Alaska Bound

Well its official, I am one day from take off for the North land. One thing I can say for sure is that it will be cold and there will be a ton of bugs. Other than that anything can happen on these trips........

I can't say how much I look forward to a new guiding experience with the boys at Alaska's Rainbow Point Lodge. They run a first class operation, and it will be good to be on the water/flying with those boys for 2 weeks. Then the following week at Blueberry Island on the Kvichak should be the same old ridiculously productive fishing with a group of clients second to none. I will enjoy the three weeks in front of me with some of my great clients from the past!

All I can say is that Alaska is perhaps one of the last great untamed lands. As seen in the past few weeks, mother nature in this part of the country can put you down and out in a matter of seconds....There is no point in my last 7 years of guiding in the bush, where I have taken the risks lightly; however, the rewards are no less than phenomenal.

The game plan is as follows: Get Clients into massive amounts of fish; spend some quality time slinging my two handed rods; and take as much footage and photos as humanly possible during this 3 week period..........If I accomplish all of the above I should not only come back happy as a pig, but also with some mean footage that will be available for viewing shortly after I return along with the launch of our new website.............

What does SW Alaska have in store for me this season?......Hard to say, but I know it will be yet another experience of a lifetime, and never disappoints. I will try to post as often as possible with photos, and daily stories........


See ya on the flip side,

T

Floats like a butterfly, stings like a Hog

Every now and then I have to just give mad props to those who produce outstanding products........This morning on my everyday Arkansas float, I realized how good I had it looking at all of those rubber boats floating down the river. See, the fact is the Arkansas, and many other large freestone rivers can be fairly difficult to navigate in any boat much less a drift boat. These rivers are too big, with way to many rocks; and the average drift boat would come out in several pieces or just find its way to the riverbed fairly quickly. So, most fisherman who float rivers like the Arkansas do so in rubber rafts with fishing frames, which is fine and dandy for most. But, for those of us who like the Cadillac, there is a company out there who has allowed us to float in style and comfort, and that is Hog Island Boatworks. They manufacturer the only one piece roto-molded polyethylene boat on the market.......making it indestructible, unsinkable, and incomparable to any other Dorry in the industry. In fact this boat is the only drift boat with a coast guard certification for flotation, that is it can't be sunk. The Coast Guard did a swamp test on the boat that consisted of drilling multiple holes in our hull, and placing over 5500 lbs of pig iron on the decks, and submerging our boat, rod storage and all for 18 hours. It popped back up, and made history. I have taken this ship down every section of the Arkansas River, and the durability, agility, and overall comfort continues to amaze me. This boat blows any other drift boat in the industry out of the water! Thanks John, for creating such a masterpiece!

visit Hog Island Boat Works @ http://www.hogislandboatworks.com

Bling Bling

Ok guys, so, fishing couldn't get too much better. Fish are smashing big nasty critters on the surface 6 hours out of the day. However, now we have a new variable, and that is the Pale Morning Dunn. I call this time of summer the "Bling Bling" Period. That is you could take one of your gold cavity fillings out, tie it to a hook, and go out and catch 40 with it. Gold is the color, plain and simple. We have some stellar patterns here at the shop that will give you a leg up, however, the Arkansas has always been a river based on color more than pattern, so as long as it is yellow to gold it will kill. Get on it people, the crowds are minimal, and the fishing is spectacular, so hook up the boat or your favorite wading boots and get here!

Clear Edges, Nuff Said!

The edges have cleared, all the way down to Canon City this morning. I took a drive to Granite this morning, after one hell of a beer serving night last night in the New Belgium tent at Fibark, and still saw very clear water even through my post Ranger IPA haze. The fact is Stoneflies......big and small, are out in full force; and have been for 2 weeks. However, yesterday was the first legitimate clear water day we have had since the 5400 cfs king kong flush. If you have a boat or just feel confident walking the shoreline, numbers can be in the hundreds to the net this time of year. Fishing is the best it will be all year for the next week or so, so get here now!

Spring Decisions

I feel blessed to live in such an incredible place. When you sit down to decide where you want to go for the day, and within one hour there are half a dozen world class fisheries, it makes it fairly difficult. But, that is a problem I enjoy having! During the late spring I find myself torn when I have a day to fish for myself. This week's fishery menu within an hour of my house is the following:

1. Arkansas River- Still producing some fierce hatches towards Salida. Most fish being taken on hopper dropper rigs, with a Stimi/Caddis Pupae combo. This is a true dry fly fisherman's delight........

2. South Platte River "Charlie Myers SWA- A few big boys are still kickin, so keep your eyes out, and your huevos rigs at the ready. But if you are afraid to walk, you better rethink it, cuz this is the time of the season for a walk. I suggest a light to no lunch........

3. Grape Creek-A magnificent fishery before the storm of mud hits. Fish are still holding in the deep pools in that winter mindset. It can literally be liking fishing in a barrel! Stick to streamers and hopper dropper rigs, focusing on a traditional prince. Not for the faint of heart however, be prepared to wear your snake gators!

4. Spinney Reservoir- Take your time with breakfast and you will be out of the winnings, this is an early morning fishery. However, some major hogs are making it to the net, with the odd 30" class brown.....Enough to make you look twice! Hang with an attractor nymph rig huevos/ scud and wait for the rail!

5. Antero Reservoir- "Ditto" Spinney with on average bigger fish/ and the occasional Hills Bros. Worm Can....Same rigs, but focus on the boat ramps......Bring a big net/ and possibly kite for when the breeze starts......

6. Elevenmile Reservoir- "A whole different Animal".......Sucker Cove has been producing some incredible Brown Trout numbers with a few lunkers. The real fishing has been for Mr. Tooth. Lots of 40" class pike cruising the shores and the inlet in pre spawn mode. Find some steel leader and a fly longer than the average school bus and go make a couple thousand casts. I promise the reward is there with the possibility always at a new state record!

So, in short within an hour of Canon City, we have the state's largest Caddis Hatch; Lake Run fish in a tail water; and, arguabley 3 of the 5 best reservoirs in the Rocky Mountains, all fishing tremendously. You are crazy if you don't just quite work, buy an old Volkswagen Bus, and live on the water for the next week or so. But, then I guess you would have to earn some money afterwards...........Or just follow my footsteps: "Destitute Fly Fishing Guide, with no real ambitions, except for the next cast."

Chance in a lifetime: Letter to the Editor

Hello Taylor,

I have some weeks that are open now that I would like to offer to you or your friends at a special price of $4000 per person, per week, with a booking of 4 . You will have exclusive use of the lodge and our services with your own group of 4. The weeks open at this time, are as follows, June 12-19. This is the first full week of the season, as Rainbow Trout season opens on June 8th, this week has fantastic fishing for Rainbows on smolt patterns, leeches, and both dry flies and nymphing, as well as mousing. The salmon smolt are leaving the lakes for the ocean and the Trout are gorging on them, especially at the mouths of the rivers. Igiugig Lodge just happens to be located at the mouth of the great Kvichak river, and from the living room at the lodge you can watch the birds diving into the water as the big schools of smolt enter the river. We caught several 30 inch trout, last season from both shore and boat fishing within sight of the lodge, our largest was 32 inches that week. I will also fly out a group each day to rivers near by that also have great fishing that week and on some we will also be able to use dry flies as well as smolt patterns, and leeches. The next week is June 19-26, this week the Rainbow fishing is still fantastic with the same techniques, but we add in King Salmon fishing on the Nushagak river where I have 2 boats and that river is famous for having the largest run of Kings in the world, the Kings should be running strong, that week and would make a great combination with Rainbow Trout. Also on the Kvichak river the Sockeye salmon should be showing up towards the end of the week. Both of these weeks Grayling and Northern Pike fishing is also great, and can be added in for some variety if you want.
The next week I have at this special price is July 17-24, this is the week the biggest Kings show up on the Nushagak river, we will also fish for Chum Salmon which are great fighters, and are perfect for fly fishing as they are caught on the shallow bars. We will also be able to fish for fresh Sockeye Salmon as well. And also Rainbows, Grayling, Dolly Varden and Northern Pike, are fishing well.
The last weeks I have at this time for this price, is September 18-25, and September 25- October 2nd, this is a time when the Rainbow fishing is on fire, on all the rivers, including my home river the Kvichak, as well as Talarik creek, Kulik river, Brooks river, Moraine creek,Battle creek, the Big Ku, and many others within a 15 minute flight from the lodge. We catch many fish in 27-32 inch class at this time, on egg patterns, as well as flesh flies and leeches.
Our normal price for a 7 day stay at Igiugig lodge is $5500, so this is a substantial discount for these weeks. All the great guiding services, food and beverages and accommodations will be the same as a full priced week. We really would like to fill up our schedule and stay busy all summer. With a booking of 4 fishermen we will lock up the week for your groups exclusive use.

Sincerely,

Brad Waitman

****Taylor's Commentary: Anyone who wants to experience a full service fly out lodge in argue ably the best fly fishing region in Alaska, if not the world; would be crazy not to jump on this! Give me a call at the shop if you have any questions!

Ready…….Set…….Swing

Let the 10 day countdown begin! I always have a bet with the old man as to when the first blowout hatch will be, and this year my money is on the 17th. I have started to see a lot of closed caddis cases, and our water temps are starting to make the rise mid day. If we can get 5 straight days of near 70 degree weather, the hatch will be on. Keep your eyes on the blog, as I will countdown as I start to see sporadic hatches. I can’t stress enough, when the hatch starts, to focus on the pupae stage for the first few days. It will take a few intense hatches for the fish to recognize the adult stage. But, you better believe they are tearing up the pupa (emerger) during these early hatches. Some of the greatest number days I have ever had on this river have been before the adult recognition, so please focus on the pupa, and don’t be afraid to be a swinger…….
The picture above shows the presentation sequence of the larval emergence (pupal stage).