Did I forget anything?

[ByteMe]

I leave tomorrow for a 10-day do-it-yourself float trip down a small Alaskan river south of Bethel. Did I forget anything? Any last minute sagely advice? I'll try to remember to take some pictures.

[PowerBaitHeppy]

Take some lotion. Take care of your hands. Use your forceps. Keep a clean camp.

[ByteMe]

Good advice. Hands get pretty beat-up after much time on the river, and my hands are little wussy office hands. Last time I fished up there one of the first sockeye I landed put a nice laceration across the palm of my hand when I tried to retrieve my fly without the help of some hardware. That hurt all week. I have stripping sleaves, athletic tape, lotion, and band-aids for my fingers.

Anytime you're in bear country you have to keep a clean camp.

[CraigD]

Im pretty sure you forgot to invite me?

[TS30]

Im pretty sure you forgot to invite me?

+1.....and also don't forget a .44 mag, lots of ammo, and a couple cans of bear spray.

[ByteMe]

The invites really were not mine to distribute on this trip. I was lucky to get one. The crew I'm going with have done this river and other Alaska DIY float trips and knows how to put it all together. Having experienced leadership has made it really easy in terms of preparation for me.

We are struggeling to make our total weight limit of 2400 lbs for 6 people with pontoon boats, food, and all the gear, so I think the guns are getting left behind. Not that I was planning to carry one. One of the gang is renting a can of bear spray from our bush pilot. I'm not too worried. The bears are busy fishing.

[Nich]

I leave tomorrow for a 10-day do-it-yourself float trip down a small Alaskan river south of Bethel. Did I forget anything? Any last minute sagely advice? I'll try to remember to take some pictures.

Hopper-Dropper just got back from a week up there and slayed some huge bows. May want to hit him up?

[ByteMe]

Hopper-Dropper just got back from a week up there and slayed some huge bows. May want to hit him up?

Sweet. I'll be throwing a lot of mice and of course, I have the eggs, flesh, and a butt load of streamers. However, did I mention I'll be hucking mice under banks and into nooks and crannies and then skittering them across the surface for monstrous leopard bow crushing takes. Man, I'm getting excited. It's like bass fishing but better!

[Nich]

Sweet. I'll be throwing a lot of mice and of course, I have the eggs, flesh, and a butt load of streamers. However, did I mention I'll be hucking mice under banks and into nooks and crannies and then skittering them across the surface for monstrous leopard bow crushing takes. Man, I'm getting excited. It's like bass fishing but better!


I hate to burst your bubble but I don't think they were up on the lemmings yet. But hopefully a week will change that and you get into them the good stuff. Good luck man and you should post some pics when you get back.

[royalwulff]

Take some lotion. Take care of your hands. Use your forceps. Keep a clean camp.


super glue and glue every little cut on your fingers every morning or youll be sorry. Athletic tape to wrap them too.

[styan]

50 yr old bottle of Scotch.

[ByteMe]

Can't burst my bubble. This trip has an iron clad bubble. There will be plenty of fish to catch. If I can't get them to eat a lemming, but I suspect I will, there are other ways and other species. I've heard the kings just started coming in in good numbers and that the sockeye run is really good this year, plus the chum are there and they'll bite anything and everything.

[ByteMe]

50 yr old bottle of Scotch.

Single malt, check. I have to pick that up in Anchorage tomorrow.

[styan]

Single malt, check. I have to pick that up in Anchorage tomorrow.

Purrrr-fect....I say you've got it covered.

Have a great time.

[cheech]

The invites really were not mine to distribute on this trip. I was lucky to get one. The crew I'm going with have done this river and other Alaska DIY float trips and knows how to put it all together. Having experienced leadership has made it really easy in terms of preparation for me.

We are struggeling to make our total weight limit of 2400 lbs for 6 people with pontoon boats, food, and all the gear, so I think the guns are getting left behind. Not that I was planning to carry one. One of the gang is renting a can of bear spray from our bush pilot. I'm not too worried. The bears are busy fishing.

Is your ring leader named Cal by chance? This trip seems similar to one that I have been told about before. I ended up tying hundreds of flies for them.

[Cary]

Have fun man, gimme a ring when you get back.

Be safe.

[ByteMe]

Is your ring leader named Cal by chance? This trip seems similar to one that I have been told about before. I ended up tying hundreds of flies for them.

Not Cal but Al.


Have fun man, gimme a ring when you get back.

Be safe.

Will do.

We've got to get the weekly thing going again. Stoney and I owe you a dinner.

I was glad to hear that you had fun and that there were no seriously bad results on your float.

[doug draper]

I would bring a couple extra rods. Rookies seem to allways break rods in Alaska. Put a video camera around your neck.

[ByteMe]

I would bring a couple extra rods. Rookies seem to allways break rods in Alaska. Put a video camera around your neck.

I'm bringing my 4 piece 6, 8, and 10 wts. I thought about taking my 2 piece 8 wt as a backup but I'm trying to get my gear weight down.

A video camera would be fun, but I'm leaving it and my SLR home and keeping it light and simple with just the small waterproof point-and-shoot. I've dragged the video camera and SLR on saltwater trips before and it's fun shooting but it just takes more care and feeding than I'm willing to dedicate on this trip.

[kingsonthefly]

i would never do a remote float with out a satalite phone. there are places you can rent them up there. Its better to have and not need than to need it and have now way to get ahold of any one . ~ have also found a gps unit is very helpfull to help keep track of distance floated each day so you can keep on schedule. DEET AND LOTS Of IT

[ByteMe]

i would never do a remote float with out a satalite phone. there are places you can rent them up there. Its better to have and not need than to need it and have now way to get ahold of any one . ~ have also found a gps unit is very helpfull to help keep track of distance floated each day so you can keep on schedule. DEET AND LOTS Of IT

We've decided to forego the sat phone. Instead we have a SPOT personal GPS tracker that will be sending daily e-mails to loved ones and our bush pilot with our position and status. Plus, we have another GPS unit along for tracking our progress. Since others in our group have floated this river we already have coordinates for our likely campsites.

I'm bring some bug juice that's something like 85% DEET and some fine mesh netting to throw over my head when the mosquitos and no-see-ums get really bad.

[kingsonthefly]

looks like your covered. 85% DEET is plenty. sounds like a great float!

[jonescort]

For those horrible no see ums make sure you get the little bottle of 100% deet. The deet is a small squeeze bottle and should last you the entire trip. Its a bright orange bottle so its easy to find. Snag an extra one so if you loose it you won't have any problems. Those volcanoes they leave all over you hurt worse than anything and I have never had luck with anything but 100% deet, LOTS OF vitamin B complexes in the morning and a cap full or two of vinegar. You will stink from the vinegar and vitamin B but it will keep the bugs off better than any spray. Bring a glove or two to use to keep your hands dry when releasing fish or a rag to wipe them off after the fish so they don't soften up and start to tear up. A pen tube with a piece cut out of the end makes a great release tool or you can just use a store bought one. THey make a difference on the toothy salmon. Thats what I would make sure to take, at least when I get back up there

[Hopper-Dropper]

ByteMe,

I hope you slay em'! i just got back and fishing was red hot.... if you dont mind me asking what river are you guys planning on floating??? I fished alot of water while i was up there and i dont think i had a bad day... threw a few mice in some promising water and got some blow-ups... killed em on swinging big leech/lamprey patterns. tie on that ten pound maxima and rip some lips!

[Stoney Clarke]

Have fun Pete! Rock on!

[Hopper-Dropper]

Is your ring leader named Cal by chance? This trip seems similar to one that I have been told about before. I ended up tying hundreds of flies for them.


by the way cheech... i would have loved to have my grumpy's on time to slay on top and get some sweet pics but you were too busy chasing your "delicious" bass to whip some up...

as Nich says... in the words of the big labowski... "that's a bummer man"

[ByteMe]

ByteMe,

I hope you slay em'! i just got back and fishing was red hot.... if you dont mind me asking what river are you guys planning on floating??? I fished alot of water while i was up there and i dont think i had a bad day... threw a few mice in some promising water and got some blow-ups... killed em on swinging big leech/lamprey patterns. tie on that ten pound maxima and rip some lips!

PM me or drop me an e-mail and I'll tell you which river. I'd like to know what waters you were on.


Have fun Pete! Rock on!

Thanks. See you when I get back.

[nightfish]

Gold Bond powder. The boys might get a little claustrophobic midway through a week of 20 hour days in waders.

[cheech]

by the way cheech... i would have loved to have my grumpy's on time to slay on top and get some sweet pics but you were too busy chasing your "delicious" bass to whip some up...

as Nich says... in the words of the big labowski... "that's a bummer man"

That was years back. Grumpies need to call me. They haven't yet. I just might have to hit the vise with this guilt trip;)

[jonescort]

while your at it you might as well finish up the para swap?????

[cheech]

while your at it you might as well finish up the para swap?????

I have tried to send your flies twice. they got returned both times. I'm sure you will get them sometime. Foamy has his;) I think I may go for guiness world record for longest swap.

[Jason]

Doug, don't forget extra batteries for your camera.....lots of batteries. Throw in a few extra cards as well. Good luck and have fun...I'm jealous.

[ByteMe]

Thanks for all the nice input folks. I think I'm good to go. I'm out of here. Fish On!

[catahoula cur]

Give us a report when you get back! I'm dying to do a trip like this.

[ByteMe]

I'm back from the wilds of Alaska. It was an adventure. We didn't see another human for eight days and only one grizzly from far away at our last camp spot on the beach. We had lots of wind, rain, and cold, but we were prepared. After dragging our boats through much of the first 7 or 8 miles of river, the floating got easier once we reached the confluence with the north fork. Our tent was only knocked down once by the wind, and we ended up huddled in the vestibule trying to keep warm and sleeping in late due to the more than desired amount of rainfall. The river often rose but we always pulled our boats high enough. Caught lots of grayling, bows, char, and salmon. The grayling ate any dry including the mouse. The bows also enjoyed the mouse. We caught kings, sockeye, humpies, and lots of chum. Fresh sockeye tacos are the tastiest. Here's a link to a few pics from the trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/prigstad/Alaska2008?authkey=WkH3KUO3oW0

[cheech]

I'm back from the wilds of Alaska. It was an adventure. We didn't see another human for eight days and only one grizzly from far away at our last camp spot on the beach. We had lots of wind, rain, and cold, but we were prepared. After dragging our boats through much of the first 7 or 8 miles of river, the floating got easier once we reached the confluence with the north fork. Our tent was only knocked down once by the wind, and we ended up huddled in the vestibule trying to keep warm and sleeping in late due to the more than desired amount of rainfall. The river often rose but we always pulled our boats high enough. Caught lots of grayling, bows, char, and salmon. The grayling ate any dry including the mouse. The bows also enjoyed the mouse. We caught kings, sockeye, humpies, and lots of chum. Fresh sockeye tacos are the tastiest. Here's a link to a few pics from the trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/prigstad/Alaska2008?authkey=WkH3KUO3oW0


Nice pics man. I'm jealous.

[westay]

Totally Awesome! Makes me want to break the bank and do the trip. Thanks for sharing.

[ByteMe]

Nice pics man. I'm jealous.

Thanks.

Totally Awesome! Makes me want to break the bank and do the trip. Thanks for sharing.

Might be less than you think. I used FF miles to get to/from Bethel and we had the gear, so the rest of the cost was simply the bush pilots and shipping.

[spotter]

Excellent report. Hope to make it back there some day.

[Stoney Clarke]

Nice Pete,

Maybe we'll get out this week and i can hear more about it.

SC

[ByteMe]

Nice Pete,

Maybe we'll get out this week and i can hear more about it.

SC

I wish. I have to head down to Florida for a business trip tomorrow. I hope we can get out next week.

[nativecutt]

nice pics, Alaska is sweet isn't it? I can't wait to get back next year. Is that a starlight leech in a few of those chums?

[jonescort]

sweet. That picture of the toons could go on scaddens web page

[ByteMe]

Alaska sure is sweet.

The starlight and hareball leech patterns in fuscia or orange and pink worked well for me and others. I caught most of my salmon on these patterns plus many dollys and bows. At one point I was landing chum after chum and a couple other guys were not feeling the love. Once I showed them my fly they switched over to the fuscia color and started hooking up.

[wovenstonefly]

Sweet. I would be living up there if i had not met my wife.

[ByteMe]

sweet. That picture of the toons could go on scaddens web page

Hmmm, maybe I could work something out in trade.

[TS30]

Holy balls....I didn't realize you were doing this float all on pontoons. That is nuts! Freaking sweet trip, nice work.

[Hopper-Dropper]

I'm looking of doing a DIY trip next year to a river that i have always wanted to float up there... how did you get your toonz up there? Did you have to freight them up before you arived??

P.S. nice pics... i miss that place and it's only been a few weeks since i've been back.

[ByteMe]

Holy balls....I didn't realize you were doing this float all on pontoons. That is nuts! Freaking sweet trip, nice work.

Thanks. All credit goes to the guy that put the trip together. His two man boat that he built really carried most of the food and a lot of the camp gear.

I'm looking of doing a DIY trip next year to a river that i have always wanted to float up there... how did you get your toonz up there? Did you have to freight them up before you arived??

P.S. nice pics... i miss that place and it's only been a few weeks since i've been back.

Yes, we weighed ourselves and all the gear and then air freighted the boats, food, tents, and other camp gear up beforehand to our bush pilot. We then knew our personal weight allowance (cloths, fishing gear, toiletries, booze, etc.) to ensure we could get 6 people and all our gear within weight limit of the planes.