First trout trip of the year.....Alaska

[DocSpotty]

Finally was able to get out for my first trip of the year up here in Alaska. Ran up the MatSu Valley to fish the mouth of the Kashwitna river where it enters the huge, and off color Big Susitna. The fish usually sit right on the edge of the two in the clear water….hopefully in another week or two that is exactly where the first king salmon up the Big Su will be sitting also.

Nice day, overcast, about 50 degrees (suntanning weather up here) and calm……not a soul in sight but me…yeah. Was using my 5wt flyrod and begin with my spring favorite, a olive green sculpin. After several quick takes I decided to trim some of the tail off so the fish could find the hook….sheesh. I was immediately rewarded with my first rainbow of the year:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/FirstBow.jpg

It was only a few casts later and another nice both came in:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/2ndBow.jpg

At this time of the year the rainbows are not very colored up as they generally winter in the big river where they lose their normally intense coloration. There were some small fish and a myriad of missed strikes…then another bow:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/Bow.jpg

After several of these fish….I decided to head upstream and fish the last quarter mile of the stream above the mouth. While wading up I came under the imperious stare of the ever present Alaskan White Headed Fishpecker:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/WHFishPecker.jpg

Darn fish thieves are everywhere up here. After stripping my sculpin through a few more holes I was rewarded with another nice rainbow:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/AnotherBOw.jpg

After working my way upstream and going fishless for awhile it seemed appropriate to change my presentation…..changing to an imitation smolt pattern….which I coincidentally hooked a smolt with:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/Smolt.jpg

Took me only another few casts and I tagged the only dolly varden of the trip (southern subspecies, salvelinus malma lordii….or s.m. krascheninnikov if you are Russian):




http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/DollyVarden.jpg

Hit another short dry spell and almost went swimming after stumbling on a stack of neatly gnawed branches…..turned around, looked at the shore….and there it was….a nasty beaver…..took a pic and you have the gratuitous beaver shot:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/anxiousbeavers.jpg

Fishing back down to the mouth several more rainbows of small to middling size were caught and released. At the mouth I noticed a few small grayling working the surface for flies…and like an idiot I brought nothing for such an occasion. Luckily there was a single nymph stuck on my vest….the thing was tied on and about 10 minutes later one of the grayling was fooled into eating the ridiculous looking thing:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/Grayling.jpg

Had been fishing about 3 ½ hours and landed 14 coastal rainbows, 1 dolly and a pretty little grayling….figured it was time to head home. Never get tired of the scenery on the drive:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/scenery.jpg

At my advanced age all the wading had me tuckered out…..getting old SUCKS!!! As I pulled through Walmart this dog kind of summed up how I felt:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/DocEsox/Alaska/2010/hangdog.jpg

More to come….season has just begun….

Brian

[murrieta angler]

Howdy Doc,
Very good report and awesome pictures.
Are you sure the youngins should be looking at the "Beaver Shot"...hehe
Look forward to more reports from the beautiful state of Alaska.
Robert

[Troutman65]

Thanks for sharing another outstanding report . :Cool:

[Wingnut]

Fabulous reporting Doc... I'm really looking forward to all of your coming reports this season. :Big Grin: I don't live vicariously through very many people... but I want to be like you when I grow up! :LOL: :Wink: :Envious:

[troutdog]

Thanks for sharing another Alaskan adventure, wishing you another epic season Brian!


TD

[elevated]

looking at the out of state reports section is not helping my fish day dreaming...great report.

[primo55]

Awesome pics!! great report.

[SierraPeaks]

I envy you brother.
Someday I'll make it up there...been a dream for a long time.

By the way...I see the trim...but where's the beaver ?
Thanks for the report and the photos.

[Eat Sleep Fish]

real healthy lookin fish. good job.

[rohan]

Thanks for the report. I really enjoy those pictures.

[ldsaylor]

Good to see fishing season has begun in the far north!! Always look forward to your reports Doc. Another great outing! Thanks for sharing and look forward to many more!