(LAMP alert). A tremendous time with my boys in the Last Frontier last week in our Mile 21 lodge on the mighty Kenai near Soldotna, AK. We do this every odd numbered year, 3rd week of July, which is peak sockeye salmon run. I suppose no one trip is for erryone, but I do believe this or similar trip to see the wild of Alaska, whether fisherperson, hunter, or nature lover, would thrill 80% plus. So many species to go after, from silvers, sockeye, King, rainbows, dolly varden, huge lake trout, halibut in the Gulf of Alaska.
As I explained to Doc, as will happen in Alaska, the rain/fog screwed us on our flight last Tues. to see the historic Richard Proenneke cabin. As it's a 2-hour flight by Dehaviland Otter, it's just too risky flying through the mountains with a low ceiling and poor visibility. Bummer, we were going to drop down on 3 different lakes and fly fish them, with shoreline lunch at the cabin, and the Ranger letting us in to see the cabin. Next time - 2019 trip.
On to da pics . . .
Flew up and landed on Crescent Lake here above Cook's Inlet - unreal panorama in which to fly fish. YUGE lake trout going 10-15 #, sockeyes, and dolly varden trout were doubling over our 5-6 weight fly rods, thus E5's "thumbs up"! Had to share the bank with sow and cubs at one point, which was cool. (Tip: use "flesh" flies, split shot to get to bottom in fast current)
Fly fishing does NOT SUCK in AK, but leghumpers DO (j/k Daryl if you get this!):
My fishing bud (4 year old young brown bear):
I cannot be held responsible for the assignment of my trout fishing guide ($1 to Stretch on photography "generosity"):
Guide went nuts that one of my buds caught a KING SALMON in Crescent Lake (called a "jack", which is King that goes off script from the big 'uns - see the black dots? Telltale King marking):
Against long odds approach the completion of the "Immaculate Deflection" (what you did there, I see it!), my bud fought and landed a big male sockeye on a 6-weight fly rod; took about 40 min):
http://i.imgur.com/viC5g7b.jpg[/img]']http://i.imgur.com/viC5g7b.jpg[/img]']Finally got the King monkey off my back, after three prior efforts in '14 and '16. Froze our a$$e$ off doing so, 7 miles from the mouth of Kenai (tip: putting lure down close to the mouth of river helps, as you're presenting to Kings who haven't been repeatedly "educated" going up-river to spawn). Blown assignment on my part not "cleaning up" the King for pic; I was feeling bloodthirsty. FYI, we released the two really big Kings over 50# caught, this guy was 35#:http://i.imgur.com/HnLZnRo.jpg[/img]']
Against good advice, got this sockeye in on 6-weight fly rod (lucky I didn't break rod). To load the freezer faster, stick with baitcasting and 25# test, 40# mono leader.
Guess where I caught my sockeyes on the Kenai? (and who knew our Bunker's Best CHAMPION had fished this exact spot in years past?)
Exhibit A on my case for "Most beautiful place in 'Murrica (Mile 2 of the Kenai, at Cooper's Landing):http://i.imgur.com/YmeiGlh.jpg[/img]']
Exhibit B, Kenai River sunset, MIDNIGHT (we often fished all the way to "dark" at midnight, sunrise starts about 3:30 a.m.; crazy:
Smart to book a couple of halibut trips to load the freezer with arguably the best eatin' fish of 'em all (btw, 2nd from left gentleman is retired Navy Rear Admiral Jack Natter, WHAT a great man!). Regrettably, 8-9 foot seas out of Homer kept us from going out 14-15 miles + to catch the bigger halibut. Some of our guys did, hauling a 100# and several 70# halibut.
How Alaskans pimp their ride:
As I explained to Doc, as will happen in Alaska, the rain/fog screwed us on our flight last Tues. to see the historic Richard Proenneke cabin. As it's a 2-hour flight by Dehaviland Otter, it's just too risky flying through the mountains with a low ceiling and poor visibility. Bummer, we were going to drop down on 3 different lakes and fly fish them, with shoreline lunch at the cabin, and the Ranger letting us in to see the cabin. Next time - 2019 trip.
On to da pics . . .
Flew up and landed on Crescent Lake here above Cook's Inlet - unreal panorama in which to fly fish. YUGE lake trout going 10-15 #, sockeyes, and dolly varden trout were doubling over our 5-6 weight fly rods, thus E5's "thumbs up"! Had to share the bank with sow and cubs at one point, which was cool. (Tip: use "flesh" flies, split shot to get to bottom in fast current)
Fly fishing does NOT SUCK in AK, but leghumpers DO (j/k Daryl if you get this!):
My fishing bud (4 year old young brown bear):
I cannot be held responsible for the assignment of my trout fishing guide ($1 to Stretch on photography "generosity"):
Guide went nuts that one of my buds caught a KING SALMON in Crescent Lake (called a "jack", which is King that goes off script from the big 'uns - see the black dots? Telltale King marking):
Against long odds approach the completion of the "Immaculate Deflection" (what you did there, I see it!), my bud fought and landed a big male sockeye on a 6-weight fly rod; took about 40 min):
http://i.imgur.com/viC5g7b.jpg[/img]']http://i.imgur.com/viC5g7b.jpg[/img]']Finally got the King monkey off my back, after three prior efforts in '14 and '16. Froze our a$$e$ off doing so, 7 miles from the mouth of Kenai (tip: putting lure down close to the mouth of river helps, as you're presenting to Kings who haven't been repeatedly "educated" going up-river to spawn). Blown assignment on my part not "cleaning up" the King for pic; I was feeling bloodthirsty. FYI, we released the two really big Kings over 50# caught, this guy was 35#:http://i.imgur.com/HnLZnRo.jpg[/img]']
Against good advice, got this sockeye in on 6-weight fly rod (lucky I didn't break rod). To load the freezer faster, stick with baitcasting and 25# test, 40# mono leader.
Guess where I caught my sockeyes on the Kenai? (and who knew our Bunker's Best CHAMPION had fished this exact spot in years past?)
Exhibit A on my case for "Most beautiful place in 'Murrica (Mile 2 of the Kenai, at Cooper's Landing):http://i.imgur.com/YmeiGlh.jpg[/img]']
Exhibit B, Kenai River sunset, MIDNIGHT (we often fished all the way to "dark" at midnight, sunrise starts about 3:30 a.m.; crazy:
Smart to book a couple of halibut trips to load the freezer with arguably the best eatin' fish of 'em all (btw, 2nd from left gentleman is retired Navy Rear Admiral Jack Natter, WHAT a great man!). Regrettably, 8-9 foot seas out of Homer kept us from going out 14-15 miles + to catch the bigger halibut. Some of our guys did, hauling a 100# and several 70# halibut.
How Alaskans pimp their ride:
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