I am in Newark Airport heading for Icy Bay Lodge, AK for coho with fly rods and spinning rods.
I am bringing three new light 8'6", 9' and 9'6" Black Hole spinning rods to test them for coho.
Weather looks fine and coho are there.
Good luck !
Suzuki fly rod,,,,,, :D get the big one,,,,,, ;D
What size spinning reels for those rods?
I tried to get IRT 200 reel, but they couldn't make prototype reel in time. I am going to use iRT 300 reel. The reel size is about Stella 3000. I bring IRT fly reel, but it is a little big.
In retrospect, coho salmon fishing on spinning rod and fly rod are very enjoyable and fun in relaxed atmosphere.
The Icy Bay Lodge is top class lodge and provides everything with excellent guides, food and lodging.
The lodge is located in remote areas off Yakutat, AK.
So only quests of the lodge can fish there.
Sometimes, I was fishing alone. The only concern was bear and I carried bear spray.
As the water level of the rivers was low, we fished from beaches protected in the bay. Actually I prefer to fish from the beaches for fresh coho. There were lots of salmon and I could catch 50 plus salmon every day.
The choice of lure was Blue Fox Vibrax #4. It weighs only 8 oz, but I could cast pretty good using prototype Black Hole light rods.
I am pretty new to fly fishing. But coho were everywhere and I could catch 29 coho on fly rod on the last day.
Now, I want to try steelhead on fly rod out of Yakuta in the next spring.
Sounds like you had a great time !!
pictures.
Looks like a fantastic trip,,,,,, :D and some big fish too,,,,,,, ;D
more pictures
more pictures
more pictures
Looks like a great time, how did you like the rod and reel selections?
I used prototype 9'6'. 9' and 8'6" Black Hole light rods. I thought they are weak for coho, but they were not.
I will post video of fighting coho with the rods.
I also used IRT 300 reel. The reel is solid and drag is superb.
I did not bring fly rod and reel and used lodge's rod and reel.
The background is Saint Elias which is the second tallest mountain in Alaska.
We were very fortunate to see the full view of the mountain as it is rare.
https://youtu.be/zJSo6Ocmj0A
Cooool! Hardest fightin salmon, pound for pound, you can get in the Alaska rivers. They don't grab your lure/fly so much as slam into it like a defensive back at full speed.
Nic work Ksong, & thanks for the report, interesting for sure, cheers Don.
Thanks for the ride KS - I wish I could get to handle one of your rods in the UK.
Nice looking coho, they look so cool when they get the hooked nose .................... and mean.
Cheers:
Todd
Thanks for sharing your pictures and thoughts. The timing was right on. You are very lucky to travel and test your toys. We all envy. Very good trip.
Great fishing! 8)