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 Alaska Fly Fishing: Salmon Last Year, Rainbows & Steelhead This Year
Posted by kodiakcommando on February 26, 2007
(1919 reads)
Like every other year I have been in Alaska 06 was a good one! Yet it may have been the most different. The biggest reason was it was my first year guiding which I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, I think there are a lot of misconceptions about guiding. Two of the most common being you don't get to fish and you meet lots of jerks. For last year anyway I did get to fish, obviously not as much as I usually do, but I did and when I did it was awesome! The phrase quality over quantity comes to mind! I also found most guests were quite nice and if you gave them your best effort they were great.
It was also a different year in that I was away from home so long, which is not easy for anyone. Fishing wise in Bristol Bay was exceptional; just see my last fish tale. Fishing in Kodiak was good too but I missed much of the fishing due to my job. Still the fall and spring provided some great steelhead fishing as well as some dynamite fishing for dollies and rainbows. Weather wise Kodiak had a wet miserable summer and a cold snowy fall while Bristol Bay
also had a wet and foggy summer which resulted in many delayed fly out trips and blown out rivers. Luckily Bristol Bay has lots of options and there is always somewhere with hot fishing! One thing I regret is not spending enough time on flies and fins but in 07 I will definitely keep in touch more.
Looking ahead to 07 is very exciting as I now know how much I enjoy guiding as compared to last year where it was virgin territory. This year I will be working at Royal Wolf Lodge which is a Top notch lodge that's been around for a while and has a primo reputation. Unlike my last lodge that targets salmon and trout with fly or spin gear this lodge is fly fishing only for rainbows which are my favorite. Alaskan Rainbows are to me what steelhead are too many and insane passion. I enjoy and fish for all sorts of fish but Rainbows top the list. Many lower 48'rs are surprised by this until I describe the fishing for them especially Bristol Bay. Just imaging fishing for rainbows where you don't get the camera unless it's over 25 inches or maybe even 27 on the big trophy rivers and where they fight as hard as any steelhead and get as big as many steelhead and you realize Alaskan Rainbow fanatics are the same as great lakes steelhead fanatics!!! The lodge is a fly out lodge which means they have several float planes the use every day the weather permits allowing them to fish many different rivers. I always enjoy flying! I sure look forward to it and will give you guy’s reports while I’m there.
As far as fishing and not guiding go it also looks good. One trip that I look forward too is fishing for steelhead on The Karluk River on Kodiak. I am getting more and more into steelhead as there mystique grows upon me and the primetime to catch them is not affected by my guiding like salmon and trout are. The Karluk has the second largest run of steelhead in Alaska, as high as 11,000, the fish are not big but the rivers gives out lots of hookups. I figure as I enter my early stages of steelhead fever I would like to just catch a bunch of 5 to 7 pounders and worry about the giants later when my obsession is greater!
Overall 06 was great but I think 07 can be even greater!
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Re: Alaska: Salmon Last Year, Hot Rainbows And Steelhead This Year
by jeremy on February 26, 2007 http://www.fliesandfins.com | kodiak .. those rainbows sound killer to me ... would love to get a chance to get over there and fish with you someday soon .. you say,... "Just imagine fishing for rainbows where you don't get the camera unless it's over 25 inches .."
i can definately imagine that .. and would love to experience it! |
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Re: Alaska: Salmon Last Year, Hot Rainbows And Steelhead This Year
by bonefisher on February 26, 2007 | | holy cow, 25-27 inchers... i would love to make the trip up to alaska someday... awesome report! |
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Re: Alaska: Salmon Last Year, Hot Rainbows And Steelhead This Year
by bigtroutak on February 27, 2007 | | Awesome post! .......Living in Alaska we are truly blessed. I've never experienced Bristol Bay , God willing i will before the pebble mine destroys it, but this state offers in my opinion the best trout fishing in the world and i can't wait for the thaw to get out there !!!! |
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