It has happened now for good. The Sockeye fishing has slowed to a halt on the river, but the lake should produce for the next week or so. We got some real big rains in the last couple of days, and the water rose about 10". With the water going up, the Sockeye took off, and the Kings moved on up also. Just two days ago the river opened for King fishing below the weir, but with the water going up, the Kings are all above the weir, and so it just sucks that they did not open up sooner. They are suppose to open the river for Kings, when the prediction is 750 large kings over the weir. Well as I passed the weir today, the sign said 849 large Kings over the weir, but still no opening. I don’t understand it at all. I don’t know if it is bad management, or if they just don’t want the sport fisherman to get Kings. I just don’t understand, how they can keep it closed, when the escapement has gone over the weir. I just don’t get it. So, with this, all we have to fish for now, is Pink Salmon, and Dolly Varden. All those Kings, and we can get any. Just Sucks!!!!!!!!!!. Here are the pics of the Pinks we got today, also a King we released, (Take a look at all the spots on this kings gill plate),and some pics of the new Pavati drift boat the Lodge got this year, and also a Bald Eagle eyeing our hanging fish.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Well, I was at the fish cleaning station when the Halibut boats came in the other day. I got some good pics of these great fish. The Halibut fishing, and the Black Bass fishing, has been real good lately. They are still picking up some Kings, and some Silvers. Here are the pics of the Halibut.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Today Brian Woobank and Son Ryan, stepped off the plane again, for another shot at the Sockeye. Brian has been staying at the Yakutat Lodge for 19 years now, and there is no sign of slowing down. We flew up to Situk Lake, where all the Sockeye are congregating, before they go up and spawn. The fish here are very nice and bright, we only kicked back 5 red fish the whole time. The recent rains seem to have brought in a good number to the lake, and they should continue to be good throughout the rest of the month. Yakutat Lodge clients are more than welcome to take advantage of this service anytime they are staying with us. The fly out fishing is good now for Sockeye in the lake, but come September when the Silvers show up, the fly out fishing to the Italio can be fantastic. Take a look at these amenities, if you are planning to come to Yakutat, and you will see that Yakutat Lodge is the only place to be. The Pinks are here now, and if you have kids that want to get into fishing, now is the time to get here.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

      Well it is inevitable. Every year at this time, the Pink Salmon start to show up in the river. As the Sockeye start to fade out, and the Kings are done with their push upstream,  the Pink Salmon take over. We had a great Sockeye season, and for the next 2 weeks we will still get into Sockeye’s in the river, and the Lake will produce decent fish for the next 3 weeks, but every new tide brings hundreds of Pinks. Within the next week, the Pink Salmon will fill the river, and along with them, comes the presence of more Bears to the gravel bars. The Brown and Black bears will gorge themselves on Salmon over the next two months, and gain pounds of weight before their winter hibernation. This reserve of Salmon fat will help the adult bears and their new cubs, survive the long cold winter. The arrival of Pinks in the river always signifies a slow down in clients for a couple of weeks, until the Silvers start to come in.

      During this slow time, the entire staff here at the Yakutat Lodge, gets together, cleans up, and fixes any damaged equipment. We are also building some new cabins at the Halibut station on the bay. I will get some pics in the next couple of days. One of the cabins is completed, and ready for clients at any time. These cabins offer, a kitchen, a bathroom, microwave oven, stove top oven, and a magnificent view of the Mountain range, including Mt. St. Elias. The second and third cabins should be ready for Silver season, which starts the second week of August. If you have any interest in staying in these cabins, you may want to call ahead for availability. 

      Anyway, this time of year I wish more families would come up for the Pink run. The amount of Pinks in the river during the peak, is unbelievable. For the entire 14 mile float, the river is black with fish. Pink Salmon are 4 to 8 pounds on average, and they are very aggressive on pink flies, and lures. For kids, this is the best fish to get them hooked. It is not unusual for a person with no fishing skills, to hook into over 50 Pink salmon in a day on the river. The fight is good, but not to hard that kids wear out on every fish. So for the meantime I have no pics of new fish, so I will throw in some pics through out the season, that did not make the cut the first time around.

      I will not be on the river for a little bit of time, and I will be home in Oregon on a bit of a break, from Aug. 11 – Aug 17. On the 11th I will be turning 40, hope I can still fish at this age Ha Ha. I am hoping to get into some kings when I get home.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Two days ago with Gary and Erik, we had our fish taken by a sow and her cub. The next day we were run out of three holes, because of the same bears. Well today, I had enough, and I decided to go right at them, and run em’ off. I was not sure if the sow was going to run or not. The other day when she took our fish, I let her have it with the bear spray, and she walked right through it like nothing. Her cub got a little shot today, and turned around quickly. When the sow came out, I just kept going at her, and she turned and ran off. Five minutes later she returned, and I did the same routine. Again she left, and this time did not return to bother us again. I don’t know if I could have done it again, without pissing her off to bad. We were able to get some fish, but did not keep any. Here are some pics of the bears, and a fish.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Sockeye’s still all over the river, and the pinks are starting to show up in little groups. Soon there will be close to a million Pink Salmon in the river. They will be fun at first, but when the Silvers hit the system in the second week of August, they will just be in the way. Not to many pics today, but that’s ok I hope. Another baby Steel vid though. When I get a chance, I am doing another Play Fish Mag. issue. Tell me if you want it or not, also a best of for the last two years on Steelhead. I am thinking about opening an on-line tackle store, "Tell me what you think". Yakutat Lodge is booming right now, and all the guides are running the river, and coming back with real nice Chrome fresh fish. Get here if you can,"""STEVE"""!!! See ya all tomorrow.

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Another great day on the Situk River today. I have been chased off by a Sow and her cub the last couple of days. I was with these two gentlemen yesterday in the afternoon, and we had five nice Sockeye stolen by the bears. Today we were chased out of two different fishing spots, and she also chased the other guides around the river. We may have to have something done about this one. I emptied a half can of bear spray directly in her face yesterday, and she walked right through it, without a blink. If they can do that, then they are way to aggressive for my liking. I can usually handle the bears with no problem, but this one raises the hair on the back of my neck. Anyway, got some good pics and vids today, take a look and tell me what you all think. The baby Steelhead vid is great. See ya all tomorrow.

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Hey I got some pics in from Home recently, of some real nice Kings, so I thought I would show you. I can’t tell you where exactly, but those of you whom I have told about this new run, you should have no problem finding these fish. They look real good and healthy, so the fear of sick fish should be void. Have fun if you find them.

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

The internet is always slow this time of year, so here is the last couple of days in one shot. It has been nothing but spectacular this year. There are over 30 thousand Sockeye in the river, and the Kings seem to be coming in good numbers. Although this is true about the Kings, the season will probably still not open for retention. In order to catch and release these fish, you will need to have a king stamp with you, even for the Jack Kings. Sockeye continue to be on the march in good numbers, so come get em’, if you can. The weather has been hot!!. Yesterday it was 85, and today is 90 degrees, not what we are used to around here. Here are some pic from the last couple trips.