Traveling truck trout arrive at Mat-Su lakes

When I ran a Fish Stocking Search on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) website early this week I found the Alaska Department of Fish and Game had recently stocked catchable-sized rainbow trout at five Mat-Su Lakes in the Palmer-Wasilla core area. Lakes receiving fish were Kepler -Bradley Lakes, Matanuska, Loberg (Junction), Memory, and Canoe. These fish were hatched out and raised at the Jack Hernandez State Sportfish Hatchery in Anchorage.

I notice the department has also been busy stocking fish in the Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Delta Junction areas as well. Water bodies are opening up and I am also seeing more anglers out trying their luck. I expect the hatchery truck to be busy at many more locations between now and Memorial Day Weekend (the traditional start of camping / summer fishing season for many Alaskans). People looking for up-to-date information on where and which species the department has stocked may run their own fish stocking by accessing ADF&G’s Fish Stocking Search webpage.

King Salmon

ADF&G is projecting low king salmon returns to the Mat-Su Valley this year, and all Mat-Su locations except for Eklutna Tailrace have been closed to fishing for ocean-run king salmon by emergency order. Water levels in the Knik River side-channel / Eklutna Tailrace have remained low, but may be better for encouraging enhanced king salmon to migrate back toward Eklutna Tailrace late in May. For people interested in tracking king salmon timing and numbers of fish, ADF&G has already installed Little Susitna River weir and Ismay be working at the Deshka River weir site this week.

King salmon have already been counted passing Anchor River weir and Ninilchik River weir on the Kenai Peninsula. The Copper River sonar near Miles Lake appears to not be installed as of Tuesday May 19 (no significant information available on both an ADF&G sport fishery page and the commercial fishery page. The Department is projecting a “Weak” king salmon return to the Copper River drainage this year, but the first commercial opener for the Copper River Flats is scheduled for Friday May 22. Salmon harvest from that opener should be posted on the Prince William Sound Commercial Fisheries page on or before Monday May 25.

Deshka Landing opened to pass holders and day use on Friday May 15, and there has been a significant amount of boaters using the landing since last weekend. Boaters looking to do check runs before heading out on a river may want to use the Alaska State Parks boat launch at Finger Lake or the City of Wasilla boat launch at Lucille Lake — both of which have been ice free for a while already.

I’ve heard of people heading North on the Parks Highway to fish Susitna tributary streams for trout and grayling, but have yet to hear of any good catches from these locations yet this spring. Perhaps this weekend may be better.

In the Mat-Su Valley this weekend may be a good time to stay close to home, and perhaps test run a boat before taking it on a serious fishing trip. Some of the recently stocked lakes may likely provide some of the best fish catching opportunities in the Mat-Su Valley during the May 23, 24, 25 holiday weekend. I expect additional Mat-Su locations to be stocked before the weekend.

Campers may want to make early reservations for campsites as in the past this has been one of the busiest “camp out,” weekends of the summer.

Stay safe and Fish On!

While Andy Couch is a member of the Matanuska - Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee the thoughts and opinions expressed in this column are his own - unless otherwise noted.