Several Mat-Su Valley-Area Lakes Open To Fishing

The following updates are courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Five New Stocked Lakes to Open to Fishing in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley

(Soldotna) – Sport fishing will be allowed at East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes; however, the retention of all species of fish is prohibited at these lakes. These restrictions are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, January 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021.

From 2014-2017, East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes were successfully treated with rotenone to eradicate nonnative northern pike. During 2015-2017, Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff captured and transported approximately 92,000 native fish from Soldotna Creek to these lakes to aid in the restoration of the native fish populations. Continuation of these restrictions from 2018 through 2021 are needed to protect these native fish until they can successfully spawn..

Retention of Arctic Char/Dolly Varden Prohibited From Stormy Lake in 2021 

(Soldotna) – The retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden is prohibited from Stormy Lake due to continued restoration of native fish stocks. This restriction is effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, January 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021.

Stormy Lake was successfully treated with rotenone to eradicate nonnative northern pike in September 2012. Prior to the treatment, eggs were taken from native Arctic char and reared in the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. During the summer of 2013, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff released the resulting Arctic char fingerling into Stormy Lake. Post-treatment surveys of Stormy Lake to determine if the native Arctic char restoration project was successful are encouraging. Arctic char restored to Stormy Lake are now age eight. As shown by sampling surveys through the fall of 2020, some Arctic char have reached maturity, but only one major spawning event has occurred. Arctic char are a species with slow growth rates and low population densities and it is unknown how long it will take for these fish to become sexually mature and to reestablish natural production in Stormy Lake. To allow for the restoration of native fish in Stormy Lake, it is prudent to prohibit harvest of Arctic char until a sustainable population is established.

Retention of All Species of Fish Prohibited From East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks Lakes

(Soldotna) – Sport fishing will be allowed at East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes; however, the retention of all species of fish is prohibited at these lakes. These restrictions are effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, January 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021.

From 2014-2017, East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes were successfully treated with rotenone to eradicate nonnative northern pike. During 2015-2017, Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff captured and transported approximately 92,000 native fish from Soldotna Creek to these lakes to aid in the restoration of the native fish populations. Continuation of these restrictions from 2018 through 2021 are needed to protect these native fish until they can successfully spawn.

For additional information, please contact Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka or Assistant Area Management Biologist Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368.