January 05, 2015

Winter Fishing Report: Mat-Su Area

Date: 1-5 through 1-20

Regulation Reminders

• Jan 1, 2015 marks the start of a new licensing year. Remember to buy one prior to heading out on your next adventure.
• Licenses can be purchased at licensing vendors or online at https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/store/
• 2013 Sport Fish regulation booklets are valid through April 15, 2014.
• Check page 4 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing regulation summary booklet for legal ice fishing gear description.
• Knik Arm regulations start on page 33 and Susitna regulations on page 23.

Stocked Lakes

• Fishing on stocked lakes has been excellent.
• Area ice conditions have been variable. ADF&G does not monitor ice thickness, please use extreme caution.
• For Rainbow trout try: Lucille, Finger, Lorraine, Kalmbach, Long (mile 86), Ravine, South Rolly, Kashwitna, and Willow Lakes.
• Char have been caught on Finger, Matanuska, Long (mile 86), and Seventeenmile Lakes.
• Grayling lakes include: Lorraine, Florence, Canoe, and Meirs.
• For landlocked salmon try: Matanuska, Finger, Knik, and Memory Lakes.

Page 10 of the regulation booklet lists all the Mat-Su stocked lakes.
Link to Mat - Su stocked lakes page: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSport.region&StockingAreaID=7

Places to Take a Kid Fishing (easily accessible locations)
• Finger Lake (stocked with King salmon catchables and a wide variety of other fish.
• Lake Lucille – Stocked with rainbow trout and coho salmon
• Knik Lake – Stocked with rainbow trout and King salmon catchables
• Memory – Stocked with rainbow trout and King salmon catchables, this lake also contains invasive northern pike.

Un-stocked Lakes
• Big Lake has special regulations found on page 34 of the regulation summary but is a popular lake for burbot, pike, rainbow trout, and char.
• Nancy Lake Recreation Area lakes with pike fishing include: Lynx lake, Long Lake, and Red Shirt Lakes.
• Figure Eight Lake has been good for pike fishing, the trail to the lake does not have very much snow yet and ice thickness has been extremely variable with overflow in places.

Hot Spot
• Finger Lake and Memory lakes were recently stocked with King salmon catchables and will produce excellent fishing throughout the next few months.

Fish Facts:
Northern pike tend to be quite dormant during the month of January, and will not venture as far in order to feed. To target this fish more successfully in the cold months, think: drill, drill, drill. Even if you punch holes 20-30 feet from your original spot of choice, you almost have to present your bait or lure directly in front of them to get their attention.