A little clarification…

Well hello, and welcome back. Sorry about the confusion with the blog and all, but I wanted to pull it away from mentioning much about the lodge itself. The internet being a little spotty and guiding all week has kept me from getting this new blog started… That said, I am back in business and hope to keep you up on what is shaking up here.

Week 01

We finished week 1 on Sunday, which is our turn over date. We say our fare-thee-well’s to the guests at 7AM, they hop aboard the Beaver’s and back to the real world they go. We have breakfast, then get to our chores for putting the place back in order for the next set of guests. Then it is down time in the afternoon before the next group gets in and we get them settled in for the week.

Our fishing day, and my day for that matter is pretty straightforward. Awake at about 5:30 give or take a few snooze buttons, and up the hill for breakfast. Out of the kitchen by 6:15, back down the hill with the lunches for the day and it’s time to get your “poop in the group” and get your stuff together for the day. Early flights are out at 7:15, late flights are out at 7:45. We then splay out like bees from the hive to harvest trout from the surrounding rivers. Some we float in inflatable rafts, some we access with jet boats, and others are walk and wade. All are within Katmai, with equal numbers split between the preserve and the park itself. Lunches are streamside treats. We make sandwiches on the spot for clients, we have hot soup, hot coffee, fresh baked cookies, chips, candy and anything else anyone could possibly want. The post lunch food coma is probably the biggest hazard of lunch. Then we fish again till our pickup which is either 4:00 or 4:30 depending where you are. Back at the lodge we get our gear taken care of then have down time again until dinner at 6:30. We eat with our clients, and I must say the food is awesome. Despite the long days on the river, I am afraid I could sneak a few extra pounds on this summer. After dinner we are all usually exhausted and need to prep for the next day. So, it’s back down the hill to tie flies and leaders, talk to your fellow guide for the next day, and get your stuff together again. Most everybody is then in bed by about 10:00 or so. That is repeated 6 days in a row. Frankly, I don’t know how some of the clients can do it. We had an 83 year old man last week who fished every day but the last!

So how was the fishing? The biggest fish we saw collectively was a measured 30”. Most, and I mean countless numbers, were in the 25” range. But the most important thing to consider isn’t the size, but the strength. The fish run like scalded cats, and fight like semi trucks stuck in mud. They are strong. I am talking your arm gets sore strong. Line peeling runs that make you question if your nail knot from your line to your backing is good. We fish terminal tackle measured in pounds as opposed to X’s. The fish are “Savage Filthy Beasts” to use the parlance of Guide Headquarters. And they will just get bigger and stronger once the salmon show up. We caught 4 different species throughout the week. Char, Grayling, Lake Trout and Rainbows. There were good days and bad, just like all fishing, but the overall experience had by the clients was world class.

Wildlife? Lots of Bald Eagles, some moose, and so far a good number of bears. The bear numbers will increase when the salmon push in. The biggest one I have seen so far was at Brooks River, where the headquarters for the park is at and where the famous Brooks Falls are. If you have ever seen a picture of a bear going after salmon jumping up a falls, that’s Brooks. The closest bear I saw was maybe 40 yards at max away. For the most part, they seem completely disinterested in us. They look up at you and go right back to looking for food or eating. A couple of clapped hands and a little yelling and they veer off in another direction. Your biggest fear in bear territory is startling a Sow and her cub. They don’t like that. Or stepping on one when you are walking through tall brush on the way in or out of a river. So you get used to making lots of noise when you are walking in the attempt to let them know you are coming. We always carry bear spray, but can’t carry firearms inside the National Park.

Here are some pics from the week. I don’t have that many with fish because all the clients want them taken with their cameras and since they can’t seem to hold onto a trout for more than 5 seconds, I don’t get a chance to shoot one with my camera.    

The first of me is one I got to catch myself the week before our first clients. It measured 24” and was caught on the surface.

In the pic with me and the bear print keep in mind that I wear a size 12 wading shoe.

Yeah, I know that Grayling isn’t very big, but it was caught just so he could say he got all 4 species.

If I look a little haggard in the last pic it’s because I had been carrying a 45 pound pack all day in the pouring down rain.

All in All

This is awesome. Great fishing, great people and just a lot of fun. I have this funny feeling like September 29 will be here in a blink as last week went by very fast and it will just get faster as I get more accustomed to what I do. Thanks for checking in. See you next time.  -TA/MP