Water is up and the fish are on the move!

Hit the river today at the crack of dawn, and it was slow. I fished with Rich (Damon’s Dad) today until about 10:30, and then the rain drove us out. Back at the truck however, my buddy Don was walking up with a real nice little Steelie, and added that he had lost another one. I contemplated for about 10 minutes whether to go back, or pack it in. I decided to drive to an area that I could get cell phone reception, and call Steve. Luck had it that Steve was done working or the day, and was on his way up. I headed back to river to wait for his arrival. As I got re-geared up again, I thought to myself “This is stupid, it’s raining and cold, and you did not see any fish earlier”. What the heck was I doing here again. Well the answer was soon clear upon the first couple casts. Steve was hooked up 3 times in a matter of minutes. I took me about 20 minutes to get it together, and then decide I wanted to do this again. I was then able to hook, and land, two beautiful Steelies in about 10 minutes. Steve headed down stream a bit, and hit into two more chromers, that some how eluded his hook set. So I am very pleased with the decision to go back, but it was so wet and cold. I would do again in a second.

God luck out there.

Flymstr;

Well I broke down and bought new computer. So I am on my way to Vegas for a week, and then the Steelhead season starts up. Hopefully it will be as good or better than last year. Here are some pics from a chum run last week. Not a great day, but fun anyway.

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Well it has been a bit since I updated last, but the fishing was good in between. I have not been out as much as I would like to, but the trips I have taken have been successful. Steve and I got into over 100 fish one day alone. We landed around fifty fish that day, and wore out our arms in the process. Kings and Silvers were on the menu, as Steve and I devoured the river full of fish. The Silver Salmon were more abundant, but with over ten large Chinook caught, and over 30 hooked, it was not to bad. Steve landed his first 3 real big Kings this day, and they were all dandy’s. Throughout the day, we only really saw about 5 darker fish, the rest were chrome bright. Here are some great pics from two days worth of destruction. Hope you enjoy.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

I know it has been awhile, and I am working on it. My computer took a dump, and I am in the process of getting it fixed. Probably early next week, and I will be back up and going with the pics. I have been fishing though. Steve and I, went to the coast a couple of times now, and we did very well. No Steelhead yet, but over a hundred Silvers and Kings in a two day extravaganza. The pics are great, and I can’t wait to get them up here. Steve got about a50 pounder, and I also got one real big one, I think around 60 but no pic. We had a great time, and we are heading back for chum’s early next week. Hope to get the pics to you as soon as possible, just know that I have not gone away, just working on getting everything fixed.

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Well we have not seen any rain this month, and the water is very low on the Situk and all other rivers in the area. The fishing has been good in the early morning and late afternoon, but during the sunny afternoons, it has been a bit tough. I have had a lot of trips down the river, and have many good photo’s to share. As you all know, my internet connection this season has been tough to deal with, so the posts have been far and few between. I apologize for this, and will try to rectify for next season. I will be home in Oregon on the 3rd of October, and then the posts will pick up again. I almost cut off my finger 3 days ago, and ten stitches later, I am put back together, but it hurts pretty bad still, stitches come out in 7 days. Here are some great pics and good underwater film of the Silvers from the Situk.

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

I have not been able to post for awhile. The Silvers are moving up the river now, and the pinks are still in the way. The pink run this year is well over a million strong. They have become more of a hassle than they are worth. Every cast in the river now, is a snagged pink. You can’t avoid them for nothing. I hate them this year. While trying to catch Silvers, you have to pick through about 20 pinks for every one Silver. There is a reprieve in site though, the lower river is full of bright Silvers, and they are starting to fill up in the upper holes. Should only be another week until tI have not been able to post for awhile. The Silvers are moving up the river now, and the pinks are still in the way. The pink run this year is well over a million strong. They have become more of a hassle than they are worth. Every cast in the river now, is a snagged pink. You can’t avoid them for nothing. I hate them this year. While trying to catch Silvers, you have to pick through about 20 pinks for every one Silver. There is a reprieve in site though, the lower river is full of bright Silvers, and they are starting to fill up in the upper holes. Should only be another week until the pinks start to die off, and then we can really get serious about the Silvers. I have had about 15 trips now for Silvers, and have been able to get limits every time. I got some great video’s of the pinks and some great pics of the Silver fishing. Also some pics of the bears this year, and an early Steelhead that took a spinner. Hope you like them!

Schisler group:

McMillan group:

Newcomb group:

Rolland group w/John:

Good luck out there

Flymstr;he pinks start to die off, and then we can really get serious about the Silvers. I have had about 15 trips now for Silvers, and have been able to get limits every time. I got some great video’s of the pinks and some great pics of the Silver fishing. Also some pics of the bears this year, and an early Steelhead that took a spinner. Hope you like them!

Schisler group:

McMillan group:

Newcomb group:

Rolland group w/John:

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Silvers and Halibut galore!!!  The Salt water has really come to life this season, and the Silvers are practically jumping in the boat. I was out yesterday with captain Ken, captain Dave, and Amanda. We spent less than 2 hours fishing, and we were able to land 16 Silvers, two halibut, and 2 Ling cod. Not bad for 2 hours, including run time to and from the area. Here in Yakutat, the Silver grounds are only 10 minutes from the harbor. In this area, even the people who are prone to sea sickness, can get out and fish. I am one of those that gets sick, and I have been out for Silvers now 7 times with no ill effects. I still don’t think I could do the 6 miles out for the big Halibut, but the Silvers are no problem. Weather has been beautiful for the last couple of days, so we are taking advantage of it. The Silver salmon are here from the end of July, all the way through mid Sept. If you have been looking for a place to go for Silver Salmon with out a big crowd, come on up to Yakutat Lodge and see what you are missing. Here are some great pics of the ocean catch over the last week, and also a video of the Silvers we caught yesterday.

This halibut weight in right around 42 pounds, (Even though the sign says 327), and was 93 inches long. Great job captain Dave!!

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Here is a great video of underwater Kings, and another with some great footage of Pink Salmon attacking a jig.

  I just want to say one more time. If you can come to Yakutat, now is the time. The town is quiet, yet the fish are more than plentiful. Sockeye’s are everywhere, Pink Salmon are coming in thick, and the Dolly’s and Jack Salmon are attacking spinners. For the best fishing in South East Alaska, come up here and hook up with the best fighting Salmon in the world, and you will feel like you own the 14 mile stretch of river you will drift down.

Get a hold of Ken or Kip Fanning, at Yakutat Lodge, and let them know you want to come up and catch fish. The next three weeks are going to be great fishing for kids. If you know a kid that really wants to get into fishing, then the pink salmon are the way to go. You can catch them one after another. Let’s get the next generation pumped up on fishing!!

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

You can’t ask for better clients in the boat. I had the pleasure of fishing with this couple on three different occasions this last week, and everyday was a great one. The underwater king video’s were all from the time I was with them. Jim and Kristin are both good fly fisherman, and Jim learned that a spinning rod can sometimes be your best friend. While fishing the last day, Kristin caught the majority of the Sockeye needed, and did it all on the fly rod. While Jim struggled a bit the last day on the fly rod, he came to life when the spinning rod came into play. He must have landed 20 Dolly Varden, a couple Jack Salmon, and two large Kings. Kristin also caught a large King on her fly rod while fishing for Sockeye. These are the days that make guiding worth it for me. Two great clients, a bunch of fish, and the weather was not to awful for us. It was a lot of fun, and the memories of these great fish will be with me until next year, when I hope they come back for round 2.

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;