This has undoubtedly been one of the worst winters in Alaska, for me. Probably the second coldest and unlike last winter when I was catching Dolly Varden in open water all winter, this winter the fly gear has been collecting dust. But alas, salvation was in sight this morning as i was able to round up my fly gear and head out in search of soft water. I knew that the chances of my favorite Dolly Varden lake being open enough to catch fish was slim and that steelhead fly fishing, or so I thought, hasn’t heated up yet. However, this cold lifeless Alaska winter has been so frustrating that just getting out driving with fly fishing gear sounded fun. After the 20 or so minute drive I arrived at the golf course parking lot that is also the head of a trail that leads to the back of the lake. A quick look with the binoculars revealed the lake was still frozen. After crying a little inside I headed to my favorite steelhead location. It’s a beaver pond that has good fishing in the pond itself and the stretch of river below it. I parked at the inlet of the pond and rigged up a strike indicator and the fly of choice was a pink revolution. Basically an all pink bead head wooly bugger with a body tied with polar chennile. I Forgot my steelhead rig and instead had to use my new outfit, a TFO fly rod and a Cabelas fly reel complete with 6 pound test. Obviously if I hooked a steelhead I could not make any mistakes or the light tippet would snap. I started casting at the inlet where the pond is 6 to 8 feet deep. This is a popular spawning and wintering area, steelies are landed here all winter. On the 4th cast I kept feeding line to get a long drift and the started stripping the fly back. On the 4th or 5th strip it came, a bone jarring strike, the kind that pull rods out of careless fly fishermen’s hands. I set the hook gingerly as the fish did most of the work and immediately an 8 pound steelhead, in the darkening process, leaped out of the water and peeled 40 yards of line of my reel while leaping 3 more times. I then spent a good deal of time bringing the fish in as carefully as possible. I thought about taking a picture while I was fighting the fish because that’ the only way I can take pictures by myself when I am releasing fish. However, fumbling around with my camera and fighting a nice steelhead with 6 pound test can only lead to disaster. I got the fish in removed the fly from his mouth and the steelhead swam away to fight another day. Suddenly, I felt like dancing and yelling, I felt like I tasted the upcoming summer. My day was made and I could have gone home but I decided to check another honey hole of mine. I walked down and left the pond behind and followed the river to a spot that has produced some big steelhead for me. This spot is located right where a feeder creek empties into some deep riffles. I switched to a 10mm bead and on my first cast I saw my indicator pause, a far cry from the early slam I experienced with the first fish. I set the hook, this time with more vigor and another 8 pound steelhead that looked much brighter than the first fish cleared the water and headed 20 yards upstream. I am glad too because the downstream stretch is a bare to wade. This fish just seemed to know my tippet situation and just got in the current and wouldn’t budge. I just pulled him in inch by inch on a stretch of river only 30 feet wide. It seemed to take forever but it was well worth it! I released my second steelhead of the day and felt like I was floating on air. Knowing that it couldn’t get any better as the weather started to turn I headed back home all the while thanking the fly fishing gods for a successful day. This day just might help me wait out the last days of winter!
kodiak – 2 steelies – on your first day out – when you thought everything was gonna be all frozen over! — sweet — it’s all up hill from here. I am thinking of making a trip to alaska this season – not so interested in the king salmon – more interested in the rainbows and steelhead… what are my options for august?? let me know thanks.
ps – i have been up there before – southeast alaska – wrangell, st petersburg, ketchikan, juneau, sitka etc… just fished and backpacked around for 4 months.. i really enjoyed being self sufficient and relying on the public ferry system to get me from island to island….. did not have to rely on any set plans or schedules… that is how i like to travel – thanks,.
Jeremy,
I have a couple of spots for bows and silvers depending on what part of Ak you’re heading to. If it’s the wook-tickhik area or togiak region let me know, i have a trip of a life time for a float and for jsut camping and fishing round the clock, a river that one can dry fly fish, or swing big steamers or nymph, or use egg patterns.
Thanks jeremys. If you coming in august you won’t be targeting many steelhead but rainbows will be plentiful all over the state. Honestly if you can i would come in early to mid september because the bow fishing is much much better and most of the coho salmon crowds have subsided. If you do come in august come in late august. As for locations it really depends on how much money you are willing to spend. If budget is a concern try fishing the kenai penninsula and mat su valley. You can rent a car and even a raft so you can do some floats. If you are willing to spend more cash try the wood tickhick, Katmai or illiamna regions. These areas are more expensive to get to and a guide is more important but the fishing is much better than the kenai and mat su regions with much fewer crowds.