Northwest Reel Life

Strip, strip, strip… the intermediate sinking fly line passed through my fingers in three-inch increments. Varying the retrieve, sometimes fast sometimes slower, pausing and resuming my retrieve, I floated along in my belly tube, taking in all the remote mountain lake had to offer. A tree-lined shore, snow-covered mountains for a backdrop, and not another soul in sight.

Suddenly the line came to a hard stop, jerking my rod forward, the frantic pulling of another chunky rainbow signaled “fish on”. Catching up my line to the reel, I played the healthy native trout to me, sliding the knotless net under her belly. The glistening distinctive markings of the bow glowed vibrantly in the evening light. Gently removing my barbless fly, I cradled the tired fish while it rested. In a few moments, the rainbow impatiently strained against the confines of the net, eager to return to the cool depths of the lake. Safely recovered, I tilted the net and watched the fish dart away, a splash of cold water in my face as if to say, “don’t fool me again!”.

If you had just one fly in your arsenal to catch trout, what would you pick? The hardcore anglers of course will dismiss this question as irrelevant and silly. Fly fishing is all about matching the hatch, and there are literally hundreds of variations of flies – dry, wet, nymph, the possibilities could fill up several tackle boxes. Picking one sounds like a fool’s errand, doesn’t it? Well, I will cast my vote and be that fool. Drum roll please…

My favorite, go to fly is – the venerable Wooley Bugger.

Was that your choice as well? If not, let me expand on why the Wooley Bugger is often the first fly I will cast out on a new body of water, and some of the qualities that make this fly, in my opinion, so essential to be in your tackle box.

First, a Wooley Bugger is a wet fly which can be used in lakes, rivers, ponds, and even saltwater fishing. Wooley Buggers come in a variety of styles and colors and can be considered to imitate many different food sources for fish, including small minnows, leeches, nymphs, and anything else swimming around a lake or river. As such, Wooley Buggers are the ultimate “searching” fly, perfect for exploring new bodies of water with.

Wooley Buggers lend themselves well to more than traditional fly fishing. They can be adapted for many styles of angling and fish species. Years ago, Uncle Wes Malmberg took me to a SW Washington Lake, and long lining a Wooley Bugger with a Mack’s Smile Blade off the back of his 14 foot aluminum boat we spent a relaxing morning catching and releasing rainbow after rainbow. A couple split shots was all that was required to sink the fly under the surface and entice fish after fish to grab on. Fished bait and scent-less, we easily caught and safely released several dozen fish that day. Such a simple but deadly effective method! I immediately went home and tied up several new colors to add to my collection.

For the beginner fly-tier, the Wooley Bugger is likely the first fly you ever will learn to tie. The reason is this fly is simple to make, and is generally on a larger, long hook shank, making it easy for beginner fingers (or those with older, arthritic hands). As such, it’s a great “introduction to fly-tying fly”, before tackling those challenging #20 dry flies and nymphs! A quick search on the internet will provide you with a multitude of videos and tutorials so I won’t go into the actual tying here, suffice it to say if this is an interest, you’ll find plenty of information on how to tie the Wooley Bugger. It’s a great first fly to tie and is hard to make a bad looking one.

Another application for the Wooley Bugger that you don’t hear about often, but can be deadly effective, is trolling behind a sling blade for kokanee. Go to colors are pink, red, and orange. Add a Mack’s Smile Blade and a single kernel of corn, short leader of 8 inches, and you are in business. The single hook provides excellent penetration on strikes, but if you’re anxious about that single hook tying on a small treble hook or trailing hook is certainly fair game.

Now that I live in Montana, more of my time is spent fly fishing. When I arrive at a new lake or pond, if I don’t see rising trout, I’ll start off with a sinking tip line and Wooley Bugger in a natural color, tans, browns, and greens. Casting and stripping back is a tried-and-true method, as his casting out and slowly kicking my belly boat along, waiting for that solid jerk signaling another fish fooled by this classic and timeless fly. Whether behind a fly rod, spinning rod, or trolling rod, the Wooley Bugger will get you on fish. Give it a try, I think you’ll be happy with the results!

With the arrival of each new season here in the Northwest, it’s hard not to feel like a kid in a candy store. Whether it's fall, winter, spring, or summer, these annual intervals of changing weather and day length always seem to provide new opportunities for the men and women who choose to reap the spoils of the outdoors. If the desire is there, the fun and the food is at our doorsteps. 

A commonly overlooked opportunity that starts up in Neah Bay during late August and ends down in the south Puget Sound towards the end of winter, is the squid fishery, specifically the Pacific coast squid, also known as the California market squid.

The Pacific coast squid are relatively small, averaging about 8 inches. They have short lifespans and spend most of their time in the Eastern Pacific Ocean—between Baja California and Southeastern Alaska. They move into the straights of Juan De Fuca during late summer and their numbers tend to peak in the Puget Sound around December and January.

The fishery is often fickle, with some years falling short of anglers’ expectations, while other years the fishery can prove to be quite robust. On these years when the squid are plentiful, the hardest working anglers can find themselves heading home with their limits, which, as of January of 2023, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has set at 10 lbs or a five-gallon bucket filled to the halfway point. Now that is a lot of calamari!

Jigging from a boat or a pier is the most common way to procure these saltwater delicacies, and during the winter you will often find the docks from Everett down to the south Puget Sound alive with folks chasing the Pacific squid. Squidding is a minimalistic endeavor. A fishing rod, a spinning reel, and a squid jig are essentially all that is needed. Squid jigs find their origins in Japan.

They are usually torpedo or bullet-shaped jigs with several spines at the bottom that point upright. These spines don't serve the same purpose as a typical fishing hook. Instead of puncturing or penetrating the squid, they create a bit of a platform for the squid to become entangled in as they latch onto the colorful plastic body portion of the jig.

Many squid jigging enthusiasts swear that nighttime is the best time to catch squid. By in large this holds true, but it’s also important to put some focus on the tides and water clarity. A high tide with decent water clarity can produce squid even during the daytime.

At night, squid are attracted to the lights illuminating off of the piers. The general belief around this is that light attracts phytoplankton, the phytoplankton then attracts zooplankton, and zooplankton attract the fish and other critters that squid like to feed on. Piers already come equipped with their own lights and these typically do a decent job of providing the needed illumination to bring in the squid.

With that being said, the chances of bringing in larger amounts of squid become increased when a more powerful and concentrated light is introduced. Folks will often bring battery or generator-powered lights to shine into the water. Check with local rules to find out if generators are allowed.

While on the topic of rules, it’s important to note that there is a fair amount of pier fishing etiquette to consider while navigating the pier. It’s best to speak with folks who are using lights and ask them if it’s ok to post up next to them. There’s a good chance they might be saving these spots for friends or family and It’s not uncommon for conflict to occur on the pier if people aren’t using common courtesy while acquiring their jigging spots.

Just as the gear is minimalistic, the technique is simple as well. Folks will work their jigs in a variety of ways, but sticking to the basics is what generally will get you on the squid. When casting, you should allow your jig to drop to a depth where squid are holding, lift the tip of your rod and slowly retrieve as you lower the rod tip back down, then repeat the process.

Once you have a squid on your jig, keep tension on the line and the squid should remain there as you retrieve. The method is similar while jigging directly beneath you, though you won’t be doing any reeling in of the line until a squid has attached itself. Some people like to do a few quick and hard lifts of the rod and then let it sit near the bottom for a few moments. Though you might not feel the squid strike your jig, the difference of weight at the end of your line once you lift again, will be your indicator that you have a squid on.

So, if you’re anything like me, and consider the sound of a bubbling deep fryer to be just as much of a winter staple as holiday tunes or roasted turkeys, then put on your winter jacket and head to a local pier for your shot at getting that bucket up to its halfway point with these great tasting cephalopods. And remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, there’s only such a thing as bad gear!

Of the many rivers in the beautiful state of Washington, the Sol Duc is one that can manage to keep just about everyone happy. Whether you fly fish, spin, or bait cast, there is, or at least was, a fish with your name on it!

Fish species on the Sol Duc include Fall and Summer Chinook, Winter and Summer Steelhead, Coho, Sockeye, and both resident and sea-run cutthroat trout. The Sol Duc River runs 78 miles from the Olympic Mountains and cuts Southwestward through the most spectacular scenery in Washington State. With a variety of access points, you'll be greeted by precipitous gulches and mossy rocks in vivid green tones set a fire by the angle of the sun.

Picture perfect moments around every corner. The river is a pleasure whether you're catching or not. Just to be there, to catch a glimpse of an ancient creature born of the gravelly riverbeds. Traveling their way through genetic imprinting, magnetic fields, the temperatures, and conditions of the earth, making a 70-mile journey into the unknown.

What is it that ensures a fish can find its way back to the place it was born? When I can't even find my way home without an app. An interesting factoid, scientists have discovered fish have ear stones called otoliths. These “otoliths” incorporate chemical elements from the water as the fish grow and move. Picture a growth band of a tree, with each ring recording a chemical map of where the fish has been, how long they stayed there, and how fast they grew. Scientific advances like this are pivotal in managing fish populations.

I have a deep concern and respect for the natural world, a curiosity for things we can and cannot explain. A desire to be a part of it all, to get my hands dirty and my mind clean. So, while we still can, I will travel my own way, finding places that provide an opportunity to get my line wet.

My most noteworthy experience would be a fantastic stay at the “Cabin on the Middle run” in Forks. (olympicpeninsulawaterfrontcabins.com) Easily accessible and found off 101, this well-appointed, clean and cozy cedar cabin boasts everything you need and more. For me it was the stocked kitchen and comfortable beds, topped off with a long hot shower. Though, I must admit we spent most of our time in the backyard. Our hosts and neighbors were so very friendly and helpful. Which isn't always the case when you're fishing in someone's backyard. We were rooted on and engaged in friendly conversations with guides floating by and neighbors on their decks. When I lost a huge dazzling Coho the echoes of disappointment hummed through the valley.

The comradery of fishing is something you'll never understand, until you feel it. Like a Folie à deux, are we driven by madness or passion and is there really a difference? Whatever it is, that makes us feel hyped up by each other's experiences, it is infectious and exhilarating. I desperately hope the rivers will return to a place where we can enjoy catching at least one fish. Not just for the fun, but also for the food. Nothing beats a filet from the river. I have become so spoiled by the flavor of a fresh catch, commercially sourced just doesn’t make the cut.

Make sure you check all regulations before heading out these days. Low returns have caused a system-wide closure in the Quillayute river system. This system includes the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey, Sitkum Rivers and Thunder Creek.

As heartbreaking as these closures are, they are necessary to ensure that our rivers can support humans and the local ecosystem. I admit, a mix of resentment but also understanding that the system works to protect, preserve, and perpetuate fish and wildlife.

As a fisherwoman, my recreational opportunities are last in line and that is ok. Will this closure stop me from enjoying the beautiful Olympic rainforest and its awe-inspiring rivers? Never! I will plant my feet in the forest, hike to the waterfalls and sit my soul quietly by the river. Waiting my turn.

Let’s take a step back away from fishing for a moment, please. That may be sacrilegious, coming from a magazine that is on its face wholly dedicated to fishing. I mean it’s called Reel Life for Pete’s sake, the pun couldn’t be any more fishing related. Consider the experiences that we add to our core memories from our passion for life outside the concrete jungle.

The sights and sounds of places we’ve just experienced for the first time. Those times with friends and family. The sometimes-trivial outings that we build into our routines because we are outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen at our core. Being present at those times is crucial to our ability to take a deep breath and hit the reset button.

One of the most scenic drives I have ever experienced came from a trip along the Beartooth Highway in the heart of the Custer National Forest. It is one of those winding, nauseating, fear of height inducing drives that really make you appreciate the work of engineers.  The drive up the mountain is narrow. A two-lane highway with an unforgiving drop on one side of the road and an immovable rock face on the other.

It makes me wonder how folks drive campers, boats, or trailers up such a road. There are points along the drive where, if you’re on the outside lane, by peering out of the window, you’ll realize the full effect of the over 9,000-foot drop off the road, add another nearly 2,000 feet if you decide to get to the very top. It’s a road so treacherous, it is closed during the wintertime, and rightfully so.

In addition to these crystal-clear memories of peril, are the wondrous views that come from the observation point. The attraction looks around 360 degrees and has all the amenities you’d expect: a bathroom, parking, informational signs, and posters. But, more importantly, there are the sights. Mountains, that from below looked ominous, are now eye level and expansive. On a clear day, like the one we thankfully had when we made the journey, that allows you to see for miles.

The funny thing about being at the point is my lack of memory about the people or whatever else was going on. I know there were other cars in the parking lot and people walking around the trails, but I really can’t remember any of them. The calmness of the moment and realization of these breathtaking views is something I’ll keep with me. Even in these moments where modernization blends, crosses over, and cheapens the outdoor experience, it’s still easy to find ourselves appreciating what the outdoors can do for us.

Ok, let’s bring it back to fishing, just slightly. The Bighorn Canyon sits in the heart of the Crow Reservation in Montana’s eastern third of the state. The area is simply gorgeous. It doesn’t hurt that the area produces some of the highest quality trout you can find, as is the case in many of the Blue-Ribbon Montana waterways. For the hiking or ATV enthusiasts, you’ll want to stop at Pryor Mountain, as the Bighorn Canyon offers a few trails along the way, but the area primarily runs along the Bighorn River.  A few fishing trips with a close friend of mine will always draw me back to the area and the peacefulness I experienced, with one memory, particularly in mind.

Did I mention the canyon is incredible? It really cannot be understated the jagged edges of the cliffs and the deep red colors slowly fading to a subtle yet muted granite. The water is a pristine blue. Seemingly untouched and calm as glass. We nearly had the canyon to ourselves except for a few families enjoying the day on the water and some kids fishing from the dock.

My buddy in fact complimented the kids on their small bucket of fish they had accumulated and in turn, they gave him the lure they’d been using. It was a fun little exchange and was nice to see that kids can still be thoughtful. And of course, we used the lure and caught some of our own! We put my boat in the water and didn’t travel too far from the dock, maybe a few hundred yards into a nice rocky hole that was loaded with bass.

We trolled around slowly to different bays within the river for a few hours and continued to pull out solid sized fish. The kind of fish that makes you appreciate being outdoors with a consistent bite and decent weight behind them. All the while, talking about work, family, plans, and all the other things you’d expect to visit about. It was a fishing trip I’ll remember fondly because of the time with a valued friend and the opportunity for breathtaking views. It was also memorable due to a trailer tire popping and me driving on the axle for who knows how many miles, but that’s a story for a different time.

Let’s not mistake the vivid memories from our time appreciating the tranquility of the outdoors as more meaningful than the opportunities outside we capitalize on through the routine of our lives. For me, those instances take shape in the form of an activity as easy as walking my dog. He’s a hunting dog by trade and at 7 years old is still full of energy and prey drive. Tracking anything and everything is still a large part of his world, even if the hunting season is a few short months. Those other 9 months of the year he’s relegated to leashed walks around the hardware store or some off-leash trails and parks around town. Taking the dog out for a walk is not unique or special.

Perhaps you reading this have a dog yourself. You probably do the same routine part of your day as I do mine. Get up, go to work, come home, spend time with your family, and take the dog on an evening walk. Rinse, repeat. I would challenge you to be present in those moments outside if you aren’t already. I’m guilty of putting on a podcast during a walk or listening to music like anybody else. But I’ve tried to make a habit of putting these things aside if I’ve got the opportunity. A leashed walk down the street? Fine, music’s not a big deal provided you’re on the sidewalk. The hardware store? Well, we’re here buying stuff so it’s not much of an outing for the dog, but it is a chance for socialization and to break up his day. What about a hike on a trail or a stroll on some public land?

Those are the outings I try to be cognizant of. Quiet. A passing hello to another person briefly, and then back to isolation. Although built into the day-to-day of everyday life, something as simple as a walk with the dog can bring a calmness and recognition for everything we experience beyond our home’s front door or the office. Why drown out the peaceful silence when in that moment? 

2023/2024 Blackmouth Prospects

With the exception of a few laggard B-run coho in the rivers, our PNW salmon focus should be shifting to the 2023-2024 Puget Sound winter blackmouth fishery. Typically, winter blackmouth is one of my favorite local fishing opportunities. Going back to my mid-teens winter blackmouth fishing has always been one of my very favorite ways to grow snotsicles. 

Because recent conservation measures have severely reduced our opportunity to drag downrigger balls in the gravel, many of us will be considering putting the salmon gear away and winterizing the boat. You may want to hold off a bit, break out a wool hat, hoodie, and your cold weather friend Mr Heater. it’s almost blackmouth season. But, what’s a blackmouth?

Blackmouth are chinook salmon that have decided not to migrate to the usual feeding grounds in the Gulf of Alaska. Instead, they tend to remain in Puget Sound and the Straights to feed on local schools of herring, candlefish, other forage fish, and squid. 

Back in the 1960s, WDFW decided to duplicate the natural tendency of a small percentage of chinook to remain in Puget Sound and create a year-round sports fishery. The WDFW established a team led by Frank Shaw and got to work. It was determined that if you held the usual hatchery release at 3 months for an additional year, or 15-18 months total, the chinook would forage locally. 

The original releases were made in Capital Lake in Olympia. The program moved to net pens by Squaxin Island but the WDFW determined that the salt-reared fish tended to migrate. The program was shifted to several local hatcheries. They are for the most part clipped, but there are certain releases where the co-manager agreements do not allow the fish to be clipped.

Over the years we have seen a reduction in opportunity; a few years back we lost the winter blackmouth fishery in Marine Area 7, 8-1, 8-2, and MA 9. They were closed to preserve or extend some of the summer chinook fisheries while still supporting federal and co-manager escapement goals. 

Reduced opportunity, well maybe, but there are still a few areas that will host a blackmouth fishery this winter. That said; chip the ice out of your bilge, gas up the boat, and read on.

But first, no boat? While most of our winter blackmouth fishing will be from a boat, there is also an opportunity for a limited shore-based fishery. More on that later, if you do have a boat here is a breakdown of the 2023/2024 Puget Sound winter blackmouth fishery.  

• MA 5 will be open 4/1/2024-4/30/2024 with a 22” minimum and a 2 fish limit, (1 chinook may be retained). 
• MA 5 Management Criteria – Sublegal Encounters; the encounters guideline is 3,707 fish.
• MA 10 will be open 3/1/2024-4/15/2024 with a 22” minimum and a 2 fish limit, (1 chinook may be retained). 
• MA 10 Management Criteria – Total Encounters; the encounters guideline is 4,953 fish. Unmarked Encounters; the encounters guideline is 953 fish. Sublegal Encounters; the encounters guideline is 4,181 fish.
• MA 11 will be open 3/1/2024-4/15/2024 with a 22” minimum and a 2 fish limit, (1 chinook may be retained).  
• MA 11 Management Criteria – Total Encounters, the encounters guideline is 1,191 fish. Unmarked Encounters; the encounters guideline is 259 fish. Sublegal Encounters; the encounters guideline is 816 fish.
• MA 13 will be open 10/1/2021-5/14/2021 with a 2 fish limit and a 22” minimum size. Management Criteria do not currently apply. 
• MA 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9 and both North/South MA 12 will be closed for the 2023/2024 winter blackmouth fishery.

The above information was extracted for the 2023 North of Falcon data and may be subject to additional closures. Consult the WDFW App, or website for the current regulations and emergency closures.

With the limited blackmouth opportunity for the 2023/2024 winter season, the open areas will likely be busy. Instead of detailing each area, I’ll try to break down the different Marine Areas into a few general options for starting your adventure. 

Before that though; think of points, banks, and flats. Look for areas where the currents will collect bait. Keep a constant eye on your fishfinder and look for schools of bait. Although forage fish populations change from year to year, candle fish and herring are the primary forage fish for Puget Sound blackmouth. That said, because of a general crash in the Puget Sound herring populations, candlefish are currently the major blackmouth food source. 

Candlefish show as a cloud of bait right on the bottom. Find candlefish and you significantly improve your odds, find arches and candlefish on the deck and it will be hammer time! Candlefish spawn in the gravel and are rarely found above that. I have caught many blackmouth where their gill plates and bellies were all scraped up. I have even cleaned fish and found gravel in their stomachs. So, where does one target gravel filled salmon? 

Marine Area 5

Or basically the Sekiu/Pillar Point area has a few notable blackmouth areas to target. The Caves, Clallam Bay, and then Slip Point to Pillar Point can all be awesome blackmouth fisheries. All can be very exposed to winter weather so know your limitations. Help is a longways off if you get in trouble so always err on the cautious side.

Marine Area 10

Is the Seattle/Bremerton area and includes a number of well known, semi-protected blackmouth fisheries. Kingston, Jeff Head, West Point, Elliot Bay, Alki Point, Point Monroe, Skiff Point, Manchester, and different banks or points around Blake Island consistently produce blackmouth. Look at the weather, choose a launch and learn a given area to feed your winter addiction.

Marine Area 11

Or the Tacoma area is one of the best small-boat blackmouth fisheries on Puget Sound. The Slag Pile, Owens Beach, and Clay Banks are all easily accessible and just minutes from the Point Defiance launch. With the proper boat for the conditions, Dalco Point, the Beach just north of Gig Harbor, Point Robinson, Browns Point and Dash Point all offer solid blackmouth fishing as well.

Marine Area 13

Is an interesting fishery. It is the area south of The Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The whole area is fairly protected from winter weather but the better fishing areas are a bit of a run from any of the all-tide metropolitan ramps. With that said, MA 13 is kind of a local’s fishery, with smaller boats launching into open water from a handful of unimproved county ramps. A few areas stand out; including Point Fosdick, various areas around Fox Island, Lyle Point, Oro Bay, and Johnson Point all hold fishable numbers of blackmouth. Depending on the tide there are many less known points that disrupt the tidal flow and hold bait. Be that guy, maybe more so than any other area in Puget Sound, MA 13 has many 1 fish spots. Review both your charts and tidal information and know where to fish during the different tidal phases.

Blackmouth fishing is a planning and patience game. Choose a ramp, select a handful of areas you want to fish, and understand how the tide will impact them. Independent from the tide often the best fishing will be at first light. From there follow your plan, if you make a pass on your initial stop and there are no signs of life move on to plan B and C as required. Depending on the tidal conditions don’t be afraid to revisit plan B! I know that I mentioned patience but if you’re not seeing bait on the meter move on. Typically boat limits will be hard to come by, but put a couple of nice blackmouth on ice and you’ve had a good day. 

My general blackmouth drill includes trolling with the downriggers or motor mooching cut plug herring. If dogfish are in the area, skip the cut plug plan and stick to trolling. Run 11” flashers ahead of spoons, trolling flies, or hoochies. Spice up the trolling flies and hoochies with salted herring strips. Target schools of bait along the bottom in 90-140’ of water while keeping your gear within 5’ of the bottom. I troll 2.5-about 3.5 mph for blackmouth and all my blackmouth leaders are tied on 42” of 30# fluorocarbon. 

Earlier I mentioned a shore-based opportunity to catch blackmouth. No really, I’m not nuts. Well, OK maybe I am a little nuts but there are many piers and boardwalks that are open to salmon fishing year-round. Study the WDFW Sport Fishing Rules and check the Emergency Rules as they supersede the general sport fishing rules. When I was a kid, well before cell phones and computers I used to frequently fish the piers and caught a lot of blackmouth. I didn’t chase reports to fish a hot bite. I had to put in the time while experimenting my way through the gear and presentation until I caught fish. 

I usually carried two rods, a dozen small herring (fresh or frozen, back then fresh herring was the norm), and a small handful of gear. My go-to rig was a level wind steelhead rod rigged with a large sliding float and a hand-tied mooching leader. I would nose hook the herring, leaving the trailing hook free, and gently cast it off the down current corner of the pier. I would free spool, letting the rig drift until I was down the last few wraps of line on the spool and then put it in gear. Recovering a crank or two every few minutes, it would take forever to reset. The process was deadly and accounted for many salmon dinners.

I also fished hardware. A double hooked Colorado spinner with a herring strip will catch anything in the sound. I’d rig them on a 24-30” leader behind a piece of pencil lead. Easy-peazy; just cast, let sink and slowly wind it back in. Where most fish would hammer it, salmon seemed to cause the retrieve to hesitate then go in for the kill. The other method was to use flutter spoons. This was pre-buzzbomb/rotators and involved casting heavy spoons or Swedish Pimple type lures and letting them sink for a bit. The process was similar to twitching jigs, slowly lifting your rod tip, and then picking up a crank of two while you quickly tower the rod. Between the 3 methods, most of my pier fishing excursions were a success.  

This should get you started in your quest to extend your local salmon fishing opportunities while you freeze your keister off. The when, where, and how are baselined but I suggest choosing an area and learning it. As a boater or pier-ite, become the local expert! Please remember that our winter weather can be unpredictable. Make sure your boat is seaworthy, full of fuel, fuel conditioner and you are dressed for the weather. A little upfront planning will help to ensure that you and your crew have a safe and productive blackmouth adventure.

Washington State, known for its stunning landscapes and diverse outdoor activities, offers a unique and thrilling experience for anglers during the winter months, Ice Fishing. As the temperatures drop and the lakes freeze over, enthusiasts from all over gather their gear and head to some of the state's most picturesque frozen waters. In this article, we’ll dive into the icy wonderland of 5 lakes that stand out as prime destinations for ice fishing in Washington: Curlew Lake, Bead Lake, Sacheen Lake, Banks Lake, and Eloika Lake.

Curlew Lake: A Frozen Oasis In The Northeast

Curlew Lake, nestled more in the Northcentral portion of the state, transforms into a winter wonderland, drawing anglers seeking a tranquil ice fishing experience. The lake spans over 900 acres and is surrounded by snow-covered mountains and hills, creating a beautiful backdrop to your frozen adventure.

The lake is home to a variety of fish, with Rainbow Trout and Yellow Perch being the most sought-after during the winter months. Anglers often set up shanties or their ice fishing spots right outside the state park patiently waiting for the telltale signs of the fish below, which doesn't take long. The vast mud flat just outside the park holds amazing numbers and is easy to get into. The camaraderie among anglers and the stunning scenery make Curlew Lake a must-visit destination for any Ice Fishing aficionado.

Bead Lake: A Hidden Gem in The North Mts.

Nestled in the North of Spokane Mountains, Bead Lake is a hidden gem that offers a secluded and serene ice fishing experience. The lake, surrounded by dense forests and snow-covered peaks, provides a pristine setting for anglers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Bead Lake is known for its healthy population of Kokanee, and the popular large lake trout that roams the depths. As large marks appear on your sonar, don't be surprised if it's not a laker, but a monster of a burbot making this lake an enticing destination for those seeking a variety of catches. As you set up your gear on the frozen expanse of Bead Lake, the quietude and natural beauty will transport you to a world of tranquility, making each catch a memorable moment.

Sacheen Lake: Serenity and Splendor In Pend Oreille County

Located in Pend Oreille County, Sacheen Lake offers a charming blend of serenity and splendor during the winter months. Surrounded by evergreen forests and snow-covered hills, the lake becomes a haven for ice-fishing enthusiasts seeking a peaceful escape. 

Sacheen Lake is known for its panfish, including perch and crappie, which are abundant and fun to chase. Also, fun to target nice trout under the ice as well, with good chances of catching! Rainbow, Brook, and Tiger Trout provide excellent opportunities for ice anglers to enjoy a variety of catches. As you drill your fishing holes and set up your equipment, take a moment to absorb the quiet tranquility of Sacheen Lake, where the only sounds are the soft crunch of snow beneath your boots and the occasional call of a winter bird.

Banks Lake: A Vast Frozen Playground in Central Washington

For those looking for a more expensive ice fishing experience, Banks Lake in Central Washington is a prime destination. This reservoir spans close to 27,000 acres and is known for its diverse fish population, including Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Burbot, and Whitefish which are the most popular to go after.

Ice fishing on Banks Lake is a social affair at times, with clusters of anglers setting up their shanties in popular spots and many staying overnight. The vast frozen expanse provides ample opportunities for exploration, and to get away from the crowds if needed. As the sun sets over the snow-covered horizon, the frozen lake transforms into a canvas of colors. Banks Lake is not only a haven for anglers, but also a visual spectacle that captivates the senses. 

Elokia Lake: An Ice Anglers Original

Nestled in the heart of Northeastern Washington State, Elokia Lake transforms into a winter wonderland for avid ice fishing enthusiasts. As temperatures drop, the lake's icy surface becomes a haven for those seeking the thrill of angling beneath a blanket of snow.

Eloika Lakes expands over 600 acres, providing ample space for ice fishermen to explore its frozen expanses. One of the primary draws for anglers is the diverse range of fish species that inhabit this lake. Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Large-mouth Bass, Perch, Crappie, and Sunfish. Seems that Crappie are what attracts most ice anglers. 

The savvy ice anglers will target the Brown and Rainbow Trout early season just a couple of feet below the ice and near creek outlets. Eloika’s cold waters create an ideal environment for these fish. Anglers can also test their skills against the Large-mouth bass, known for their elusive behavior even in freezing temperatures, and they are big in this lake, especially on an ice rod. 

Yellow Perch and Crappie add a variety to the fishing experience at Eloika. These panfish offer more of a relaxing angling experience, making the lake suitable for seasoned veterans and beginners alike. Perch are abundant and make sure to check the regulations for the Crappie size and limit.

As ice fishing shelters and anglers dot the frozen landscape, camaraderie flourishes among anglers who gather to share stories and tips. Eloika Lakes icy embrace beckons, offering a unique and thrilling experience for those willing to brave the cold pursuit and snag the perfect catch!

By Randy Castello

Drift boats, once unique to the Pacific Northwest rivers, are now standard river boats all over the country. A drift boat is designed with a flat bottom chine to chine, a pronounced bow to stern rocker, high sharp angled bow, and a raised flat stern.

The design is purposeful in that the flat bottom will allow the boat to float in very little water. The bow to stern rocker makes the boat very maneuverable. The sharp bow will cut through standing waves and whitewater, while the flat stern provides a place to mount a kicker or electric motor and/or an anchor bracket.

Drift boats are amazingly maneuverable and, with an experienced oarsman, very seaworthy. I think that we all envision or maybe even have experienced the thrill of sliding down a narrow canyon while punching through standing waves and maneuvering around boulders, with the oarsman feverously working the oars.

I will admit that the thrill of running white water is infectious, but drift boats are also very versatile.

With a motor, a drift boat can be used to crab and fish estuaries. They are an excellent platform for flyfishing, photography, camping, lake fishing, and just taking a leisurely float down some river. Drift boats are an excellent all-around low maintenance boat.

They are easy to launch, economical to tow, and towable with a smaller vehicle. Our drift boat has been towed all around California, Oregon, and Washington with no impact on our miles per gallon.

My drift boating experience has kind of looped back to where it started. I started with an old wooden pig of a craft that floated but was less than maneuverable. I/we typically would launch and drift from one gravel bar to the next.

At each gravel bar we would anchor, get out of the boat and drift fish or throw spoons, then move on to the next bar, repeating the process until the takeout.

With experience, I started exploring different techniques to fish from the drift boat. Pulling plugs quickly became my favorite, and accounted for many Skagit River salmon and steelhead. About the time I really had our local Puget Sound rivers dialed in, I accepted a position in Southern California and thought that my drift boating days were over. 

Eventually, I met a guy with a contagious sense of adventure and more passion for running the rivers than common sense. We fished the Sacramento River and other northern California rivers from his drift boat, and racked up huge numbers of chinook.

He had a 16/54 Willie, and that boat could punch through anything and bounce off boulders like no other. While I have since decided that boulders are to be avoided, I learned a lot in that little drift boat. Sadly, my crazy waterman friend passed and, not really thinking about it, so did my days in a drift boat.

Some years later, I transferred back up to the PNW and my interest in drift boating was reignited. We bought a well-used 16/54 Willie drift boat and have since upgraded to a custom 17/60 Willie drift boat. The boat is our “everything else” boat. We have a bay boat, so our drift boat is our all around nonpowered adventure boat. 

I typically don’t do white water anymore, but enjoy the heck out of a chute or otherwise technical patch of water, and most of our fishing is spent anchoring along a hole or drifting from one gravel bar to the next to drift fish. Unfortunately, my spontaneous days of drift boating the rivers seem to be a relic. 

Between our limited fisheries, time constraints, and lack of security at the ramps, it’s hard to work in a float. Unfortunately, leaving two rigs at a remote launch and takeout for 6-8 hours is asking for trouble these days.

We try to arrange for a pick up at the bottom of the drift, but the security of your vehicle at the launch is still an issue. That said, our drift boat spends less time on the river now, but is still a great platform for lake fishing and just spending tranquil time on the water.

Safely spending time on a river in a drift boat takes a little preplanning and experience. Make sure you have properly fitting PFDs for everybody onboard. The inflatable PFDs are very comfortable and great for river time. An inflatable PFD must be worn in order to be considered readily accessible, and are only Coast Guard approved for ages 16 and older. 

Don’t just splash your boat at the top of a drift and hope for the best. Review satellite photos of the drift and/or talk to someone familiar with your planned drift. Ask about blocking snags and overhangs, waterfalls or weirs, dead-end channels, or skinny water, and ask about your setup for the planned takeout. 

A couple key elements to safe drift boating are knowing a few basic oar strokes and having experience with your boat. Typically, you’ll be drifting bow with the current while pulling on the oars.

When you see a boulder, tree or other hazard, point the bow towards it with the stern about 45 degrees to the current, and pull on the oars to avoid the obstacle. Once you’re past it, turn the bow downstream and continue the float.

There will be times where you need to speed up. The speed may be required to punch through a wave or to get through a long, slow patch of water. You will need to smoothly push on the oars. There are also times where you will need to either spin the boat or move it sideways.

You can scull the oar on one side or the other to move sideways and to spin the boat, or pull one oar and push the other, depending on your need. Except when sculling, always row with the oar tips, don’t bury the oar blade.

Using more than a third of the oar blade is inefficient, and if gets caught on the bottom or in a snag, you could bend an oarlock, break the oar, or even flip your drift boat.

Experience as the oarsman on your boat is critical in safely running a river. Take your boat out on a slow-moving river or lake and practice, practice, and practice some more. Learn your boat, become one with it, and know what your capabilities and limitations are before you try shooting a boulder garden somewhere. 

Personally, I think everyone needs a drift boat. There is nothing like the zen of a float trip. Everybody’s will be set up differently, but there are a few things to consider when purchasing and setting up a drift boat:

Size; is it just you and a fishing buddy, or will the whole family and dog be onboard? A 16’ boat is great for a couple guys, but you may need a longer, wider boat if the whole gang is joining you. Generally, the wider the boat is for a given length, the higher it will float. 

Use; will you primarily be pulling plugs, side drifting, flyfishing, or sightseeing? Will the passengers all be on the front bench, or ahead of and behind the oarsman? Either way, you should be able to balance the boat front to back and side to side. 

Storage; rod management is critical. Rods should always travel with the rod tips upstream, and the rods should be secured if possible. You need to plan for fish and secure gear storage to avoid any loose items from shifting around during a tense moment or two.   

You will want rod holders, an extra oar, a hand bilge pump, a whistle, and some form of dry storage for personal items and phones. 

Fresh or salt? Add an appropriate size kicker or electric motor and batteries, a fish finder, a roller crab pot puller, and a light(s), and you have a great boat for crabbing or fishing the estuaries.

The versatility a drift boat provides is unmatched in the boating world, they are kind of a jack of all trades boat. I am sure that drift boat’n as a subject deserves a book. This was a very high-level introduction to either get you started as an oarsman, or a quick look at other ways to utilize the drift boat you already have.

There is nothing more peaceful than becoming one with nature as your boat slides down a river in the early morning mist, or silently glides across your favorite trout lake. Add a motor, and your drift boat makes a formidable estuary crabbing and salmon fishing machine.

BY JOHN KRUSE

CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT STATE PARK – A CROWN JEWEL

One of the best parks in Washington, a crown jewel amongst all the parks found in this state, is Cape Disappointment State Park.  Located where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean near Ilwaco, this expansive 1,882-acre park offers a healthy dose of history, a nautical setting, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.

My wife, daughter, and I reserved a small cabin in the park months ago that sits right next to a small, lily pad lined body of water called O’Neill Lake.  In addition to three cabins and several yurts, even lighthouse keeper’s quarters are available for rent. There are also 220 campsites, about a third of them with full or partial hookups for RVs.      

There is a lot to see and do here. If you enjoy time at the beach, you can stroll to Waikiki Beach near the park entrance, or walk two-mile-long Benson Beach between the North Jetty and North Head, where a red and white lighthouse stands watch.

Another option is to drive on the beach from Seaview north of the park south to Beard’s Hollow, which offers the chance to explore rocky tidepools full of sea anemones at low tide.

At the beach you’ll see people flying kites, casting for surf perch, beachcombing, and just enjoying the chance to dip their toes into the surf of the Pacific Ocean. Speaking of fishing, early to mid-September offers a very good chance to chance to catch coho salmon in Baker Bay near Ilwaco, around Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia, and even off the North Jetty, where surefooted anglers cast big spinners or drift plug cut herring or anchovies under a slip bobber.

Unfortunately, fisheries managers closed all salmon fishing on the Columbia River on September 2nd due to higher-than-expected catch rates for Chinook salmon in August. This leaves jetty anglers contenting themselves jigging for rockfish and lingcod as summer transitions into fall, though it is possible fishing for coho could reopen this month.

Coho salmon fishing is scheduled to remain open in the ocean through September, but check the emergency regulations before going.

Need something else to do? That would be crabbing. The best crabbing for keeper size Dungeness crab is from a boat in the Pacific near the mouth of the river. Land based crabbers or kayakers catch crab close to the North Jetty in the park. We tossed a crab ring and snares off the boat launch dock at the park, and over the course of three afternoons literally pulled up close to 500 Dungeness crab.

Unfortunately, not one of them was keeper sized. The bio mass of crab was amazing, but they were all small. Hopefully by next year, a lot of these crab in this area will be big enough to keep.

If you like to hike, you’ll be able to enjoy a trail system covering eight miles that will take you to Cape Disappointment, the North Head Lighthouse, and through forests to wetlands and to the beach. Wildlife watchers will be rewarded with the sight of black-tailed deer and raccoons in the park, along with birds like kingfishers and osprey around the freshwater lakes as well.

Meanwhile, there are bald eagles, cormorants, pelicans, and a wide variety of shore birds on the coast off the rocky points and the beach, along with the chance to see seals and the occasional whale.

There is also much to see and learn here from a historical point of view. The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached Cape Disappointment as they completed their initial mission of reaching the Pacific Ocean in November of 1805.

Today, a world-class interpretive center with over 200 exhibits and artifacts can be seen here. The Center is open seven days a week in the summer and has reduced hours the rest of the year.

The mouth of the Columbia is difficult to navigate, and the waters around it became known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. To help ships safely enter the river, Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was built and became active in 1856. Aaron Webster, the head Interpretive Ranger at the State Park, was asked why a second lighthouse was built just two miles north.

Webster explained that initially, most shipping came from the south and San Francisco, and the light at Cape Disappointment worked fine. When rail lines reached Tacoma to the north, shipping began to come to the mouth of the Columbia that way, and they could not see the light of Cape Disappointment.

That’s why the North Head Lighthouse was built, which became operational in 1898. Today, tours are available at the North Head Lighthouse during the summer months.

This was also a military installation. Aaron Webster explained that this fort, along with Fort Stevens on the south side of the Columbia River mouth, were built during the Civil War because of a Confederate shipping presence in the Pacific Ocean.

The forts received state of the art coastal artillery pieces towards the end of the 19th Century and received more troops and artillery, along with radar stations, search lights and mines, in World War II. That’s when the threat was the Imperial Japanese Navy, which did have a submarine shell nearby Fort Stevens in 1942.

After the war, the fort was deactivated and Fort Canby was turned over to the Washington State Parks Commission. Today, you can walk among some of the WWII fortifications, which are located next to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. You can find out more about this amazing destination and the North Head Lighthouse

At https://parks.wa.gov/486/Cape-Disappointment and http://northheadlighthouse.com.

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com

By Mike Carey

My rod doubled over as the weight of another solid Holter Lake rainbow crushed my black and red jig. Drag screaming runs filled the air as the fish made several nice runs and jumps, clearing the water in a desperate attempt to throw the hook.

Gradually its efforts became less frantic, and I was able to slide the fish into the net as my son Matt skillfully scooped the fish up. After a couple minutes of rest in the knot-less net we eased the fish back and watched it dart away.

Those familiar with fishing for coho in rivers are well aware of the technique of twitching jigs. Many a coho has been caught, including by this writer. What I wasn’t aware of, however, was how effective twitching jigs can be for trout in a lake.

I can’t claim to have discovered this on my own (YouTube is a great source of inspiration) but I am more than happy to share the how-to so you can add another option to your trout-catching tool chest.

Rainbow in a lake or reservoir tend to inhabit the top 30 feet of the water column, making twitching jigs an ideal option for light gear. Jigs in 3/16 to 3/8 ounce size, paired with light line or braid, will easily descend to the depth you need to target these fish.

Mack’s Lure makes a great jig, the Rock Dancer, that has worked very well for twitching. Colors that seem to work best are the black jig heads with black/purple, black/red, black/blue, or all black bucktail. Glow eyes and mylar flash in the body add to the fish-attracting action.

For rod/reel/line set-ups I have used my seven foot coho twitching rods, with medium fast to fast action tip, a quality spinning reel in 100-200 size, and 20 pound braid with a 12 pound fluorocarbon leader. Another option is to use straight mono or fluro on the reel, especially if you’re concerned about spooking the fish. In my experience the braid has not had a huge effect.

Holter Lake rainbows are super-aggressive and hungry! The advantages of braid are two-fold. First, the diameter of the line is tiny, making the jig drop quicker and behave livelier in the water column. Second, with no stretch it’s easy to feel the tick of a fish hitting the jig.

The disadvantages of braid are no give, which means hooks can pull out easier if you don’t have your drag set correctly (i.e., lose enough for a fish to be able to take line but not so loose that you can’t reel it in). Mono or fluro advantages are just the opposite of braid.

Thicker line diameter means slower jig descent, while mono has a very forgiving stretch when you actually hook up. Since you’ll not be fishing super deep water, the mono stretch is not as significant when doing the actual jigging.

Lake jigging differs from river twitching in a couple of ways. It can be used both fishing shore structure such as deep drop-offs and out in open water when your fish-finder lights up with a good number of fish. Lake jigging also lends itself to both horizontal cast and retrieve and vertical jigging under the boat. 

If your boat has an electric trolling motor with anchor lock, you are in the best of all worlds! I like to start off shore structures and lock my position, fish the spot, and then drop down 20-30 feet to the next location, working my way along the shoreline, picking off fish as I go.

This technique also works on an open water scenario, or, let the wind drift your boat and hit the anchor lock when you get into the fish.

As to the technique itself, as I mentioned earlier you’ll have the option of horizontal or vertical jigging. In horizontal jigging, cast away from the boat. When the jig hits the water I like to let it sink for a few seconds and then close the bail.

Now, lift the rod tip in a jigging motion and then drop the tip. Reel in slack and repeat. The jig will descend as you bring it back to the boat, covering different depths as you retrieve. Vary your cadence and pay attention to how you were bringing the lure in when you get a fish – try to repeat that pattern on your next cast.

Rainbows will tend to hit the jig on the drop, so be ready as you raise your rod tip because you may well have a fish on!

Vertical jigging is straight up and down jigging, under the boat. It comes into play when your fish-finder lights up with arches underneath you. A good fish-finder will show your line and jig so you’ll know exactly where your jig is relative to the suspended fish.

This technique requires either an anchor lock trolling motor or calm wind conditions. Too much breeze and your jig will drag away from the boat, making this method impractical. On marginal conditions you can up your jig weight a bit to help get down to the fish.

After explaining to Matt the technique involved, in no time at all he was into his first jigged Holter Lake rainbow, a beautiful 16” fat stocked specimen. The Montana Fish and Wildlife plant Holter with rainbow and it without a doubt yields some of the best rainbow fishing I have ever experienced.

These fish grow fast and fat on the abundant feed in the lake (which is the Missouri River system). 16-18” fish are the norm, with bigger fish always a possibility.

Whichever lake you try this technique on, I think you’ll agree it’s a fun option rather than the usual trolling or still-fishing methods we grew up on. The fish fight great with no gear getting in the way, putting on an acrobatic show not soon to be forgotten. Give jigging for trout a try the next time you go out!

By Mike Carey

Over the loud throb of the single engine, our bush plane made its steady, if slow, journey over the Alaskan tundra. Several hundred feet below, the landscape was sparse and untouched by human hands. Between the marshes and brushy hillsides, I could see game trails crisscrossing the tundra. Straining to see an elk or moose, or maybe some bear, I imagined being dropped into this wilderness which looked so barren from above. 

Suddenly, a river came into view ahead, long and meandering, cutting a path through the wild Alaska landscape. Rising up from the wilderness was our destination, Alaska Trophy Adventures Lodge. Our pilot lined us up with the dirt runaway and the land rushed ever closer. Wheels touching, bouncing the plane back and forth, our pilot throttled back and taxied the plane from the end of the runway back to the lodge.

Welcome to Alaska!

We were greeted by Wayne McGee, the owner of ATA, and his son Tyler. Surveying the land before me, I took in the rustic lodge and various buildings, tents, and at the river’s edge, a lineup of fishing boats tied up to a dock, seemingly ready and begging to be taken for a ride down the wild and free river.

The Alagnak River, a designated scenic river, and ATA Lodge lie within the Katmai National Park. The Lodge itself is on 160 acres of prime river frontage in an iconic section of the Alagnak River known as the upper braids, and can only be reached by plane.

Our group included me, Rob and Hillary Holman, and Mack’s Lure’s Britton Ransford. We had been waiting a long time for this adventure, as the previous year’s trip was canceled due to Covid. But the masks were off now, and Alaska was once again welcoming guests to enjoy this vast wilderness.

The Alagnak is a wild river, flowing steadily from inland through vast woods and tundra, finally emptying into Bristol Bay. Hosting five species of salmon and several species of trout, the river is a teeming habitat untouched by human hands. Anglers travel around the world to experience its beauty and incredible fishing, not to mention the amazing wildlife which includes moose and an impressive display of bears, which were our constant (if distant) companions for our six day stay.

Settling into our quarters, we took in the vast view from our chalet looking back toward the lodge and guest cabins, Below, I noticed a couple anglers working the waters along the shoreline.  I wasted no time donning my waders and gear and walking down the short trail to the water’s edge. For the next hour I brushed off the cobwebs on my fly-casting skills and worked some productive seams in front of the lodge dock. I watched as fellow anglers landed several pinks, but it was not yet my time to hook into my first Alagnak salmon. 

With the dinner bell ringing, we headed back to the lodge for a warm welcome from Wayne and the crew. Introductions around the dining room revealed this week’s group of twenty or so anglers, having come from around America and even from Germany and Ireland. Truly an international clientele. Our dinner was elegant and delicious, the main course a fine pork chop as moist and flavorful as any I’d ever had.

After dessert, Wayne greeted the group and provided a view of the coming week’s adventures. Introducing everyone from the guides to the lodge staff, the feeling of a close family was obvious. Topping off the evening with a glass of fine wine, we returned satiated to our chalet. The morning would come soon enough, and it was time to light a fire, play some cribbage, and get a good night’s sleep for the coming day’s fishing adventure.

Fly fishing for salmon and trout is what the ATA experience is all about.

While fishing the river does not exclude hardware (and we did have great success one day twitching Mack’s Lure jigs) the appeal of fishing the Alagnak River is without a doubt fly fishing. The lodge has all the quality gear that you would expect, but many anglers choose to bring their own favorite rods and reels.

I brought a rod and reel of my own, which I soon discovered from our guide, Tyler, was not set up quite right for the large streamer flies we would be using. After a few adjustments my set up allowed me to cast much better, and by the end of the trip I was making my casts longer and straighter than I could ever have imagined.

The guides at ATA are pros and excellent fly casting instructors as well. Hillary, new to casting flies, by the end of the trip was excited by how much she had learned. Don’t think that if you have no fly-casting experience this adventure isn’t for you. Indeed, many of our fish were caught close to shore and didn’t require long distance or accuracy. The river is bountiful and there is no lack of willing finned friends waiting to tug your line.

Fish On

My streamer came to a dead stop as I was stripping line in, and the head shake of a powerful fish caused my rod to strain and bend over in a solid arch. The fish broke the surface in front of me, a chrome-bright coho fresh from the ocean. Taking strong, line peeling runs, the fish began to tire and I eased her into Tyler’s waiting net.

After admiring her chrome colors and fresh sea lice, she was sufficiently revived and darted off on her mission. Anglers do bring fish back from the Alagnak, but Wayne and the guides encourage only keeping the bucks and releasing the hens to procreate.

It’s a policy that the anglers that come to ATA are in agreement with as the Alaska experience we are here for is not bringing home coolers full of fish, but rather days full of memories. The Alaska wilderness experience is what ATA is all about.

Each day we fished we got to try a different species to target. One day it would be salmon, working the numerous seams and back eddies for coho, chums, and pinks, the next day taking the long, scenic forty mile run to tide water to battle chrome coho, another day bead fishing for artic grayling, char, and leopard rainbow trout. The rainbows grow large from the abundance of feed and follow the spawning salmon, feasting on eggs.

Earlier in the season, anglers can target powerful chinook salmon and massive runs of sockeye that thrill with acrobatic leaps, challenging even the most experienced angler.

The ATA lodge

The ATA lodge is situated deep in bear country. Every day we saw large brown bears walking the shoreline, feeding on the salmon. Mother bears and cubs were a common sight. Wayne informed us that in twenty-five years of service they have not had a bear incident.

The guides have a strong understanding and respect for bears and safety is always the number one priority. I never had much worry about the bears. It was awesome to look down on sandy shorelines and see the large tracks of these majestic creatures interspersed with anglers’ footsteps.

For a change of pace one day, Britton and I decided to do a hike in with our guide Tyler to a local lake that holds northern pike. Having never caught a pike on a fly I was very excited! We ran about thirty minutes by river, secured the boat, and began our one-mile hike to the lake. The Alaska tundra is a unique habitat, with open fields interspersed by woods and tall brush.

Periodically calling out “here bear”, we were sure to make plenty of noise to alert any bear in the area of our presence. The tundra is soft and giving, much like walking on a mat of foam. Our every step we would sink six inches into the turf, making the one-mile hike feel like three.

It was a workout which I enjoyed, although when we reached the lake, I was very grateful for the break! Sad to say, on this day the pike were not cooperating, although I did get a small one and had a nice strike from a larger fish. It’s an adventure I’d definitely try again!

As most things do, our Dream Adventure came to an end much too quickly. The last evening, we shared our group meal with new friends and recapped the week that was. The smiles and laughter around the room were a clear indication of what a magical place we had the good fortune to enjoy.

We shared our highlights from the week and the common bonds the week’s group of anglers experienced. In the morning we boarded our bush plane for the quick flight back to King Salmon, then Anchorage, and then home. Watching the lodge recede in the distance, I sensed we all left a part of ourselves back in Alaska, but took a piece home with us as well.

For your trip of a lifetime, learn more Alaska Trophy Adventures at https://www.atalodge.com or call 1-877-801-2289.