Our 2006 Season Summary

The clouds were stacking up after a week of unseasonably hot weather as the guys with the long rod cases got off the plane. I'd just gotten a report from the lake - insane feeding frenzies with huge angry trout in large schools chasing sockeye smolt - the annual spring rendezvous when the all the big fish get together to gorge after a long winter. Good news, but those clouds were bothering me. I was happy to have a bunch of steelhead nuts for the opener.

Things were cool and grey when we landed at the lake. The wind was freshening and waves were growing. It didn't take the guys long to assemble an arsenal of rods. When the fly boxes came out I smiled; here I had clients who paid attention to the equipment list, things were looking good. There were no mail-order "Alaskan fly assortments" here. Diamonds may captivate the eyes of some, for me it's a box of big nasty leeches with sharp hooks.  

We split up and started working the water. Things began slowly initially, and then exploded.  It's a great thing to see a guy used to catching pacific northwest steelhead drop his jaw at the insane runs these big water rainbows put on. With an average fish on a 14 ft spey rod you're significantly into your backing before you put hand to handle and even think about gaining line.  The folks down river were picking fish consistently in the relative calm provided by the high bank while Greg and Dave were punching line with the two handed rods in the surf. The seam at the mouth was more reminiscent of the outer cape in the north Atlantic than a remote river in Alaska. There were no small fish. 

The trip continued along the same vein for the rest of the week - rugged weather and huge fish. Everyone landed a "fish of a lifetime" and the average size was insane. There just aren't many places in the world, much less in North America, where you can catch wild trout this size consistently on flys, with plenty of studs in between. The fact that we were on a big river in the wilderness eating great food was almost too much.  Almost.  

A note on the food:  We added a few things to the menu this year that were met with great applause: Fresh king crab cakes with a chipotle-aioli sauce, local-caught, fresh halibut with a cilantro lime mole, and stuffed country style French toast with a cherry bourbon glaze and cream. We kept the standards because some things you just shouldn't mess with: pad Thai, seafood alfraedo, and giant strip steaks.

The second trip fished slowly at the lake initially. This is where the crab cakes and cocktail tent come in. The trip consisted entirely of veteran B.O.A. fisherman with the exception of Lew, and I had hunted Elk with him in Wyoming. There was a lot of catching up to do and stories to tell while we dined and waited for the fish to start "sharkin around."  

Sometime after the caramelized pears and cream Steve and Peter grabbed their rods and hit the water. They started picking some decent rainbows on the swing as the rest of us geared up. The rainbows were steady for a bit, then the bait showed up.  Black clouds of smolt cruised by and the water roiled with huge attacking fish launching through the center of the schools of baitfish. Fishing actually slowed, our flys losing their identities in the collected masses.  

Someone started fishing further out in the lake just above the mouth when the Mackinaw's (lake trout) turned on. They had congregated at the party as well to have a final go at the smolt before they departed for the saltwater. Everyone was getting hookups on these green giants and we collected a nice pile of fish to eat. Macs in this area are orange fleshed and taste of butter--we had some wonderful meals out of these guys. It is just impossible, in the worlds most of us live in, to eat fish like this. Not in the best restaurants in the country can you have wild fish just minutes old.  

We had some impressive fishing heading down river. Elwin methodically worked the water and put his back into his hook-set; not many got away. He was fishing a 5 inch black leech, you have to love it. Lew caught the big fish of the day--a 28 inch hooked- beak, olive-colored beauty. 

The next few days were as much fun as you can have. The BIG SURPRISE was Elwin's 30 in, 14 lb. Mackinaw caught on an 8 wt.  Carl set a new standard for deep wading and innovative casting techniques while Russ had a laid back approach and saw that the evenings wine selection would match the menu. No reason to live like savages after all.  

The Inbodys, from central Ohio, came along on the third trip. I had done a sheep hunt years earlier with Ron and his son Nick. Now they were returning to Alaska with Angela, Ron's daughter, to experience a wilderness adventure of a different sort.  

The salmon were in, and with them all the other animals that rely on their life cycle, including bears. During the trip we were constantly entertained by these furry river companions and Ron was able to get some great photos. 

On the lower river Nick and Angela figured out the art of using long fly rods to catch Sockeyes. In one morning they landed over twenty salmon a piece and some decent rainbows. At the same time Alan Poole, another guest, was having fun catching Grayling on dry flies and mixing it up by landing the occasional salmon on his 6 wt. "Don't let him get out in the current!!" Ron caught the big rainbow of the trip, a beautiful 27 in fish with a crimson stripe that made him look like a steelhead.

The Purvis' from Florida came up for the last trip of the season.  While they were accustomed to wilderness travel none of them had done a float trip before. Karen, the matriarch of the family, was amazed at the comparative luxury of the trip and the meals -"nothing like having the most gear" we say. Shayla, at 14, was a machine at catching salmon and could hold fish for photos like a guide.  Kyle, 11, had a permanent smile on his face and was always the first on the water. There is something mesmerizing about more chrome silver fish than you can imagine swimming by you every minute. Both kids had the "pull and reel" technique of seasoned saltwater fisherman for getting fish to the bank. As guides we love to see rods get used. "Might as well try to break it in a fish, you'll probably end up stepping on it anyhow."

On our second to last day, Wade landed four different species of fish including a couple kings, and needed only a tiger salmon and char to get his "Slam."

The last day we finally got into the tiger salmon. Kyle caught a monster right after leaving camp that looked almost as big as him- the permanent smile again. A couple bends down the ladies were into them thick, and both Shayla and Karen got some nice photos with these toothy giants.

 The weather was cool and grey as we loaded the boats in the Beavers for the last flight of the season before heading north (a great concept when you are already in Alaska). It was a nice way to come off. We had all been guiding on the river for eight weeks and were caught up in the rhythm of life on it. There are always mixed feelings about going to town. You see this with guests towards the end of the float. People set up and break camp with laughs and stories. When they are fishing they work the water with a smooth efficiency. That's when we know we have done our job.  

Thanks to everyone that made this a great year for Borealis Outdoor Adventures. It was great to spend time with all of you on the water. Hopefully there are more adventures ahead of us - from Florida to Alaska and many places in between. If you have not fished with us yet I encourage you to contact some of our past guests and listen to what they have to say about their trip.

Hope to see you in 2007!

Christian Elwell, Owner