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[jonescort]

Well I have had the time of my life. I borrowed a rod from a friend who lives up there. I was fishing the thorn river. If anyone wants more info about how to pull off Alaska cheap I can help you out. Anyways here is my story. I went up there and left all my fishing stuff at home. I borrowed a rod from a friend who lives up there. I told him I was wanting to fly fish and he said he had a rod that a salesman told him was a perfect rod for salmon. Well I got up there and he showed me this brand new Fenwick 6wt soft action. It was two years old and still in the plastic. So I said thanks and headed to the river. I had some pink and purple estaz buggers covered in marabou and lead that I had tied on the plane ride to Alaska. I hit the river streamer fishing with 4wt line on a 6wt rod and ugly ass flys (lots of turbulence on the plane ride). They did the trick. I fished from sun up to sun down every day that week. The first two days I had a lot of pinks on the line. 30-40 fish days. Then the silvers started to run. I was amazed when I got my first pink on and it took me into my backing, then I got my first silver on and holy hell it was awesome. I will report in more detail later but I am needing to pack because I am headed back to utah in the morning. Alaska can be done on a 6 wt, it is just hellishly hard.

[BRY]

They actually let you carry on your tying gear? Which airline did you fly?

[Lonnie]

If anyone wants more info about how to pull off Alaska cheap I can help you out.

Paging ezlehappy.....

[Tyson]

Cort, you will have to teach me all you learned about Alaska. If all I need is a 6 wt I'm ready to go!

Also, BWO season is creeping up. I need those flies from the swap! :)

[Cary]

you are the MAN

[Curtis Fry]

They actually let you carry on your tying gear? Which airline did you fly?

Yeah, I wanna know that too cuz I'll pack my tying stuff if they let you. I'm guessing Cort's just tying without a vise or tools. Just using the fingers like old school.

[jonescort]

Alaska airline. I did however go old school nymphing. I didn't bring split shot or strike indicators and now I have learned that I have no need for them. I might still use them occasionally but from now on I will now be needing them. I lost my exacto knife when I brought the tieing gear on. I just brought some non needle nose pliers, and all my other normal gear. The person next to me complained to the flight attendants probably 50 times because he said that the smells of my tieing stuff were bothering him. My response was the smell of his BO and ass was bothering me. But I ended up pulling it off.

[cardiac]

It's starting to get real deep here!
30-40 fish days?

Ok I believe you. After all your a fisherman.

Glad you had a good time. 12 years old and already been to Alaska.
Got me on that kid.

;^)

[jonescort]

15:)..........

[cardiac]

15:)..........

And next year I guess you'll want us to pitch in and buy you a fishing vehicle. Let me be the first to say-


GET A JOB

p.s. looks like I'm back to Contributors Paradise.

[jonescort]

I already got a job.

[nativecutt]

Pinks are fun for about the first five fish......then they start to seem like planter rainbows after a while compared to the silvers. The silvers we saw were definitely healthy and fresh. Now I understand why lots of people like to target just silvers. I "hooked" all five species and landed 4 species.........King Salmon just worked me. Dolly Varden were a blast and rainbows I did catch were pretty spunky. Who wants to plan a trip back up?

[Tough]

This thread reminds me of a family story. When my grandmother died, her brother was in AK fishing for silvers. Both of them were in their 70's, and had not been real close for years.

When the family finally got hold of him with the news of his sister's death, his reply was "If you want me there for the funeral, you will have to put her on ice. I'm not quiting this river for another 4 days".

When I finally talked to him about his trip, he reported that after his whole life fishing, he had never had an experience like silvers. He reported that they all broke water several times, and wore him out.

This is a guy that never owned anything but a fly rod, and started fishing as a very young man.

[kingsonthefly]

I busted my 7wt on a king back in july. Thank god i had my 8 and 10wts to keep on fishing for kings or i would have to change my name to Articchar on the fly!

Glad you got op there Cort! Be carefull it can become addicting! But what a great way to spend a couple weeks every summer!


Chris

[jonescort]

I would be in on that in a second. I have great lodging for cheap that I can work out. Great fishing... If anyone else would like to do alaska for cheap let me know. Plus it will help my friend Mark out so that he can keep expanding his resort and making it better.