Pre-Alaska fishing trip intel.

[Steve-O]

In a word -HOT! 

3 of my coworkers went up this week and I go up next week. Most of our fishing is for the fall Silver run as the fish return to freshwater and they managed one saltwater boat trip yesterday.

Can't hardly sleep with only 72 hours to go not counting today. I will be land, boat and kayak based all week chasing Silvers, rockfish and halibut. I may get lucky and harvest a Lingcod or two but I'm not holding my breath. The Annual harvest for Lings (non-res) is two fish... One in the 30-45" slot and the other must be over 55" and only one Yelloweye for the year.

My coworkers had not been up the last two years with me and were asking me - down here - where they could get halibut. I said go next door - he's the guy who went 35 miles out and scored Albacore Tuna recently, maybe he'll take you out.

They went out with the lodge owner and scored a few nice eating size. Big fish was 70# next to our IT guy. Those along with the Silvers should fill them a couple fish boxes each.


Looks like another good year for SE AK.


Steve-O

Who has lost all hopes of sleeping the next 3 nights...

[Keta]

You are playing in my former home and place of work, I miss SE.

[Steve-O]

I know, Lee. Every year for the last 16; every time I step off the plane in Ketchikan, I take one big lungful of that sweet SE AK air and think " I'm Home!"

From all my trips there I have earned just over 6 mos residency in Alaska...too bad it doesn't work that way. But still.

I came real close to moving there and we might just retire up your way or closer to Brookings or Crescent City.

[Keta]

If you want to see SE at it's worse visit in mid October, constant sideways rain and wind up to 90mph....and sometimes higher. 

[Newell Nut]

September silver fishing is a blast. We did a couple seasons on the Kenai and always got some nice fish and not too many tourist around then so air is cheap and rental cars about half price.

Take time for a few pics for us.

[Tightlines667]

Best of luck.  Sounds like the fish are still around and there is a possibility there will be a break in the weather.  Man they have been getting alot of rain.

I will be in SE AK (Sitka) all next week as well.  I am hoping to find the time to cash in on a little silver myself the weekend after this.

I look forward to your report.

[Steve-O]

If you want to see SE at it's worse visit in mid October, constant sideways rain and wind up to 90mph....and sometimes higher. 

The last two years was sunny August and crying anglers. I get there and the heavens opened up....3 inches in 2 days. mostly the vertical stuff but some sideways rain, too...and we had a taste of a blow with steady 50's for the day. Made for some cool time lapsed video as the bands blew through SunnyHae behind our lodge. I put my camera on a tripod and propped open the kitchen door to do that. and on the bay out front, too. Got a few water spouts going past the camera view. Small ones like dirt devils, not like the big ones in the Gulf of Mex. I've seen off Panama City, FL.

[Steve-O]

September silver fishing is a blast. We did a couple seasons on the Kenai and always got some nice fish and not too many tourist around then so air is cheap and rental cars about half price.

Take time for a few pics for us.

PM- replied to, Dwight.

500 is my minimum count on photos.    I find any less than that and I shorted myself.  So ya,there will be pics and a few decent ones in there, I hope.  

Most of the folks we encounter besides the locals are tourist anglers like ourselves from UT, MT, CA and sometimes NV. Once in a great while we run into a group from Chicago. grrr..less river etiquette with that bunch.

Then there's Ish the Fish, and Dan the Postal man. Both are unique, great guys to hang with who come and stay a month or more. Ishmael is Czech via Texas and a diver who harvests Sea Urchins commercially.  He got a Mepps spinner treble hook in his eye once and just clipped the line and drove himself to the ER clinic. The Dr. and staff freaked out - even though they do hook removal all the time.

He said either calm down or I take the hook out myself. They did. We got there the day after and asked why he had a yellow eye....we got the story and saw the entry puncture just below the iris. The bruising caused the yellowing. The aqueous vitreous...or whatever the goo in your eye is called sealed the hole. . Lucky Ish or he would have been Ish the Pirate "arrr!"

My guys texted me and said they limited by 740 am today after starting around 6 am.  

Dan and Ish are both there.

I'm not.....yet....and I'm dying.


Steve

who has fished the same place in Alaska that he's become a local tourist.....no longer a tourist....but not quite a local.

[Steve-O]

Best of luck.  Sounds like the fish are still around and there is a possibility there will be a break in the weather.  Man they have been getting alot of rain.

I will be in SE AK (Sitka) all next week as well.  I am hoping to find the time to cash in on a little silver myself the weekend after this.

I look forward to your report.

Glad to hear you got a trip lined up as well!

Sitka is touted to be the King Salmon go to place and known for Trophy Halibut right out in front of town a ways.

If I didn't go to Prince of Wales and love it so much, Sitka or Kodiak would be my next destination and most likely Sitka since Kodiak is a bunch more travel time.
Looking forwards to hearing your report as well.

Best fishes!

Steve

[Keta]

Fishing in Sitka is good and it's one of the best places to catch a 50# plus king salmon.  After work when working at Sitka I would cast to surface feeding rockfish off of our Starrigavan Bay facility dock.

[Islandgypsy]

Don't forget the rain gear. Sounds like a great trip...have fun.

[Steve-O]

Don't forget the rain gear. Sounds like a great trip...have fun.

12 feet a year on POW....of liquid sunshine! I will be in goretex waders- brand new that Patagonia replaced this year due to both foot booties leaking all over at the same time. Almost like the adhesive had a 5 year lifespan then pfffft!

I also keep a second pair of Orvis silver labels stored at the lodge. On the water I'll be in a full dry suit...the kind with the gianormous zipper from  hip to shoulder that you climb into then pull over your arms and head to zip shut. Super cozy deal with the Sealskin wrist and neck seals.

SE AK rain grows big trees and big fish!

[Tightlines667]

I have a set of Grundens bibs, jacket, boots, and also a set of Cabellas guide series cold weather fishing gear (Bibs/jacket, Gortex/thinsulate).  I havn't had much use for the later here in HI (other then when I used to work on the North Pacific commercial Swordfish grounds).   I think I will pack these.

[Steve-O]

I have a LaCrosse brand set of bibs and jacket. Yellow with black cordura on the thighs and knees. More like a suit for tall thin guys than a floppy bag. Like a line mans suit.

Cabelas guide wear jacket for me, too.  Nearly as good as Simms but way cheaper and comes with the no hassle Cabelas guarantee.  The store is way too close at 5 miles from me. Waders and jacket works on a boat with Xtratufs instead of cleated boots so I don't need to haul the heavy rubber suit this trip.

[Dominick]

Knock 'em dead Steve-O... Dominick