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

Simms Ice Out 2012

Simms Ice Out is here.  Checking over the itinerary it look something like this:

Day 1


Drinking
Watching fish porn
Drinking while watching fish porn

Day 2

Product testing (fishing)
Fish porn watching
Guide Olympics (lawn games)
More fish porn
Drinking

Day 3

Same as Day 2
Possibly more drinking while watching fish porn

There are a few things I'll point out.  Robert Younghanz knows his little critters and will be giving a presentation on streamside ecology.  He guides out of Anglers Covey in Colorado Springs, good friend and good flyfisher.

I'll be here in DC, but you should go.

New Photos

Including my mother, monster chinook (54', 75lbs), blue fish, strippahs, and more.

RIGHT HERE

Do you have nay bragging rights? Send your slabs to me.

P:T Goes Abroad

P:T GOES ABROAD.  Announcing P:T's first ever international fly fishing adventure.  Where too? The Philippines.  The Philippines is not sold as one of the world's premier salt water fly fishing destinations, but with over 7,000 islands and world class diving there must be something to target on the fly.  That's right, I will be traveling to the Philippines, officially to work with a UK-based community conservation organization and unofficially to test myself in the waters of the South Pacific.  Giant Trevaliy, sail fish, exotic reef species, await my catch.

I will be located in Salvacion on the island of Busuanga, southwest of the Capital Manila.  My stay extends from October 15th or so until just before Christmas.

http://siargaofishing.com/

I will be traveling with an 8wt and a 12wt, floating and intermediate lines.  My knowledge of this corner of the world is limited, I know only of boxing, my grandfather's WWII stories, and the sort.  So a plea to anyone with word to share, hand me some intel.  Any insight into the fishing, people, culture, food, beverage, sailing, will help in my presence.

http://siargaofishing.com

Denali in Sight

We've covered over 4,200 miles since the 15th of May and we are at last in Anchorage.  The short drive in on the Glenn Highway was easy but felt longer than it was.  We were eager to be out of the car and in one place for more and a night since leaving San Francisco.  It took us until after lunch, after dinner even, to realize that we weren't getting back in the car and driving another 10 hours the next day.

We couldn't ask for more than a yard with a dog, a bed and delicious meals

Our bed in Anchorage are with some family friends who have been in Alaska for decades.  Their cozy house and generous meals have slowly brought our bodies back to life.  Good beer and conversation help too.  We seem to have brought good weather with us as yesterday was perhaps the warmest and sunniest day Anchorage will see all summer.  We took the chance to stretch our legs and went on a beautiful albeit strenuously steep hike above the Seward Highway.  We scrambled up and gained hundreds of feet earning a panoramic view of Turnagain Arm and the north shore of the Kenai Peninsula.  As the we sat there the traffic heading south picked up as people left for the long holiday weekend.

Most of the trail was literally straight up the face of a  ridge

The Seward Highway follows Turnagain arm east before going through the Kenai Pen.

This weekend marks the opening of many of the rivers and streams on the Kenai for King Salmon.  This coming week we'll be floating some of the rivers for kings and hopefully have the chance to score steelhead as well.

This is the best way to undo 90 hours of driving

For now relief and recovery are deferring reflections of our drive.  A full season of guiding ahead leaves time for little else.  Hopefully these entries will return to trout, salmon, and the world of fish.