Alaska!

[Tissy Furnes]

Spent 8 days earlier this month up in AK. 3 stops -- all working trips. Of course, work in Alaska always entails some fishing. These pics are all from my first stop. It was do-it-yourself fishing at its finest. I was too early for the silver samon run but there for the pinks (aka humpies) and also hooked up to numerous dolly varden trout. I wasn't on a famous river, but an average river there is superior to one most anywhere else. Every fly fisherman should make at least one trip to AK before he or she gets plowed under and I've been lucky to make it on a few. It does cost money to travel and stay but if you are on a budget you don't have to blow the big bucks on guides/lodges to have success.

The town was cool and funky. Check out the hammer museum.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3612.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3627.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3611-1.jpg

The river was tinged with glacial melt. Two legged critters weren't the only kind fishing.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3592.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3591.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3605.jpg

And now for the starring attractions.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3632.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3599.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3597.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3595.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3594.jpg

The perfect shot for the end of the trip.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/Alaska%20One/IMG_3608.jpg

[Salmo trutta]

Nice!!! What do I need to do so that I can get a "work" trip up there. I will make that dream a reality one of these days.


Let me know if you want to do something similar but only 400 miles away. The scenery won't be nearly as nice, no bears, tons more people and no dolly varden but you know. .... I'm already getting the ich for some steel/salmon. It always starts in August and some nights I toss and tern all night thinking of tailwalking salmonids.

NY's Silver Salmon run should start in about 2 weeks. It's usually short lived and those fish run the river in 24 hours but it's spectacular fishing when they do. The world record silver, aka Coho came from up there.

[Flying Fish]

Nice!, Seb. I've been in that town, by the way.

FF

[djones]

Excellent, excellent, excellent, Sebastian.

Provide some techy stuff like tackle and flies used.

[toddkfly]

Sebastian,
Great stuff. Great pic of the rainbow and of course the dolly's and humpies. Won't be long until things get rolling down here :). Tough gig by the way.

Todd

[Salmo trutta]

Sebastian,
Great stuff. Great pic of the rainbow and of course the dolly's and humpies. Won't be long until things get rolling down here :). Tough gig by the way.

Todd

I don't think either of those are rainbows, all dolleys and one pink salmon.. right? Either way nice fish.

[Tissy Furnes]

Thanks, guys. All dollies and one pink. I was told that there were very few rainbows in the this river. I was early for the silvers buy I managed to hook two in the latter parts of my journey. When I get organized I will pst pics from the other stops on the trip. If anyone wants suggestions on ways to do DIY fishing in AK let me know. It doesn't have to be a high end lodge type deal (though one day I want to give that a shot too).

Salmo, definitely want to do a GL trip but the trouble is getting the multiday pass this fall. Coaching kiddie soccer is already constraining Saturdays, at least through early Nov. Plus, I've already got a trip to Harkers in the works and will want to do one dayers in and around the Bay and the area. Keep me in the loop though.

DJ, go to fly for the dollies was a purple and pink egg sucking leech #4 while the pinks jumped all over a cerise streamer of the same size. I was fishing a 7 weight on sinking line, same line (300 grains) I use for shad. And like for shad in the P-mac, the sinking line made a difference keeping the fly down consistently at the level of the fish. I seemed to be hooking up more regularly than other fly fishermen. Spin fisherman too, most of whom seemed more intent on snagging than enticing strikes.

Todd,

The CBBT should be heating up soon. If your offer from Tiefest still stands, I'd love to come down later in the year.

[Ladyfish]

Awesome! Can't wait to see the rest of the photos. Maybe, someday...

[toddkfly]

Sebastian. Would love to fish with you. I'll keep you in the loop as things heat up. Should be a great fall for the pups and hopefully the specks. BTW, are you doing a Harker's trip this year? We'll be down November 4-8th this year, again staying in Atlantic Beach. If your down there then, we need to get a group together to chase the fatties. Oh, I meant the picture of the actual rainbow with the mountains in the backdrop. My girls saw it and thought it was pretty :)

[Salmo trutta]

Of course you did. Wow, I didn't even notice the actual rainbow. dumb dumb me.

[Tissy Furnes]

Todd, let's stay in touch. My bud is going to Harkers those exact same dates and has lined up a guide. It's a 50-50 shot that I might come down and fish a couple of the days. If I do, let's try to connect, either on the water or at a watering hole afterwards.

[Brandon]

Thanks for the great report and great pics! You're work is as good as mine, I love it;-) :D

Looks like a spectacular time, thanks for taking the time to put the report together and share it!

:rockingreport:

Brandon

[Tissy Furnes]

Thanks, Brandon. AK truly is a spectacular place.