Back to Alaska

We started planning another Alaska trip (2nd in as many years) as soon as we got back.  The ecosystem and vast wilderness of Alaska will get in your blood from the first trip there.  That is what it did to Doc and I.  We had to go back and since we now have made it two years in a row, why stop now.  It is a wonderful place with wonderful creatures and people.  And I can think of no way better to break up the Texas heat than by making the long flight up there.

This year we planned to take on the Famous Kenai River on the Kenai Peninsula, about 2 hours southwest of Anchorage.  We got the rental car, hit Costco for grub and booze for the week and we were on.  Now I could bore you with lots of words on how the fishing was and this and that, but I will let the pictures tell the story. The Kenai.

The River.....Beautiful.

The creatures...Wonderful

And the Fishing....Unreal

And the Company.....Terrific

Thanks to our guides at Troutfitters and Alaska Clearwater, great job.  And thanks to Doc, JB and Al.

A Fantastic Trip.

Cheers,


Merc

Skunked: Chrome Follow Up

I was told by a good friend that this fishing report was " Blog Material". 
Some of you have read it but here it goes !!

This is from Thursday March 1st.

Nestucca River 3  Merc 0 ----- 9 Innings

Well boys, I ask for the call up to the big leagues and am now headed 

back down to AAA ball.  Beautiful morning waking up to snow and freezing fog. 

We took our time getting to the river as the roads were dicey. 

When we got there it was absolutely beautiful.  Took many photos that I will 
share.  

Got to the first hole and my drifts were spot on.  No fish.  We were up pretty 
high and the run still has a month or so left.  In the second at bat,  I had my 
chance.  Indicator dove on a drift 40 yds or so below me.  Fish on....fish gone.  
Half dozen drifts later and Merc was in the water.... Not wading, literally.  
Soaked.  Off come waders to empty and in the truck to dry off.  Half hour later, 
I am back in the game.  Luckily packed extra socks.  

2-0 Nestucca.  

After lunch I had a primo run in front of me.  I told Chad to fish some and he 
was just down river of me.  We were using balloons as indicators since its big 
water and they are really buoyant.  Couple of roll casts in, my balloon pops.  
No biggie as I yell to Chad.  As I am reeling up the line sinks and catches a 
big boulder and deep to get to it.  No biggie I will just break off.  All good 
except the last section of my rod comes loose.  In one fell swoop, bye bye tip 
section rolling towards the pacific.  

3-0 Nestucca.  

Fish a couple more holes to no avail but all in all a great day on the river.  
The blank can be replaced and Chad and I laughed at the day.  

Final deductions:

If you are to wade a big river like this, you HAVE to have a switch rod, 
minimum.   You cannot roll cast far enough with the overhangs to hit the holes.  


I was undermanned and overwhelmed.  It's steelheading and I will be back. 

Next time with new weapons!!

Cheers and Good Fishing !

Merc 

CHROME !!

The trip I made to Alaska last summer was a memorable one.  It was my initial visit there and I will be back.  The fruits of that trip continue to pay off.  I met a great young guide up there from Oregon, Chad Lynch.  (Check him out at chadlynchguideservice.com).  Chad and I hit it off immediately at the airport and a fine young man he is.  He can yuck it up with the best and take my BS and dish it right back.  By the end of the week, Chad had told me I MUST come to Oregon to pop my Steelhead cherry.  For those of you who know me, you don't have to invite me up to fish a place like that twice.  So in November I booked my flights and waited till February.  A long wait it was...but was it ever worth it.

Chad guides mostly spin anglers but is a very good fly fisherman himself and welcomes the company of experienced fly anglers.  These fish take quality drifts and casting the amount of lead you have to cast is a workout with a 8 weight.  Yes, I have been back 4 days now and my back is still a little sore.  But I digress.

Steelhead are hard to catch.  There are no 20 fish days.  That is the nature of that game.  But with Chad's knowledge of these rivers, you can catch fish. BIG fish.  That is what happened to me as my 2nd fish of the trip was this 12 pounder.

For the trip, I landed 9 out of 12 fish from the boat.  The 8 weight got a big workout and I cannot wait to make this an annual trek.  Thanks for a great trip Chad, I will be back.  Here are a couple of more pics from the Siletz.

Check the blog over the next couple of days.  I had two great days on this river but I wanted the chance at a 20 lb fish.  Chad made that happen but it was not to be and what a day it was.  Like I will say in the next update, at least we got a good laugh.

Cheers and good fishing,

Merc

Fly Fishing and Friends

Since I started up fly fishing about 8 years ago, I have been blessed to make many friends through our sport.  I learned the craft from friends who got me into it and have made many since then.  I personally place a high value of my time on the water.  I also enjoy fishing alone very much.  I qualify it as great " soul " time.

But as I write this, I am very thankful to those friends I spend time on the water with.  BT, Rusty, Phil, Pablo, Ryan and Chip in the San Juan crew.  The Blue crew is no less special with Barry, Charlie, Chris and now John and Scott.  Both Scott's for that matter.  And I cannot forget Eric and Dave Dillow over on the Fork.

Time on the water is special.  Time on the water with friends is priceless.  Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks both at the Juan and the Blue.  

I also have the really thank our underwater friends.  They made it all happen.

Cheers and Good Fishing,

Merc

PM Up North

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie in the C&R for a PM trip.  I was supposed to mix in another trip the following day but I have been under the weather and we'll get to that some other time.  We had a perfect afternoon to fish and usually quitting fishing by 4pm to drive back to Texas, it is amazing what I am missing by that move.  It sure is great to be able to fish this river to dusk.  The last 2 hours are splendid, with long shadows, many tugs and wildlife on the move.

Things started a little slow on the day but with the sun and mid 50's temps but there were plenty of bugs on the water.  Midges, small baetis, even stillwater calliebatis were out, along with gnats and some small bugs really hard to name.

The fish were on the small stuff early and I mean size 20 small.  For the first time this year I really felt that the smaller size was the ticket.  The fish were on the emergers and as well all know, that is a tough depth for success.  With the clearer water, I was on 5X fluro and I really think that helped too.  Here was a nice one from mid-afternoon.

As the day progressed the river takes on a new glow.  Long casting shadows really enhance the normal beauty of this place.  At dusk, as Charlie were packing out, a huge Barn Owl flew across the river from us and observed from a safe distance.  Just the extra hint of darkness did not allow me a pic of this great bird, but I will not soon forget it as he checked our every move.  Really pretty place as the sun goes down.

At last light I decided to go back big and the fish responded to this offering.  The Spanker put the hurt on them as this was a nice broad shouldered bow that could not resist.

Those of you who take part in our winter passion from Texas must take advantage a couple of times a year to fish  the Blue at dusk.  A great dinner and night was had in Sulphur and for those of you looking for an overnight place to stay, please consider Charlie's Sulphur Springs Inn.  A great place to be and a great place to breathe, especially with good friends.

Cheers and good fishing everyone,

Merc

Fishing with Friends

Folks I have been remiss in posting over the last week or two.  The Blue River has allowed me many moments of solitude over the last few years.  I really love the area and its beauty.  It is also afforded me new friends.  As a matter of fact, these new friends really should be classified now as " old friends".

Barry and Charlie now fit this classification.  We do not get many chances for all 3 of us to fish together but over that last two weeks or so, we have had the chance to fish together twice.

The first trip was a trip to discuss the One Fly Tourney and hit the South Wilderness and this last week we explored the C&R.  I will say that we all have had more productive days in terms of numbers of fish caught, but to spend time on the river with these guys is just a pleasure.  We all enjoyed the fellowship and yucking it up in between tugs.  I forgot my camera this last week but the week before I was able to catch my " old " friends in action.

Enjoy !!

Cheers,

Merc