There is a lot of snow on the ice this winter. If you are a fish, that means it is dark under the ice, even with the longer days. Worse than that, it means that the plants along the bottom of the lake can’t produce oxygen through photosynthesis. The dissolved oxygen levels in the water, which both plants and fish depend on, has been used since freeze-up, without replacement, in many lakes. Without oxygen plants quit growing and fish get lethargic.
Lethargy is the case on the majority of stocked lakes in February. Alaska Department of Fish and Game only stocks lakes without an inlet or outlet. This is to prevent the spread of non-native populations into other drainage systems. A water body with an active winter inlet will still get plenty of oxygen through the bubbling creeks that feed it. Before you decide to get out and fish, take a look at the locations available to you and pick your battles.
The Fairbanks area has Chena Lakes. Chena Lakes are actually a single connected lake with five different sections. All of the various sections have 25- and 30-foot deep holes. Land-locked silvers, chinook, rainbow trout, grayling and char should be present. The little silvers generally are the most active this time of the year. Chena has deep sections, which means more oxygen available. However, oxygen rises — you could start with bait near the bottom without much success due to depleted oxygen at depth. Try checking higher in the water column at six- or eight-foot intervals and see if the action changes.
Stocked gravel pit lakes in the Fairbanks area, if deep enough, might yield decent catches right under the ice. Don’t expect a solid hit from these little stocked fish this time of the year. They might barely mouth the bait. A good method is to make a good-size hole — that you can see down, and strike when the bait disappears, whether you see a fish or not. Light-colored eggs are the ticket, for no other reason than the ability to see them at a reasonable depth.
[Alaskans play the long game in ice fishing tournament on Big Lake]
Delta Junction folks like shrimp for bait. Maybe so, but if the bait is worth more than the fish, that might cause one to question the logic. Most of the Delta stocked lakes are small and shallow. Fishing is generally a hit and miss — mostly miss — proposition until April. The exceptions are Birch Lake and Quartz Lake, both of which are decent most of the winter. Birch Lake is not fished as extensively as Quartz. Birch is 60 miles from Fairbanks and 40 from Delta, making it a longer trip than the Delta Junction standby Quartz Lake.
Quartz and Birch Lakes both support good populations of stocked silvers and rainbows. Birch has larger fish, likely due to deeper waters and less fishing pressure. Access to Birch Lake is adequate. There is a good pull-off and plenty of parking. Take a pull sled to get your gear out on the ice, or bring along a snowmachine. Fish Quartz and Birch near the bottom in 15 feet of water or less. Eggs work, shrimp works, light-colored wet flies are also successful.
White Mister Twister jigs do well at Quartz Lake. Quartz has a plowed road around the south and east side of the lake. Take a look before you jump on the ice with a two-wheel-drive rig. When fishing shallow water, save your egg shells for a couple of weeks. Crush them and drop them down the hole. A light-colored bottom will make fish much more visible.
The big lakes in the Paxson area are decent fishing this time of the year. Paxson Lake has numerous creeks and springs. Winter fishing is very good. Paxson Lake has overflow this season due to deep snow and relatively light ice cover. Check before driving out on the lake with a snowmachine. There is has been minimal fishing on Paxson the last few years. Twenty feet should be your starting depth. Jigs will work well on Paxson Lake.
Summit Lake is another seldom-fished lake that has good access and excellent fishing. Expect fish in the 20- to 24-inch range with an occasional larger one. Summit is an exceptionally clear water body. You can see to depths over 20 feet. Silver flashers do well in Summit, in addition to the standby jigs. If you are going for big fish, use jigs in the three-ounce range. Red and white is the color for Summit Lake trout.
Swede Lake is the place for large lake trout. Years ago, I pulled a 44-inch trout from Swede in March. I let her go and had no scale, but that fish rivaled a 30-pound trout taken at Paxson Lake. Swede Lake fish seem partial to red and white Daredevles, though I’m certain other lures work as well.
Swede Lake is 20-odd miles off road, thus requires a decent snowmobile and some planning, but it is worth the extra effort in late March and April when daylight and temperatures improve.
Wherever you decide to fish, the effort is always worth the trip. Remember — winter fishing is an excursion, not an afterthought. Good preparation is not just the key to success, it is the difference between fun and disaster.