Protect the King

ADF&G: based on preseason outlook, the 2013 Kenai River early-run of king salmon is expected to be very low.

There are, in fact, just 343 kings in the river right now.

Emergency orders on the Kenai peninsula, for both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers are out in an attempt to protect the early-run kings which have been low in recent years.  This comes on the heals of last season, where many guides and fishers saw their season ended weeks after it had begun, due to historically tragic number.  Fishing for kings is still allowed, but is it moral?

My first Kenai King.  I'm afraid it won't be topped

The new regulations prohibit the retention of any king between 20" and 55".  This one here came it at about 54", and within the 2011 slot limit regulations prohibiting retention.  I'm not interested in keeping fish that size.

Wild Kasilof King

The Kasilof has an emergency order prohibiting the take of any native fish greater than 20", down from  retention of 10 jacks per day and 2 greater than 20" with natives allowed just three days per week.

The good news is that the sockeye are expected to have another strong year, and if last year was any indication they are just days away from hitting the Russian River weir and are probably already stacked in Power Lines and Guardrail.

Current Kenai King Counts:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.kenaiChinook

Current Russian River Sockeye Counts:

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/FishCounts/index.cfm?ADFG=main.displayResults&COUNTLOCATIONID=13&SpeciesID=421

ADF&G Automated Fish Count Hotline

(907) 262-9097

Updates from camp

There's no time to waste at camp.  We started off with a bit of a fishing bender, putting 4 days on the water away from camp.

We've got a bunch of new gear around camp.  Eleven new Beulah rods including my 13'8" 8wt Spey, 8 new mirage reels, 2 Waterworks reels, a dozen new (rubber soled) boots, and a number of lines.  (More on gear later)

We had a few trips on the Kasilof for Kings, and while the fishing was slow we brought a few to the boat, as well as a couple steelhead and dollies.

Ever spent the night in a yurt?

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

Patagonia Provisions

You may have read HERE that Patagonia is releasing Patagonia Provisions, a "naturally perfect food."  It has arrived and is available online and in these stores:

New York Soho

Chicago Lincoln Park

Boston

Seattle

Portland

Ventura

Atlanta

For $12.50 you get salmon that is "healthy, delicious, and sustainably harvested from the clean, cold waters of Northern British Columbia."

Smoked black pepper

Smoked chili pepper

Smoked teriyaki

Urban Angler Grand Opening; Simms & Anglers All Trout Clave

For those in Colorado, make sure you check this out.

 

Join Simms at Anglers All April 21, 2012 for the 3rd Annual Anglers  All Trout Clave! Beginner and expert fly anglers are welcome to  come explore the wealth of information provided by a collection of signature fly tyers, guides and angling personalities. Trained Simms staff will be there to assist you with the exciting  2012 line of Simms products. In addition, there's a lot more at Anglers All: 50% off Trout Flies from 9am to 11am Spey Casting demonstration with Dec Hogan Fly Tying and Rigging Techniques with Frank Smethurst Anglers All Guide Service Presentation on Streamer Fishing 15% off guide trips booked during the event! Fly Fishing Turneffe Flats with Wes Osborne Wader fitting for men and women by Simms Trained staff Win a $500 Simms Shopping Spree! - Must be present to win Winter clothing clearance sale Door buster specials, free hot dogs & drinks End-of-Day Gear Giveaways - Prizes TBD, Must be present to win We hope to see you at this one-day-only event to help get the 2012 fishing season started in great shape. Anglers All 3rd Annual Trout Clave April 21, 2012 9:00am - 5:00pm 5211 S. Santa Fe Dr. Littleton, CO 80120 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - BRING A FRIEND! And if you're in DC, VA, MD Urban Angler is having their Grand Opening this weekend. Saturday, April 14th from 6:00-8:00pm. Come share in the fun and enter to win some great stuff! Raffle prizes that that will be given away at the party: The Grand Prize is a 3 Night/2 Day trip for two to Five Rivers Lodge*in Dillon, Mt Sage 4200 series reel of your choice Pair of Simms G3 Guide Waders Pair of Smith sunglasses of your choice Patagonia Great Divider bag A day trip with Eastern Trophies guide service *The winner can arrange to visit Five Rivers Lodge anytime  during the 2012 or 2013 fishing season, subject to availability.  Airfare and ground transportation not included. Please join us...this is one party you won't want to miss! Grab a drink and help us celebrate our wonderful new store. See you on Saturday. Urban Angler - Alexandria VA 108 N. Washington Street, 2nd Floor Alexandria , VA 22314 Phone: (800) 800-2018 or (703) 527-2524

Eat More Salmon

For hundreds of years the ability to use and continue to use has been the motive behind conservation.  Hunters, anglers (who until recently killed what they caught), farmers, ranchers, even loggers concerned themselves with their resources, their interests, their livelihoods.  Today it's rare to see an environmental organization, such as the Sierra Club, ally with Ducks Unlimited, or Colorado Cattleman's Association, but now and then it does happen. (TU is more of a "green group" when it comes to use.)  Green groups , NRDC, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, have their ideological anchor fast in the rocks of righteousness - I mean no harm, however, time and again it would behoove those groups to partner with Pheasants Unlimited to help save the Greater Sage Grouse from being listed as Endangered, or to back the RESTORE Act and give millions of dollars to rehabilitating gulf estuaries and coastlines (despite 35% going to 5 shitty Governors who hate clean water). It's great that they throw their weight behind national causes such as Keystone XL, Pebble Mine, National Monuments, student activism, but teamwork, even in compromise, lightens the load.

These middle-ground platforms are not unheard of in conservation; they've been around for decades. Conservation was a republican ideal, Theodore Roosevelt, designator of the Grand Canyon, hunted around the world, Ducks Unlimited actually likes ducks, and now Patagonia has established another middle-ground, use-based platform this time for salmon production.  As they've done with clothing, they hope to take a big enough share of the market, by selling to smart and caring consumers, to pressure other manufacturers to adopt some of their ideals and practices.  This is conservation based in use.

Saving Salmon by Eating Them

I'M SELLING EVERYTHING

No.

I'm not about to sell all my gear and buy a helicopter, but if I did this is what I'd do:

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

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.