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Subscriber Bob Daly from Indiana writes of his trip to the Alaska Peninsula. He said the weather consisted of high winds and rain for the entire week, and low visibility which created fly-out problems. He fished Gulf of Alaska. He describes the Pacific streams as offering "fantastic" silver and pink fishing. The largest silver was 35 and 1/8-inch.
Caught over 100-plus char in the upper creek. He spent 3 nights at an outpost spike camp, which he enjoyed. He said red and orange spoons worked well for silvers and polar shrimp flies worked the best for char, as well as pink bunny flies. He said that on the Peninsula streams, the water was high and murky from continuous rain. However the water cleared during the week, making the fishing better.
He spent $20 on Glo-Bugs which the guide "wouldn't let me use." He said the char swallow them, thus increasing the mortality rate of the char. He said this was his second trip to the secret bay on the Peninsula, and the fishing was fantastic both times. He couldn't imagine the silver fishing being better anyplace else in Alaska. He gives the price of a week's stay at $3,000, and is planning to return there again next year.
Randy Zarnke writes us about a fishing reel he needed repaired. He called a couple of places in Alaska, but no one could direct him to a reel repair depot in Fairbanks, where Zarnke lives. He found an ad in a magazine, and said, &127I took a chance on sending in the reel. I was very impressed with the fast turn-around time and reasonable price. I thought you might benefit from my experience. He gives the address as John Marshall, Sportsman's Repair Shop, 765 Pasha Ave, Mosinee, WI 54455 (715) (693)-6634. Marshall repairs tackle, guns, bows and trolling motors.
Subscriber Doug Spieske of California reports on a fishing adventure from August 30 through September 7 on the Naknek and Alagnak rivers.
WEATHER: Cold and rainy, with few periods of good weather.
He rates the salmon fishing as plentiful for silvers and pinks, and moderate for reds, rainbows and Dollies. He said that the best flies for silvers and rainbows were egg-sucking leeches, size 2. Spieske writes, "We stayed at the Quinnat Landing Hotel for several days. Made two fly-outs to Brooks and Contact Creek."
He said the trip to Brooks camp was an outstanding experience.
"You will see many bears." he writes, "Fishing can be good but other fisherman and lots of bears compete. The experience gave me much needed experience with bears, which I used on our float down the Alagnak a day later. The three-day float down the Alagnak is a good trip: The river is an easy Class 1 float, with few good camping spots. Saw five bears in three days."
PROBLEMS ON TRIP: Spieske said he experienced some problems coordinating fly-outs. "We were unable to float the stream we had planned to float. We were set-up to fly to a rainbow river and showed up at the airport with all our equipment. The pilot said he couldn't get our rowing frame into the airplane. He was also under the impression that we were going to Convict Creek, which we'd been to two days earlier." A real screw-up, and it shouldn't have happened, but the trip turned out OK. He experienced good results, however, flying to the Alagnak.
Spieske also used our Information Service for a sidetrip to Columbia Glacier. His report:
"We obtained a package deal, which included a round-trip flight from Anchorage, boat tour of Columbia Glacier and overnight stay on Growler Island for $280...a great deal! The flight was fine, was met by a woman from Stan Stephens charters who was very pleasant. The taxi to and from the airport was included in the price. The people at Stan Stephens charters were very nice. They have an excellent boat with heated cabins. An interesting tour of the glacier and Valdez harbor. I don't like tours, but I liked this one!"
He highly recommends the tour to subscribers who want to see the sights of southcentral Alaska.
Spieske also visited Kodiak Island in mid August. He fished small streams on Kodiak and Afognak islands and saltwater for halibut. He said the lodge he stayed at is located about 15 miles from Kodiak. Anglers are transported by car to road's end, and ferried by boat to Port Lions. The lodge is a new, two-story building in town. Note that it is in a scenic, but not wilderness location. All fishing is done by boat, close to the lodge. He said that while the lodge provides the halibut bait, they do not provide the flies for silver salmon, so pack plenty.
HIGHLIGHTS OF TRIP: He rates the food as very good, home-cooked meals. All fish cleaned, frozen and boxed for trip home. Observed lots of wildlife including puffins, otters and kittiwakes.
PROBLEMS ON TRIP: "The silver salmon were very difficult to catch on flies. Anglers had better luck with lures. The water in streams were relatively low--fished for silvers at stream mouths and short distance up streams. There was some competition from other local guides and fishermen at stream mouths."
Subscriber Reed Dils from Colorado reports on a trip he took last August from July 26 through August 4 in eastern Prince William Sound. He reports that the weather was good, with only one day of rain. He rates the fishing in Milton Lake fair for small cutthroats, and preferred Simpson Bay as best fishing location. He writes, "Stream fishing with 6-weight fly rod at produced fresh chum salmon up to nine pounds, with lots of fresh pinks, and rockfish in saltwater areas." He said the spoons worked best in tidal areas, zonkers and woolly bugger flies in streams, and jigging best in saltwater areas for rockfish.
HIGHLIGHTS OF TRIP: "Saw numerous sea otters, black bear and eagles. Excellent scenery. Fly fishing was excellent for pinks up to six pounds and chums to eight pounds. Fish very fresh with sea lice attached to them." The food was supplied by the outfitter, and Dils cooked for his party. Quality and variety was good.
PROBLEMS ON TRIP: He would have liked to see more specific information on stream fishing prior to the trip. The best fishing was one hour by boat from our tent camp.
Subscriber Mark Leggio of California reports a very positive trip he had with Fishing and Flying (POB 2349A, Cordova, AK 99574). He fished the first week of September on the Tsiu, Martin and Katalla rivers and experienced "outstanding silver fishing for cohos up to 20 pounds, catch and releasing five to six fish per hour at times."
HIGHLIGHTS OF TRIP: "The wildlife, scenery and all-around experience was tremendous. Daily fishing and fly-outs from the cabin, pilots were excellent, people were courteous and friendly, and the fishing was excellent along with some very enjoyable day hiking."
He writes that the price of the trip is extremely reasonable for all the flying involved. "Food is good and I suggest that you bring some suitable snacks as a supplement. The trip is exactly as reported in The Alaska Angler™.
He gives the cost of the trip, guide and food and transportation for a week costs $1,000.
Portions of these reports were excerpted from The Alaska Angler. For subscription information, see Alaska Angler Journal at this site.
This page last updated: July 31, 2001