and wet. The landing will be installing a new gate system near the end of the first week of May, and may not be open to public boat launching before then.

Little Susitna River

Earlier this week I heard two anglers talking about fishing the Little Susitna River (only the section downstream of the Parks Highway is open to fishing at this time). They had been fly fishing and reported a few light bites, but had not caught a fish. They were restocking on additional flies and going back to try again.

The lower end of the river near the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility campground and boat launch is likely difficult to get to at this time. I have not attempted to go out there, and know of no one else who has been out that way in the last couple weeks. I would advise waiting another week or two on this one, as the last section of road going into the Facility is often soft and muddy, and can get tore up from vehicle traffic this time of year.

In addition, even if the lower river should be ice free, water levels from the USGS gauge further upriver show there is currently very little water flow for either fishing or boating at this time.

Eklutna Tailrace

For anyone who can’t wait to get out and fish some open water, there is plenty of open water at the tailrace, although the gate to the riverside parking lot has not yet been unlocked for the season.

My nephew Paul Warta and I have been fishing at the tailrace four times in the past week. It has been a good opportunity for me to test out some new rods and reels, but we have not seen or hooked a single fish. There are still large ice chunks in the lower Knik River near the tailrace that drift up and down river on the tides, however the Knik River itself near the Glenn Highway bridge is now open enough that a person could launch a boat with little problem (because of low water flow likely best around high tide).

New fishing regulations

An Alaska Department of Fish and Game spokesperson told me the new regulations booklets should be available at the Palmer office on Monday May 1. They should also be out to license vendors and businesses shortly afterwards.

Fish On!

Andy Couch is the owner of FIshtale River Guides, you may visit his website and read his latest fishing reports at http://www.fish4salmon.com/2017-fishing-reports/april-may-2017-alaska-fishing-reports/