Steelheadfred
08-28-2007, 01:54 PM
On May 19th, 2000 I arrived at Katmai Lodge on the Alagnak River, in the heart of Bristol Bay Alaska. When the Dehaviland Otter landed on the long dirt runway I figured we were stopping someplace for supplies, I was expecting a Log Cathedral, rather than this small village in the tundra. I settled myself into a 10X10 box of ply wood, two bunks, and two fly tying tables. I hated the first week. Fast forward 95 days, and I left with tears in my eyes.
Upon arrival home, I had only a semester of college left. I choose to start a career, rather then return to guiding the wilderness streams of Bristol Bay Alaska. I hold such fond memories of my time at Katmai Lodge. Some times I regret not going back.
Last Saturday, August 18th, along with my father, my cousin Dan, and two friends, I (we) landed on the same dirt runway, in the same plane, at the same lodge. We were greeted by my brother Duece 22 (aka Jr. or Ric) who has been guiding at the lodge for two summers.
Our second guide on the Trip is Scotty, Scott is the little brother to my best friend since grade school. His brother who I met in the 4th grade and shared a love of hunting and fishing, married my wife's best friend. I have known Scott since he was shitting his pants as a 2 year old.
The three older guys, my father, his lawyer Larry, and a long time high school friend Tom piled into a large jet boat with my brother, while Cousin Dan and I fished with Scotty in his smaller boat. We kept this set up all week, but fished together 95% of the time.
The Silver Salmon fishing was nothing short of outstanding, both using traditional greased line swung techniques on inside bend bars, and fishing the slews with hardware and flies.
Here are some pictures of the Salmon fishing from the week:
My brother the guide with the first fish of the trip.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p5e8a9beabecbc306fcb417a732a27976/e7fbb8a6.jpg
My first Salmon on the trip, (took me about 12 casts).
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd5894d9f0ae3cc81cdf14842ca9234a2/e7fbb89d.jpg
Scotty and Tom with Sea Lice adorned hen Silver.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p4b284d12c0d2bcfa92765fe2deff1d15/e7fbb895.jpg
My brother and his former hockey coach, also my dads lawyer and great friend, Uncle Larry.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe69359afb12eb968ea4369825093d357/e7fbb886.jpg
Cousin Dan, with a "dirty" Chum Salmon. We caught Chum's that ranged from bright to almost dead. The prey drive of these fish is second to none in AK.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe6f4667cc4fb0c5080737c7b5b7e3fc9/e7fbb87a.jpg
Articulated hot pink leaches are the fly of choice for silvers, and pretty much anything with salmon after its name that swim in the Alagnak.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p82ced576211f1f3e49e63b17568a9fb4/e7fbb864.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pabe6331e87ca3c5ca1007e124eee461b/e7fbb85c.jpg
When not fishing the bars, we did lots and lots of sight fishing. This is simply a blast, I don’t enjoy it as much because it involves lots of stripping. But watching the chase, the wake, and the take brings the whole package together. Many times we would "test" a spot by using 1/4oz jigs, tied into a flie, you cast them with spinning gear and pump and reel them back to the boat. When fish are located then we switch to tossing flies.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pca6ffc036b3ab1f6bcbb6e5c4167c76c/e7fbb853.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/peb2220ae45f769d6b1082d0cc13ebf5b/e7fbb6ae.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p2821d3cfc6f8d069bb6efe14d06b1623/e7fbb685.jpg
Upon arrival home, I had only a semester of college left. I choose to start a career, rather then return to guiding the wilderness streams of Bristol Bay Alaska. I hold such fond memories of my time at Katmai Lodge. Some times I regret not going back.
Last Saturday, August 18th, along with my father, my cousin Dan, and two friends, I (we) landed on the same dirt runway, in the same plane, at the same lodge. We were greeted by my brother Duece 22 (aka Jr. or Ric) who has been guiding at the lodge for two summers.
Our second guide on the Trip is Scotty, Scott is the little brother to my best friend since grade school. His brother who I met in the 4th grade and shared a love of hunting and fishing, married my wife's best friend. I have known Scott since he was shitting his pants as a 2 year old.
The three older guys, my father, his lawyer Larry, and a long time high school friend Tom piled into a large jet boat with my brother, while Cousin Dan and I fished with Scotty in his smaller boat. We kept this set up all week, but fished together 95% of the time.
The Silver Salmon fishing was nothing short of outstanding, both using traditional greased line swung techniques on inside bend bars, and fishing the slews with hardware and flies.
Here are some pictures of the Salmon fishing from the week:
My brother the guide with the first fish of the trip.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p5e8a9beabecbc306fcb417a732a27976/e7fbb8a6.jpg
My first Salmon on the trip, (took me about 12 casts).
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd5894d9f0ae3cc81cdf14842ca9234a2/e7fbb89d.jpg
Scotty and Tom with Sea Lice adorned hen Silver.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p4b284d12c0d2bcfa92765fe2deff1d15/e7fbb895.jpg
My brother and his former hockey coach, also my dads lawyer and great friend, Uncle Larry.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe69359afb12eb968ea4369825093d357/e7fbb886.jpg
Cousin Dan, with a "dirty" Chum Salmon. We caught Chum's that ranged from bright to almost dead. The prey drive of these fish is second to none in AK.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe6f4667cc4fb0c5080737c7b5b7e3fc9/e7fbb87a.jpg
Articulated hot pink leaches are the fly of choice for silvers, and pretty much anything with salmon after its name that swim in the Alagnak.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p82ced576211f1f3e49e63b17568a9fb4/e7fbb864.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pabe6331e87ca3c5ca1007e124eee461b/e7fbb85c.jpg
When not fishing the bars, we did lots and lots of sight fishing. This is simply a blast, I don’t enjoy it as much because it involves lots of stripping. But watching the chase, the wake, and the take brings the whole package together. Many times we would "test" a spot by using 1/4oz jigs, tied into a flie, you cast them with spinning gear and pump and reel them back to the boat. When fish are located then we switch to tossing flies.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pca6ffc036b3ab1f6bcbb6e5c4167c76c/e7fbb853.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/peb2220ae45f769d6b1082d0cc13ebf5b/e7fbb6ae.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p2821d3cfc6f8d069bb6efe14d06b1623/e7fbb685.jpg