Big M@*%$& F!($*%# Jungle Fish

I got my hands on this film a few weeks ago and popped it in the other night.  I'm not one for straight up fish porn F3T style.  Most of Felt Sole works for me, partly because I live according to patagonia (despite not sponsoring the film, patagonia has a strong brand presence throughout Jungle Fish).  Beattie Productions has unreal footage and puts out good stuff, but once you've seen one it doesn't get off the shelf much.
Costa has done a good job with this film, the cast, the story, and the fish.  It delivers that holy shit moment while telling a story of pioneering an industry and creating a beacon for rural communities and sustainable development.

Give it a look-see:

 

"JUNGLE FISH" presented by Costa Films

THE FATE OF A PEOPLE IS TIED TO A FLY ROD.
For decades, the native peoples of Guyana have struggled for economic independence. But hope might be prowling in Guyana's rivers in the form of the largest freshwater fish in the world, the arapaima.  Follow three expert fishermen as they undertake a two-week voyage deep into the heart of Guyana's rain forest. Their mission:  to demonstrate that the arapaima can be caught with a fly rod.  If they succeed, it will prove that the country's fledgling sport fishing industry is viable.  And that will mean a brighter future for the native peoples, the rain forest they call home – and the endangered arapaima itself.
29 Minutes Running Time

Sunrise up North

There's little that is more excited than an approaching season.  Some wait for ski season, some wait for beach season, and others for fishing season.  In places like Colorado, New York, and California the action exists through the winter in a subdued version of its exuberant summertime self.

In Alaska, however, fishing is more volcanic - dormant for the majority of time and then absolutely explosive.  Two weeks ago the action was imperceptible, dormant except for a few awakening twitches.  Come summer, the Kenai and the rest of the frontier waters will be explosive with bent rods, gip and grins, combat zones, trophies, and fulfilled dreams.  There are days when we can't empty the net fast enough, when we can fish any fly in the box and hook up, when I lose count before 8 am.  This is the explosion.  Its not daily, some days it's just smokey, but sometimes it's just on fire.

At Angle 45 we're getting ready for our season on the Kenai.  Rods are coming down, lines, waders, and boots are being washed, reels re-spooled, boxes organized, flies tied, and boats dug out.  Dormancy is melting off the shoulders of spring.  After more than 11 feet of snow it's taking some work to dig out camp, but warm weather, many hands and a few cold drinks make for quick work.

We're ready to hit the water - excited to see some returning friends again and make some new ones on the river.

c. DFisher

Sticks and Stones

It's not often I get a terrible day of guiding.  In fact, it is very rare, almost never.  Days can be tough or low in numbers, low energy, nasty weather, general lack of luck, but never really awful.  But there are exceptions and this is the result of one of those really awful days.

X-Ray taken after surgery in Anchorage, AK

Taken 2 months after surgery

Lots of hardware 

Laid up on the couch in Hope, AK.

Ten days after surgery I was on the water again with my mother.  Blue bird day and plenty o' fish.

I still managed to get on the water once before leave the Kenai, 10 days after surgery

Farewell trout?

My mom got into some good fish

 Needless to say my guiding for the season is over.  But now my time is my own and recovery happens.  The East Coast (home) is laden with stripers so it is to the salt and away with the waders for a while.

In The Flesh

When salmon carcass is thick in the river, when fishing for trophy trout, nothing beats the flesh fly.  It might be a bit bold or lacking in the sophistication many newer trout flies possess but it catches fish.

It's a quick and easy tie, and you'll want a box full

These are about as small as you'll see them.  Some are 4"-6" inches long, articulated and weighted, but these are considered micro.  They are simply wrapped rabbit fur strips in colors that mimic the rotting flesh that fills the waters.

You don't need to be a perfectionist to tie a flesh fly that will catch fish

Don't be surprised by high numbers of big trout

Sockeye Fever

Sockeye fever is simple.  People want to fill the freezer, and with a limit of 3 fish per day it can happen quickly.  It means 3 am mornings, standing thigh deep in glacial melt swinging ounces of led and a snagging hook with an 8wt  for hours on end.

Regulations say you can't use a bare hook but it wouldn't matter for catching them

A good wide gap and short shank make for great hooking and holding power

Pound for pound sockeye (red) salmon are the hardest fighting fish out there.  The first run salmon average about 8 lbs and we use 25 lb mono to construct a 9' leader.  With the drag cranked these guys still peel line.

I put this one through my finger

The pliers come in handy for removing hooks (from fingers)
and the scissors I use to bleed the salmon before knocking them

The second run of reds started in just the last 2 or 3 days.  By now there are over 700,000 salmon in the Kenai River and working their way to its headwaters.  The Kenai River automated fish count reports can be heard at (907) 262-9097.  The fish in this run average 14 pounds or so and put everything into the fight.

This is sockeye fishing at it's worst.  Combat, shoulder to shoulder,
what ever you call it I prefer trout

These salmon run the gauntlet as they battle upstream to their spawning grounds

There are places where the crowds dissipate and fish still hold.  They way to access these little places is by hiking a little or using a drift boat to get to gravel bars along the Kenai.  There are a dozen ways to prepare salmon, from the grill, smoker, canner, hung dried, cold smoked, etc.  They are all delicious.

The pay-off is a smoker full of fresh salmon.

The second run of King Salmon is in hard as well. About 1,000 to 1,500 kings enter the Kenai every day  now.

Around Camp

Just to fill in a few holes.  Here are some shots from around camp and on the water.

Meet Canyon

He's not so happy here - went for an inadvertent swim

It might seem like over kill but strong pliers and good scissors are a must

A shell makes first wake on Kenai Lake

Kings All Around

A lot is happening, time is short and photos are few, but here's a little something tasty.

The King Salmon is  like no other fish.  It is king,and right now there are two places to be.

 35 lb'er from the honey

It's not always about the fish.  This cow and calf stayed put as we rowed past

Kings can be taken on the fly, though the most effective methods for catching them involve heavy gear, 30lb test mono, big plugs or eggs.  There's no subtlety in the way we fish for kings, or the way they fight.  

52", 75 lbs is too big to keep. DFischer.

More to come.