Too much cool stuff to see here to really gush on about. It is beyond my expectations as far as natural vistas go.
We got here last week, went straight to Denali NP, but made a stop in Hatchers Pass. Killer views- and even found a little lake slap full of rainbow trout that my son and I put a hurting on with the hour we fanagled out of my wife.
Denali was so great, it would need its own post.
Got to Seward and did a Glacier tour ( amazing)… but my son and I were pinging to fish.
Got a hall pass and he and I ran about an hour north to fish some creeks with trout.
They will only eat one thing at this point- Salmon eggs.
First cast was in the water 3 seconds before I had my first rainbow. Meanwhile, there are a dozen Red (Sockeye) salmon swimming at my feet.
We caught so many trout and each of us accidentally hooked salmon despite trying not to.
Unfortunately, my son hooked a salmon on my 6 wt while I was rerigging him after a break off… I heard the dreaded “crack” as my 6 wt blew up in two places. Down to a 5 wt and 8 wt now with a week and a half to go. Also, my son hooked a massive trout that ripped him almost to the backing… came off about 5 min into the fight. He is begging for more hall passes now.
Also, I am a FL boy, and not too sure of these fish types. We caught a bunch (15 plus trout-ish fish) each in 90 min or so of fishing….
I know rainbows and am pretty sure the other fish we caught were Dolly Vardens…
I caught one that had a bunch more color to it (more greenish) but it doesn’t show in the pics.
So cool. That is one regret i have, not going when I had the chance. We were heading up there in 94 when I was a Senior in HS, but breakdowns ended the trip early and ultimately landed us in E.NC. By the time my parents went for it again, I was in my early 20s and didn’t want to go at the time. They stayed for 4 months had a fantastic time there.
@nehrke thank you. The one was much more colorful than the rest. We caught so many of the paler colored Dollys… but that one was green and purple.
@MikeCockman this has been a trip I dreamed of for years. I have been awed and yet came in with high expectations.
Worth going but this is going to be one costly trip when it is all said and done.
Even without fishing, it’s amazing.
We have seen whales, sea lions, seals, moose, a grizzly, dall sheep, caribou, and both Golden and bald eagles.
Great report on a fantastic trip! AK is special. Haven’t been since the 80’s. Wondering with all the reality shows about AK if it’s still as special as it was back then? Looks like it is! Thanks for sharing.
Weather has been perfect thus far. Tomorrow we are doing a boat trip in Resurrection Sound for silver salmon (we thought halibut, but apparently they are closed to fishing Tues and Weds and this is the only day that worked- so Salmon it is)
Supposed to rain all day and high of 53. Not excited at all.
Praying that the rain holds.
Yesterday, we hiked to “Exit Glacier” in the AM. Because it is daylight at 530 am and light until after 10 pm, it allowed me to go fishing for more trout.
Both boys pounded the Dollys and kept catching bigger and bigger ones.
I spent most of the time rerigging from there somewhat frequent break offs.
We then ran about 30 miles to try flossing for Sockeye Salmon. Not a fan overall. I hooked and lost one near the shore. My older boy and I gave it an hour and struck out… but I did catch this butterball rainbow.
Today we went Silver (Coho) Salmon fishing offshore. We had a 3 per person limit to catch. We were limited out by 10 am. Went and caught our limit of rockfish (a grouper) in 15 minutes which the Captain said was an eternity.
Thanks for the tip @Lawndart
I am currently in Homer and it is all things Silver Salmon for the next two days. I am going back up into the mountains (near Coopers Landing) on Tuesday and plan to trout fish then. Will put a mouse on and see how it does.
I did catch a silver yesterday on a dolly llama. Nice fish- close to 10#s - but my cell was w my boys so no pics. Going to try again today after a boat tour of the area.
I was there mid-August years ago, yes it was all things silver salmon. I used large egg patterns with a split shot a foot or two above to sink it, swinging through the current on one of the streams on the Kenai. 8wt fly rod. Took them to a smoke house who processed and then sent them to me. Totally worth it
.. It really does awesome!!
