THERE IS STILL SOMETHING EXCITING ABOUT HEADING FOR ALASKA. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, AND ALASKA IS ALMOST AS ACCESSIBLE AS IDAHO OR MONTANA, IT CONJURES UP VISIONS OF WILDERNESS AND UNDISCOVERED FRONTIERS. OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT ALL IMAGINARY, ALASKA TO THIS DAY HAS AREAS THAT ARE REMOTE, WILD AND SELDOM SEE THE FOOTPRINT OF MAN, AND THE FISHING IS STILL SOME OF THE BEST IN NORTH AMERICA!
FOR ME THIS WAS ABOUT MY TENTH TRIP TO ALASKA, ABOUT EQUALLY SPLIT BETWEEN BUSINESS AND PLEASURE (FISHING). THIS TRIP'S PRIMARY GOAL WAS THE SILVER (COHO) SALMON OF THE TSIU RIVER, WITH AN ADDITIONAL STOP AT BULCHITNA LAKE LODGE TO PURSUE THE ELUSIVE TEN POUND RAINBOW TROUT. I HAVE BEEN SEEKING A RAINBOW TEN POUNDS OR LARGER FOR MANY YEARS AND EXPECT IF I EVENTUALLY GET ONE IT WILL BE IN ALASKA. I WANT IT TO BE A WILD FISH, NOT ONE CAUGHT IN A HATCHERY RAISED POND.
AT BULCHITNA, WE FISHED LAKE CREEK, WHICH DOES HOLD SOME VERY LARGE FISH, AND I HAD ONE ON BRIEFLY UNTIL HE BROKE OFF. AFTER THAT IT WAS ALL SMALLER FISH, 16-18" UNTIL THE RAINS CAME AND BLEW OUT THE RIVER FOR THE REST OF OUR STAY THERE.
FROM BULCHITNA, IT WAS ON TO THE TSIU, WHERE THE WEATHER WAS GREAT. THE FISHING WAS SLOWER THEN PREVIOUS YEARS, IT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED IF THE RUN OF SILVERS IS LIGHT OR LATE. OF COURSE "SLOWER" ON THE TSIU MEANS YOU ONLY CATCH 20 TO 30 FISH PER DAY INSTEAD OF 40 TO 50. DOUG GARNETT IN OUR GROUP DEFIED THE ODDS AND HAD ONE DAY OF 70 FISH.
BELOW, IN ADDITION TO MY PHOTOS, SOME ARE CONTRIBUTED BY FISHING BUDDY, DICK ABRAMS OF SEATTLE.
BULCHITNA LAKE LODGE AND LAKE CREEK
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| DEPARTING ANCHORAGE | ARRIVING BULCHITNA LAKE | BULCHITNA LAKE LODGE |
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| DECK TIME | LAKE CREEK | DOUG GARNETT AND CHUM |
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| DON GARNETT | SETTING SUN ON BULCHITNA | SUNSET |
TSIU RIVER
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| THE BERING GLACIER | TSIU RIVER | DOUG AND DON GARNETT |
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| DOUG HAS ONE ON | ED BENDING THE ROD | HAPPY FISHERMEN |
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| ONE | TWO | THREE |
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| LUNCH ON THE RIVER | DVFF GROUP | FOOTPRINTS OF ANOTHER FISHERMEN |
THIS WILL BE MY LAST MAJOR TRIP FOR THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, BEFORE YEAR END I WILL BE MAKING SOME LOCAL TRIPS AND YOU MAY FIND THEM DOCUMENTED ON THE CALIFORNIA PAGE. IN JANUARY I WILL BE OFF TO COSTA RICA IN PURSUIT OF SOME LARGE TARPON AT CASA MAR LODGE. MANY OF THE SAME FRIENDS FROM THE JUNE BAJA TRIP WILL BE ALONG.....IT WILL BE FUN, CHECK OUT THE 2006 JOURNALS.
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"FISHING IS A DELUSION ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY LIARS IN OLD CLOTHES" Don Marquis |
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2005 BAJA CALIFORNIA BRITISH COLUMBIA GREEN RIVER HOME
10/2005