Asher's Fine Season Start

Yesterday I shared that the boys had gone off to the pond in pursuit of bass and that I was eagerly awaiting a report. The blog was barely posted when I got a text from Nathaniel with a picture of the fine bass Asher had landed. Asher's fish, which Nathaniel estimated to have weighed about 3 pounds, easily bested anything Nathaniel or I have caught so far this year, and it was Asher's largest fish of any kind to date.

Asher actually caught two bass yesterday. Both hit a Bandit Shallow Flatmaxx over a flat, a little bit off the bank. Nathaniel hooked one fish on a shaky head, but it got off. The day was dark and fairly mild for early January.

Nathaniel, Asher and I all have matching 2015 species lists: largemouth bass and bluegill and all from the same pond. I hope to add a trout or two to that list before the week is over. Before the month is over I'll almost certainly expand it a little between planned trips to fish the Pennsylvania ice and to fish for trout in Missouri.

Maine to Alaska

Last year's fishing trips certainly spanned the miles. Best I can figure by looking back through blogs, I needed fishing licenses from 17 different states (plus Ontario) in 2011. Geographic range was from Alaska to Maine to Texas. Nine fishing days were on the ice in Minnesota or Colorado. Prior to 2011, I had spent a grand total of one day ice fishing.

I enjoyed the opportunity to spend a quite a bit of time casting for smallmouths last years, including inaugural visits to Maine's Penobscot River and Wisconsin's legendary Door County. I didn't spend as many days trout fishing as I normally do, but a friend and I did get the opportunity to introduce Nathaniel to our favorite river -- the West Fork of the Chattooga River.
My fish-catchingest days of 2011 (and among the most fun) were just a couple of weeks ago, with Frank Campbell on the Niagara River. We literally caught hundreds of pounds of steelhead, brown trout and lake trout. Another favored day included minimal fish catching because the river was low and the bite wasn't happening. That was the day I floated Arkansas' beautiful Buffalo River with Nathaniel and few good friends. I also really enjoyed the two days when then-6 Asher took Nathaniel and me to fish-catching school, catching almost all the fish, and the afternoon I spent with Stephen Browning catching Lake Fork largemouth doubles on tiny tandem rigs.

One of my most noteworthy individual fish came from Fork on the following afternoon when Gary Dollahon and I were trying to catch white bass for photos. Instead of a white bass, my spoon got the attention of an 8-pound largemouth. Also high on that list would be the halibut pictured above. It wasn't even sort of big by halibut standards, but it was still my best halibut, and I was standing in a boat close to a Volcano and in Alaska when I caught it, and that made it mighty memorable!

I'm very thankful for the opportunity to make my living collecting and recording fish stories, and I'm excited to see where the new year's fishing adventures take me!

Alaska Treasure Chest

"I'd suggest ordering something other than salmon or halibut," said Chuck Smock of Cabela's as we pondered menu options at The Flying Machine restaurant for our last dinner in Alaska. We all laughed in agreement, knowing the four huge boxes in the hotel freezer contained more than a few meals of delightful Alaska salmon and halibut.

One of many great things about spending a week on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is the opportunity to bring home a portion of the trip in the form of fresh fish. Our treasure chests each contained nearly 50 pounds of sockeye and king salmon and halibut, all vacuum sealed in serving-sized packages and frozen by Ninilchik Outfitters. Staying shy of 50 pounds spares "overweight" charges, and allows you to fly a box of fish all the way home for the cost of an extra checked bag.
From a practical standpoint, that's a lot of fine meals. It's more than a box of meat, though. When we enjoy a meal of halibut baked with garlic butter and chives, I'll think about Capt. Al's funny lines, Colin's cod-catching prowess, the thrill of detecting a telltale halibut pump and the painful but laughable futility of reeling up 4 pounds of lead from 193 feet to learn the bait was not stolen after all. Grilling salmon "on the halfshell" will remind me of Chuck's last casts with the fly rod, Daniel's refined flossing technique, John's relaxed posture as he watched us try to conquer a king and of course the countless fishermen who back-trolled together in amazing harmony.
I'll also remember the bears on the trail, sandwiches from the General Store (incluing the one the dog stole from John), humpback whales, the great tractor launch, 11:30 sunsets, snow-capped volcanoes, stories shared around the dinner table... And as my family enjoys the contents of the treasure chest, one meal at a time, I must remember to share an added taste of Alaska in the form of trip tales.

Farewell Alaska

Well, we wrapped up the Alaska fishing by all limiting out on fast-running, high-flying sockeye salmon. It was a fun morning with sometimes-furious action.

My favorite part of the morning, though, was getting to fish with outfitter Mike Flores' 16-year-old son Daniel. Beyond showing exceptional skill at the technique we were using, he was quick to share what he knew, run for the net or help anyone else out any way he could, and he was simply great company. No doubt he'll be guiding in a few more years.

We'll stay in Anchorage tonight and start the long journey home tomorrow morning. My first trip to Alaska has been an outstanding experience.

Winds of Change

Last night we were supposed to board a big boat, on which we would sleep, eat and fish for the next 2 1/2 days; however, a call for 6-foot waves inside the bay (we were planning to travel much farther out) dictated a change of plans. Instead we settled into cabin at Ninilchik Charters, from which we'll do all our fishing in day-trips. Dependant on wind along this part of the coast, we'll fish either halibut or salmon today.

Yesterday we saw one moose, plus a spectacular slice of the Alaska landscape.

Reindeer Sausage

A lot of things on the breakfast menu looked good, but somehow it didn't seem like I could pass on what I would only find in Alaska - reindeer sausage.

Travel yesterday was long but smooth, and we spent night one in an Anchorage hotel with mounted bears and salmon and halibut in the lobby and a float-plane airport on the bay out the back window. We also roamed around a tourist district of fur shops, bear and Eskimo art, wildlife tour companies, reindeer sausage stands and much more Alaska-distinctive stuff.

Now we're headed out of the city and into "real Alaska." By evening we'll be on a halibut boat.

Destination ALASKA!

The alarm is set for 2:00 a.m., and a big duffel, three cameras and my mini-computer are waiting in the truck. By tomorrow evening -- assuming no travel problems -- I'll be in Anchorage, Alaska. I've never been to Alaska and am really excited about the trip. Of course I'm looking forward to battling giant halibut and fly-fishing for salmon. Just as much, though, I'm looking forward to simply seeing the landscapes. Since 2:00 is only five hours away and sleep is a good thing before a long day of travel, I suspect I ought to save most of the blogging for the other end.

If I Was a Trout

If I was a trout, the Mayfly on the gas pump sure would have made me hungry. Instead it just made me want to go trout fishing! For today -- and maybe all week -- writing fish stories will have to do. This time next week, though, I'll be packing my duffel for Alaska!