Ice Fishing on the Big Three A Look at Harding, Birch, and Quartz Lakes

Interior Alaska hosts some of the best ice fishing opportunities in the state. Winter anglers literally have dozens of lakes swirling with fish to choose from. Beginning in late October sunlight starts fading daily, temperatures eventually drop to double digit negatives, and water surfaces become locked up harder than asphalt. This is the time fishermen start deciding where to go ice fish in the central region of the state. Most ice fishermen end up on one of the three principle lakes found along the Richardson Highway. I call the lakes the “Big Three.”

Harding, Birch, and Quartz Lakes are located adjacent to the roadside between the cities of Fairbanks and Delta Junction, sitting approximately an equal distance apart from each other. They are the predominant and most popular locations for winter fishing north of the Alaska Range. The lakes are stocked by Alaska Department of Fish and Game, feature state recreational areas, and have public accessibility. Anglers willing to endure freezing conditions will find several species of fish to catch; rainbow trout, arctic char, land locked salmon, arctic grayling, burbot and lake trout. Each lake has its own character, unique landscape, and distinct scenarios of vertical fishing for every experience level. I approach each one of the “Big Three” a little differently depending on the angling goals I am attempting to accomplish.

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Quartz Lake

As late October arrives, I am hoping for a quick freeze and first ice up at Quartz Lake. Experience has shown me over the last twelve years that fishing is best early in the season from ice up through mid January. At Quartz Lake I am specifically targeting trophy size rainbow trout. I find myself often driving in drifting snow during the almost two hours on the dim lit highway from Fairbanks. The journey can be an arduous task. The payout is when you feel the bite, set the hook, and bring up one of the elusive twenty-plus inch rainbows to the frozen surface.

I like starting early in the morning for the drive, which allows me to reach the lake at an optimal time to set up and be ready for the morning daylight transition. Generally fish can be caught anywhere on the lake. My tactic for targeting bigger rainbow trout is executed by fishing the shallower edges and perimeter areas. Drilling a couple holes with an auger and using an underwater camera assists me in determining what the bottom looks like and if fish are present. My preferred method of enticing the big rainbows is accomplished by using a light/medium action ice fishing rod simply sitting static while my offering sits 2 to 4 inches up off the bottom of the lake floor. I like fishing shallow areas and I consider depths of about 3 to 4 feet to be perfect for my technique of “Dead sticking” the rod. Hooks are normally baited with a cocktail combination of fresh shrimp and scented synthetic floating trout eggs. Using a larger bait holding style hook, ideally size 4, aids in keeping the smaller size fish away. This type of presentation is just too big for the smaller fish.

Quartz Lake is the farthest in distance when traveling from Fairbanks at about 90 miles. Access is reached by a three mile winding road that starts at MP 277.8 on the Richardson Highway and ends at a State Recreational Area and boat launch. The road is usually plowed and maintained during the winter, however during some periods of heavy snow you may want to consider using a 4-wheel drive vehicle. When ice conditions allow, access is done via the state boat launch by either walking or driving a vehicle easily right on the lake. The lake is mid-size at about 1,500 acres of surface and a maximum depth of about 40 feet, but the majority of the lake is less than 20 feet deep. Restrooms are open for use near the front parking lot of the recreational area entrance. If you do not have your own shelter/hut, reservations can be made through the Alaska State Department of Natural Resources to rent one of the four hard sided ice fishing huts that are usually positioned and ready to use on the lake by mid December.

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Although my intentions are catching big rainbows, Quartz holds a healthy population of other stocked fish. Arctic char, coho salmon, and chinook salmon can all be found in good numbers. The land locked salmon reach average lengths of around 13 inches. The rainbows and arctic char mostly range in sizes from 10 to 18 inches, with occasionally catching larger fish that can reach lengths over 20 inches.

Throwing a handful of large white lima beans or crushed egg shells in the ice hole and letting them sink to the bottom will reflect light, allowing me to clearly see what swims between the bottom of the lake and the bottom of the ice hole. In most cases you can clearly see the fish swim over the top of beans/shells as they come in for the bait. As you see the fish come in, your heart starts racing. You must remember to be patient and vigil.

Gerald Smiley holds a 33 inch arctic char from Harding Lake. Photo courtesy Dennis Musgraves.

Since regulations in Alaska allow anglers the use of two lines while ice fishing, I like to stay engaged by jigging a second rod with a small spoon in close proximity to my “dead stick” line. Anticipating a giant rainbow coming in on my baited line and waiting for the feel of a strike from my jigging rod is just doubling the fun.

The post “Ice Fishing on the Big Three A Look at Harding, Birch, and Quartz Lakes” appeared first on ADFA Alaska.

Conclusion

Hope this post was helpful to you and that you have a very successful trip fishing with your friends and family! Check out the other sections of my blog for more tips on ThebookOnGoneFishing.

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