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Boating the Matanuska Susitna Valley – Part 1
March 10, 2023
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The Benefits Of Boating In The Matsu Valley

In an effort to help my fellow fishermen, in addition to a weekly fishing report, I plan to routinely publish articles about fishing in the Matanuska (Matsu) Valley.  I chose to live in Wasilla because of my passion for fishing in the Matsu Valley.  The Matsu Valley certainly is a fishing paradise and has excellent boat and a limited number of bank (road accessible) accessible opportunities.  I personally enjoy all types of fishing, including casting from the shore in downtown Wasilla, as well as remote accessible spots I get to in my boat. The purpose of this article is to discuss the benefits of boating in the Matsu Valley.  In a future article, I plan to discuss some of the awesome bank accessible fisheries on the road system, so check back later on our website or give me a call anytime to discuss roadside fishing in the Matsu Valley and Anchorage area.

Not only is boating amazingly enjoyable, it helps you access world class fishing in the Matsu Valley.  To enjoy the best the Matsu Valley has to offer in terms of both scenery and fishing, you will need a boat.  At Miller’s Riverboat Service we are a highly mobile guide service because we take great pride in customer service and performance and want to give our customers the best opportunity. We always will take our customers to where the best fishing opportunity is, with our powerboats and rafts.

I separate the Matsu Valley into 3 fisheries categories.

  1. The Susitna River Drainage and tributaries.
  2. Knik Arm, specifically the Little Susitna River
  3. Stillwater Lakes (Wasilla is known as the Stillwater Fishing Capital of Alaska.)

Millers River Fishing Guide Service, Millers River Fly Fishing, Millers River, Millers Boating, Anchorage Alaska Fishing, Anchorage Alaska Fishing Charters, Millers Service, Anchorage Fishing Charters, Ice Fishing, Willow Alaska Fishing Guides, Willow Alaska Fishing Guide, Willow Alaska Fly Fishing Guides, Willow Alaska Float Trips, Willow Alaska Rafting, Willow Alaska Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing

Boating the Matanuska Susitna ValleyThe Susitna River drainage is more precious than gold.  The Susitna Drainage and its hundreds of clearwater tributaries host large runs of salmon, healthy trout and grayling populations; not to mention one of the best Hooligan runs in the state of Alaska.   However, what makes the Susitna drainage so unique, is that the river system flows through a truly untrammeled rugged pristine wilderness area, largely undeveloped with very few roads.  Road access is poor in Alaska, unlike the lower 48, and you will need a boat to access more and better fishing locations away from the crowds in the Matsu Valley.

A powerboat opens up the most opportunity for accessing the Susitna River, especially for day trips. The most popular day trip opportunities for fishing tributaries of the Susitna River include the Deshka River, accessed by Deshka Landing, the Kashwitna River accessed by Susitna Landing and the Talkeetna River accessed at the Talkeetna RV and boat launch.

Lake Creek is also a popular option, but it is a healthy 2 hour boat ride one way from Deshka Landing.

Millers River Fishing Guide Service, Millers River Fly Fishing, Millers River, Millers Boating, Anchorage Alaska Fishing, Anchorage Alaska Fishing Charters, Millers Service, Anchorage Fishing Charters, Ice Fishing, Willow Alaska Fishing Guides, Willow Alaska Fishing Guide, Willow Alaska Fly Fishing Guides, Willow Alaska Float Trips, Willow Alaska Rafting, Willow Alaska Rainbow Trout Fly FishingThe Little Susitna River hosts runs of all 5 species of Pacific Salmon and a respectable resident Rainbow Trout population.  Fishing on the Little Susitna River is nothing short of phenomenal.  Fly fishing the Little Susitna River for salmon from late July through early September is world class and rivals any other river in Alaska. The Little Susitna River is a much smaller river system and despite being so close to Wasilla and Palmer, flows through a largely true wilderness area with minimal development along its riverbanks and none on the lower 65 miles of river, with the exception of the Little Susitna Public Use Facility Public Boat Launch, located at river mile 28.5.   The Little Susitna River has very limited access.  Floating down the Little Susitna River from the Parks Highway to the Little Susitna Public Use Facility is best done in 3 days and 2 nights, at a minimum, if you are going to fish it properly.  Floating downstream of the Little Susitna Public Use Facility without a motor is not an option.  Given the current access opportunities, a powerboat provides the best opportunity for accessing prime fishing locations on the Little Susitna River.

The Stillwater Lakes near the major population areas of Big Lake, Wasilla, and Palmer offer surprisingly amazing fishing, with some lakes producing over 25” trout on a regular basis.  Unlike the Susitna and Little Susitna Rivers, most of the lakes in the Matsu Valley are surrounded by private property with limited access (usually at one spot) provided by either the Matanuska Susitna Borough or State of Alaska.  Under most circumstances, Matsu Valley Lakes are best fished from a boat.  A lot of Matsu Valley lakes do have motor restrictions and are effectively fished from a canoe or other small craft.  Big Lake along with some of the other larger lakes, do not have motor restrictions and are best fished from a powerboat. One of my favorite aspects of lake fishing in the Matsu Valley is that there are literally 4 lakes I can powerboat, with epic trout fishing, within a 10 minute drive from my house in Wasilla.  Pretty nice, considering the minimal cost involved and the opportunity to fish several different lakes in one day.  At least once a week I’ll come home in the afternoon from a guided remote river trip and pick up my 2 year old son and head to Finger Lake for a couple hours. There are a few spots you can hike to and enjoy quality fishing near Wasilla, but they are the exception.

If you see me out on the water in one of my green riverboats with a Mercury motor or my green raft set up like a drift boat,  say hi.

Fish On!

Ben Allen

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