(907) 495-4955
Fishing - Hunting - Flightseeing - Gold Prospecting - River Tours
©2010 Hatcher Pass RV
FISHING
Statewide Ban on Felt Sole Waders in 2012
This ban is occurring in other places and a growing number of wader manufacturers are discontinuing felt soles and now offer quality alternatives.
Trout fishing opens in early June, Salmon runs begin in mid-July,
and Rainbow Trout run till the streams ice over. Alaska sport fishing waters in the Mat-Su Valley include the Deshka River, Willow Creek, Montana Creek, Clear Creek, Deception Creek, Susitna River Tributaries, Little Susitna River, Montana Creek, Talkeenta River and more.
Susitna Valley River Guides
Susitna Valley River Guides, right across the road from Hatcher Pass RV, is the only guide service in the Mat-Su Valley offering full-service float trips in pursuit of resident species, scenic float trips on Historic Willow Creek, and a specialized fly shop and gift shop with local Alaskan-made gifts and collectibles.
View Alaska Salmon Run Chart
provided by ADF&G (pdf)
The ADF&G also produces an Alaska Lake Map
with fishing information and regulations
for more than 80 Mat-Su Valley lakes
in the areas of Talkeetna, Willow and Nancy Lake,
Big Lake, Point Mackenzie, Palmer-Wasilla
and
the Glenn Hwy.
View Map (pdf)
HUNTING
Alaska is a popular hunting destination. Hunters come from all over the world to hunt big game animals such as the brown bear, black bear, moose, and caribou. Mountain goat hunts are also quickly becoming a rising interest to hunters.
The reason as to why Alaska is such a popular hunting destination is because it owns some of the world's largest big game animals. Alaska's species of brown bear and moose are the largest in the world. According to the Boone and Crockett Club, Alaska has a rich history of world record brown bear, moose, and caribou, taken by various hunters. Hunters are able to partake in an Alaskan hunt by obtaining hunting licenses and game tags, and also following the areas laws and regulations. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; |
Fish and Wildlife Service Unit 13 Regs
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/areas/hunting/southcentral/matanuska-susitna-valley.htm
The Mat/Su Valley offers big game hunters the opportunity to harvest moose,
caribou, mountain goat, sheep, brown bear, and black bear.
Small game includes hares, spruce grouse and ptarmigan.
Additionally, waterfowl migrate through the area offering excellent duck hunting opportunities.
Fishing - Hunting - Flightseeing - Gold Prospecting - River Tours
(907) 495-4955
FLIGHTSEEING
©2010 Hatcher Pass RV
Fishing - Hunting - Flightseeing - Gold Prospecting - River Tours
Gold Prospecting
Hatcher Pass is in the Willow Creek mining district. Over 500,000 ounces of gold has been produced from the district.
The first mining claims were staked in the Hatcher Pass area in 1906. Underground hard-rock mining of gold from quartz veins accounts for most of the mineral wealth extracted from the Hatcher Pass area, although the first mining efforts were placer mining of stream gravels, and placer mining in the area has continued sporadically to this day. The first mill in the area started operating in 1908. Underground mining continued at a variety of locations around the pass until 1951. In the 1980s, one of the area's hard-rock mines was briefly re-opened.
At least one mining company is actively exploring for gold in the area now.
Recreational gold mining in Alaska
Recreational mining, i.e., small-scale prospecting and mining using gold pans, sluiceboxes, rockers, suction dredges, and metal detectors, is enjoying a resurgence in Alaska. It is a fun way to spend a day or weekend, everyone in the family can participate, and it requires only inexpensive equipment. Plus, you just might find some gold.
Creative Commons
Miners working a sluice on Lucky Gulch, Blue Ribbon Mine, Alaska
There are many commercial ventures that charge fees to recreational miners located on historically-rich placer ground
Much of the State and Federal-owned land in Alaska is open to recreational mining, but be aware, there are regulations governing how such mining can be done.
It is never legal or OK to mine on public land that is closed to such activities; or to mine without permission on either public land that is already staked or leased, or privately-owned land.
Popular areas include; areas of Chugach National Forest, areas within Alaska State Parks such as Chugach State Park, Kenai State Parks, and Independence Mine State Historical Park, and along the Dalton Highway.
Most of the public-access areas have few or no facilities, such as outhouses, but that's changing, and adds to the feeling of getting in touch with the gold mining roots of the Pioneers.
The Hatcher Pass Public Use Area is located approximately fifteen miles north of Palmer on the Little Susitna River. The area is open to a variety of recreational activities, including recreational mining.
A fact sheet provides details on recreational mining within the Hatcher Pass Public Use Area
Creative Commons
The historic Hatcher Pass and Willow Creek Mining district
Fishing - Hunting - Flightseeing - Gold Prospecting - River Tours
River Tours
Little Su Boat Launch
Susitna Landing is a state-owned campground and boat access
on the Kashwitna River, just upstream from the Susitna River.
It is owned by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
A private concessionaire provides on-site management.
Millers Riverboat Service
Whether You're Wanting To Casually Fish The River In Comfort From Our High End Jet Boat,
or Fish Intensely All Day Long You've Found The Right Place.
Susitna Landing and Ron's Riverboat Service
Mahay's Riverboat Service