The fishing season is upon us

[Richard Flanders]

I flew into my best collecting site south of town last week and a couple of bear hunters told me they had caught grayling in this beaver pond. I had been over to it in the past but didn't think it would hold fish. Wrong. I walked over yesterday and stood on the beaver dam and had a good time catching some nice fish. They were mostly small but a couple in the 13"-14" range came by, which I really didn't expect; this bigger one would be a good grayling anywhere in Alaska. To get here these fish have to swim against the current up at least 30miles of small creeks that feed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks. You can tell too; they aren't very strong at this point. I had to get them back into the water quickly after a quick picture. This pond is not as big as it looks in this stitched picture. It can't be more than about 400ft across at most - actually, it measures 250ft to the far shore on Google Earth. I may have to tote my small rubber raft out there so I can exercise a fly rod on them. It was 80+ deg here yesterday. I had a sunshine headache by the time I walked out of there back to the plane.

[Mark Ray]

Cool,

I am taking our entire family to Kenai beginning friday for our first alaska experience. I know that one of our days is to fly in pond hopping for grayling and pike. I cannot wait!!

Great pics Richard!

[charlie cleveland]

you got to be living rightrichard....thanks for the pictures charlie

[Phil Yearout]

Yes it is. Here's a nice "Kansas Brookie" and my first bass of the season...

https://i.imgur.com/Ru0JRAYl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oFqHX9Fl.jpg

[Bob Hayes]

Love Alaska can't wait to go back.In the mean time I keep busy here.It's a little past spring here but fishing is good.Ran to Bahamas Monday before the holiday.It was worth the trip.

[Bob Hayes]

Look at the canines on that cuber snapper.He was about 40lbs and eats very well.Usually caught using whole live Fl. lobster for bait in July,August but occasionally you'll get one on bait chunk.
Blue marlin was around 325lbs..

[Richard Flanders]

How 'bout I borrow your boat to use on my beaver pond?? Yes? No? Maybe??

[Bob Hayes]

If you can get it on a trailer and up the Alaska Hwy before winter.
Actually its not a bad cruise.I helped my wife's uncle bring an aft cabin cruiser up to Valdes years ago.Trucked to Seattle then cruise to Valdes.

[Richard Flanders]

I put in a trail across the beaver dam today so I could cross to the hill on the other side. Here's a pic of the beaver pond from the hillside and of a moose that was cooling off in the 75deg temps and getting a aqeous lunch salad while she was there. Mercy, it was hot out there.

[Bob Hayes]

Hell of a back yard

[Dean Romig]

Worst sunburn I ever got was in Alaska. It was in the last week of June.





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[Paul Ehlers]

Looks like you had a great day. I like seeing the old school red & white Mepps spinner still gets the job done.

[Mark Ray]

Kasilof river (Kenai Alaska) Wild King Salmon, taken on the fly last tuesday morning. Bucket list deal for me! Wow, is Alaska beautiful!

[Randy G Roberts]

Kasilof river (Kenai Alaska) Wild King Salmon, taken on the fly last tuesday morning. Bucket list deal for me! Wow, is Alaska beautiful!

Congrats Mark. I would like to that myself some day.

[Dean Romig]

I did it for two weeks in '92. A dream trip for me... total sensory overload.





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[Phil Yearout]

I've recently been able to acquire my Dream Rod; first time out...

https://i.imgur.com/w7pK1N5l.jpg

and yeah, I know it's a trout rod, but some of us have to take what we can get when we can get it!

https://i.imgur.com/A75xtNQl.jpg

[Mark Ray]

That makes for good memories for me...I LOVE catching panfish on the fly. Practically fed myself in college catching Guadalupe Bass, red ear sunfish, bluegills and shellcrackers from the Guadalupe, San Marcos and Blanco rivers on top water poppers and terrestrials, particularly red ant and cricket patterns.

[Dean Romig]

Very nice!

It's hard to beat a Winston in the realm of contemporary cane rods.





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[Dean Romig]

My favorite thing about Arctic Grayling is the thin band of pure Klondike gold along the top edge of the dorsal fin.





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[Paul D Narlesky]

a Winston cane rod and a Hardy reel if I am not mistaken. I am a traditional fly fisherman myself and a cane rod nut indeed...Best of luck with your new outfit and many happy days astream....Paul in OR

[John Dallas]

Supposed to float a couple tomorrow in my Au Sable River boat, but we have had so much rain that the river is totally blown out. Bummer, since this is the time of my two favorite hatches - brown drakes and Hexes