Trout Fishing is Strong as the early Sockeye run winds down.

Mica Fesler took time off from flying his F22 and gave lots of Kenai Rainbows a workout including a fish estimated at 29″.  Neil Cooper caught four sockeye (his first salmon) and several Dollies (his first Dollies) in addition to a bunch of nice rainbows.

Sockeye fishing has slowed as many of the fish have moved through the Kenai and into the Russian.  The Sanctuary at the confluence opened today, signalling that escapement goals will be met.  Trout fishing is strong, as the river is full of carcasses from angler caught salmon.  The eagles, bears, gulls and rainbows are all getting well fed.  We have been seeing both brown and black bears daily.

Here are some images from Mike and Ryan King’s trip June 16-20.

Mike is coming back in September and can’t wait.  He even bought a hat and shirt from the new Mysticfishing Store.  Thank’s Mike!

The Sockeye are rolling and the Trout are eating good.

Yesterday, Mike King’s crew got up early and loaded up on sockeye.  By 7am, we were off to chase rainbows, but we kept catching Sockeye.  Six chrome sockeye were hooked while fishing for rainbows.  So many sockeye were moving, that trout fishing started slow.  Then, in two hours, the crew landed 30 fish including some 24-27″ rainbows and a 24″ dolly.  Today, we focused on rainbows and landed a mix of fish up to 27″.  Denny Robinson of Bountiful Utah was fishing with Stacy and after a limit of Sockeye, he landed a 30″ rainbow that held out for 20 minutes before submitting to the net.  Alaskan Mike Carlisle also did some damage on the sockeye and hit plenty of great rainbows.  Today the weather turned to summer with morning temps of 40 rising into the upper 60s.

Its On

The Upper Kenai and Lower Kenai Outlet have been open for three days.  The weather has been cool and runoff minimal.  The water is still low and cold, but fishing is excellent.  Today, Stacy’s boat hit a limit of Sockeye in 35 minutes and after releasing a bunch more, went on to catch lots of rainbows and even a few large dollies.  I have been on the rainbow quest.  Bill Coulson from Fort Collins has become a regular in my boat and holds the early season lead with a 31″ rainbow that crushed his fly and put up a 30 minute battle.  We have spent the last three days sight fishing in unusually clear water.  Several cow moose and calfs have been around.  A sow grizzly with two cubs is a regular below the Russian and we watched an eagle snatch a chrome sockeye below Skilak.

Looking forward to Mike Kings group from Grand Junction Colorado next week.  Prospects are looking good!

Will there be fish tomorrow?

This is a damn scary time. I don’t like to focus on this stuff, but everyone needs to be aware of these continual threats and support the good guys fighting for our fish and the health of our world. If the Pebble Mine is not enough to scare you, here is another horror.

Protect BC’s Sacred Headwaters from Shell Coalbed Methane

The Sacred Headwaters is a vast alpine basin and the birthplace of three of the Northwest’s most important salmon/steelhead rivers: the Nass, the Skeena and the Stikine. It is home to caribou, grizzly bears, mountain goats, and myriad other wildlife species. Royal Dutch Shell wants to exploit the Sacred Headwaters for coalbed methane gas. Such a development would see the wild landscape of the Sacred Headwaters turned into an industrial maze of wellheads, roads, pipelines and a conduit for toxic soup that can never be cleaned up.

Got to this website and sign the petition.

Sacred Headwaters Online Action Centre

From:  <Questions@shell.com>To:  <info@mysticfishing.com>Subject: Out of Office AutoReply: Keep Shell out of BC’s Sacred Headwaters We are currently experiencing a high volume of e-mail, and our responses may take longer than normal.

When you see the Permit…

I am not fishing, though conditions are great today. I am getting ready for my yearly migration and dealing with details. Fishing Jones made a comment about liking the quote, “Excuse me sir, I see the Tarpon” and it distracted me. Gotta love it. It sounds better the more you hear it, especially if you are on the deck of the skiff when the words are spoken. It got me reminiscing about the other quote from the same trip by a not so polite guide. “When you see the Permit, cast to the f#%$^&g Permit.” If you are already nervous and pumped up from a failed shot at a huge permit, words like this are not going to calm you down and get you ready for the next shot. As a guide, I think I can really appreciate good vs. bad guiding. While I have only been guided a few times, I have already seen a broad range of styles and attitudes. Guiding is about chasing fish, but it is even more about taking care of people and facilitating a fun experience. Fish happen when people are feeling positive and enjoying their day and companions.

Snaking Down the Missouri

Took the family out for an evening adventure on the MO. What a difference a week makes. The snow was nearly gone from the Big Belts and the grass was green and climbing the mountain sides. Bugs were thick. It seems like the BWO’s just got started, but March Browns, Callibaetis, Caddis and even a few Stones were flying everywhere. The temp was also 80.

Keeli started nymphing and hooking up immediately.

Kyle took off with his bucket and aquarium net to find little creatures.

The highlight of the evening came just before sunset. We had already been entertained by an Osprey, a pack of marauding cute little beaver kits and Kyle’s bucket of swarming creatures when Erin let out a shriek. I thought a river monster must be rising off the bow. Close. The kids started yelling, catch him daddy, catch him as Erin moaned in terror. It was two on one, so I went with the kids and Erin sucked it up and took this picture. She even touched the startled Gopher Snake before we let him free to find greener grass on the other side of the river.

I hoped for a great rise after the sun went down and Keeli made a valiant attempt to row for me, but alas, the fish must have loaded up on nymphs and emergers all day. Very few rises despite bugs galore. Maybe tonight!

A Letter From Brian Kraft About Pebble Mine

Here a copy of an email I received today. I decided to post it and keep spreading the word about the good fight to save the Bristol Bay watershed. All anglers and sportsman need to work together on these issues, even if they will never visit some of the places that are threatened. Any day, it could happen in your backyard or your special place and you will need help as well.

Dear Fellow Lodge Owner:

The effort to stop Pebble Mine is in full swing and we¹re writing to ask for
your help.

Over the last several years the Renewable Resources Coalition, Bristol Bay
Alliance, Trout Unlimited, Sportsman¹s Alliance and others have raised
public awareness about the threat Pebble Mine poses to the pristine waters
of the Bristol Bay region.

Now, with the qualification of Ballot Measure #4, the Clean Water Act, we
have a chance to stop Pebble.

If approved by the voters at the August 26th election, Ballot Measure #4
will create tough new clean water standards that will help protect Bristol
Bay. It will not shut down existing mines - just protect salmon spawning
habitats.

In order for Ballot Measure #4 to win we all need to pitch in to make sure
it has enough money to get its message on television and in the mail to the
voters. We need your help to do that.

Right now the mining industry has inundated Alaska¹s airwaves with
television commercials accusing us of wanting to destroy jobs and Alaska¹s
economy; that we wish to stop all mining. Don¹t believe it.

We simply want to ensure that Alaska¹s salmon spawning waters — an equally
important resource ­ are protected.

Polls show that Ballot Measure #4 can win passage if we have the resources
to get our message out. I hope you¹ll join in this effort by making a
contribution and asking your clients to do the same.

As lodge owners or agents, we have a lot at stake and we need you to join
this fight. Whether you are located in the Bristol Bay region or another
part of Alaska, Ballot Measure #4 will ensure that salmon habitat is
protected. Here¹s how you can help.

Make A Contribution

Given what is at stake for all of us, we have set a goal of $600,000 from
lodge owners and our guests.

We are asking lodge owners to consider making a contribution equal to 2% of
their gross revenue. This provides a way for all lodge owners participate
on a proportionate scale.

Some owners have been more comfortable sending in checks for a flat $20,000,
$15,000 or $10,000. Some owners have been donating based on the rate of two
guests for one week.

However you decide to give, it is important you do so and that you do it
now. Time is of the essenceŠ.we need to have our television commercials on
the air and our mail in the mailboxes of our targeted voters.

All contributions should be made to Alaskans for Clean Water. AFCW is the
only legal entity that can promote a YES vote on the Clean Water initiative.
All of the other groups in our coalition can only educate the public about
the issue. They cannot legally advocate a yes vote on Measure #4.

Checks should be made payable to ³Alaskans for Clean Water² and mailed to:
1503 W. 31st Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99503

Reaching out to your guests

In addition to your personal support, as a group we have agreed to ask our
guests to contribute to the campaign. Our guests, particularly our repeat
guests, know better than most the importance of protecting our watershed and
habitat ­ and a favorite vacation spot.

Visiting your lodge

If you would like, we would be more than happy to have one of the campaign¹s
experts fly-in and visit your lodge when you have clients you think would be
most likely to support this effort — such as those that come up as a group
year after year. These experts would talk about the threat to Bristol Bay,
the impact on fishing and a vacation spot they enjoy. The campaign¹s expert
would also share why we need their help in the effort to pass Measure #4.

Brochures and return envelopes

We have brochures for you to distribute at your lodge and self-addressed
return envelopes to include in letters sent to your guests. Robert Kaplan is
a nationally renowned professional fundraiser and is co-coordinating the
necessary fundraising portion of the overall campaign to help pass Ballot
measure #4. Please reply to Robert Kaplan at rkcompany@aol.com with how
many you need and to where they should be sent.

Thank you for your helping us passes the Clean Water initiative and stopping
Pebble Mine. Feel free to email me at bkraft@alaskasportsmanslodge.com.
You can also contact Robert Kaplan at 310.739.4000 or via email at
rkcompany@aol.com if you have any questions or need any help.

Brian Kraft
Alaska Sportsman¹s Lodge

Excuse me sir, I see the Tarpon.

“Excuse me sir, I see the tarpon. You cast.” I cast. “Strip, strip.” The tarpon ate my fly. Years of tarpon fantasies culminated in an adrenalized hook set. I had visualized the powerful stripping motion and my brain and body actually worked together. I connected solidly with the Tarpon’s jaw. I was so juiced and excited and the fish must have been turned just so. My leader came back with an abraided and severed 40# shock tippet.

Enrique had a puzzled look. “Sir, it’s a baby. You pull like this.” He gave a little strip set motion. “Not like that.” Point taken. It was no giant tarpon. I was casting an 8wt to a fifteen-pound fish.  “Excuse me guide.”

Over the next couple days we landed a bunch of baby Tarpon and had a blast. We will never forget this saying, so here it is on a shirt.   Soon, I hope to use my power set on a giant tarpon.

Catch-and-Release Troutitude

Nothing gets fly fisherman more worked up than comments about catch-and-release. Whether from pure selfishness or true concern for a life form we cherish, everyone has a strong opinion. I am just recounting two situations that happened on the Kenai River. One was difficult for the trout through no fault of the anglers involved, other than that we were trying to catch it. The other was hard on my face and I am sure some form of karmic payback for all my years of fishing.

Troutitude

A hook-up near the end of a float on the Kenai last summer resulted in a brief and surprising battle. The fish shot straight toward his would-be captor, crashing into his chest on the third leap, before flopping into the middle of the drift boat. My guest was stunned. I quickly scooped the twisting trout and freed it over the side. I was concerned about its physical condition after slapping the angler and banging the bottom of my boat. Undaunted, the untamed rainbow sliced across the water pushing a v-wake like a torpedo. The wave splashed up with a bang on the side of my partners nearby drift boat, startling the occupants.

It was a brief encounter with a mad trout of approximately twenty-eight inches. While we got no glory photo of the fish, it surely burned its image on our memories. How many trout fisherman can claim to be gored by a rainbow? How many drift boats do crazed trout ram? That fish had serious troutitude.

Catching trophy trout is a big deal for most fly anglers and everyone wants to get a special photo with their biggest fish. As a guide, I typically do the holding for these photos. Big fish can be a bit of a challenge to pose and we never want to hurt them. I would like to think I have developed a special touch over the years to quickly and safely position a fish for the camera.

After a successful photo pose, I was leaning over the water to carefully release a particular fish. Mindful of his well being, I intended to hold the trout momentarily submerged to be sure he was ready to swim. Before reaching the water, he snapped his head back and bit my lip. While we generally do not worry too much about them, trout have teeth. This fish surely felt vindicated as he zoomed off and blood from my wounded lip dribbled down my chin. How was the bite that day? Well, I was bit in the lip. Some trout are not to be trifled with.

Dad’s Fishing Trip

Several years ago, I took a mother and daughter on a daily-guided trip. While it is not unusual to take a couple of ladies fishing, this trip was clearly something different. It soon became apparent that they were not just novice anglers, but were not serious about fishing at all. Always up for a challenge, I did my best to get them into fish and interested in fly-fishing.

Things went well that day. The ladies caught fish, enjoyed the river float immensely and made for pleasant company. For me, it was an easy day. For one, ladies usually catch fish. Two women are a sure bet for a great day. We had the river almost all to ourselves and after eight hours; they were more than ready to call it a day.

As I readied the boat for our trip across Skilak Lake to the landing, the ladies seemed to perk up. There was a steady wind blowing in our faces, but not enough to keep us from a safe crossing. As we headed out into the lake, the ladies stood up in the bow and began to throw something into the wind. Suddenly, gritty powder was wafting back into my eyes and mouth. I put up a hand and tried to duck as the wind carried the substance they were throwing straight into my face. They were laughing, smiling, and filled with a strange joy. I had just met dad.

Apparently, dad had always wanted to go fishing in Alaska. He never got a chance to visit in living form, but his girls decided his ashes should be immersed in the environment he longed for. While having someone’s ashes thrown into ones face may seem reason for outcry, I did not want to interrupt their reverie. Most of dad ended up on me and in the boat. At least he will get to make more Alaska fishing trips.