Sockeyes

July 8 – 15 : Seeing Red(s)

We had a interesting mix of return clients this week with Linda Ford coming back up after almost two decades. She had liked the first experience so much that she decided to share it with your extended family this time. We also had the Powell’s come back after a 4 year break, this time bringing back both dads to enjoy some King & Sockeye Salmon fishing. Also back again this year were the Norm & Matt Heckler. And had the Den Hoed brothers again this year along another wine maker from Washington State, Rob Newson of Boudreaux Cellars. It was fun to watch the bonding of family and new friends as the week went on. For two families, it was a pretty special experience to share indeed.

The weather was cooperating and the daylight proved too much to handle. After a couple of late, late nights, Andy finally asked when it got dark around here. That would be August! It is always amazing how much energy you get from the sun shining down despite long days of fishing we had a hard time keeping up with this group.

The second week of July is almost all salmon all the time. Almost. This is also when the larger Rainbows start to show up and this year was no exception. The King Salmon fishing remained strong as long as groups spent the time on the water to hit the ‘bite’. Our local Sockeye Salmon run was in and ascending the Agulawak River in full force offering up easy limits and knuckle busting action on fly rods. With all the Sockeyes in area rivers, the bears were thick at Brooks Falls and continued to wow visitors. The big Alaskan Brown bears were keying in on the returning salmon in places like the Moraine, where larger Rainbow trout that were eager to bite our flies.

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July 1 – 8 : Independence Week

By the very definition of the word LUCK, when you arrive to the fishing lodge on the ‘Salmon Jet’, you just know that great fishing awaits. We were all just lucky to be in Alaska this week and even luckier to be in famed Bristol Bay region of the 49th state (there are only 50 in case you’re wondering). After last week’s incredible fishing we were a bit concerned that our luck might run out on what was now shaping up to be one of the best King Salmon seasons in over a decade.

But no, when you land on the Salmon Jet that sports the massive image of a King Salmon — you are lucky indeed. The weather on Friday was ‘blue bird’ and over the course of the week slowly slipped back into the drizzly and rainy conditions all Salmon fisherman love to hate. And with that weather came even more King and Sockeye Salmon to supplement all the fish already in the system. It was just plain action. Counting fish became difficult even if you were just counting the ‘doubles’. Most boats started to brag in terms of the number of triples and quads being hooked! King fishing was just off the hook to so speak. Beyond what we here at Mission Lodge have come to think of as great fishing.

As tradition would have it, we saw many of our long time clients show up including Mel Brown, who has now come for his 26th season in a row to Mission Lodge. Mel is lucky indeed to hold this record. The not so lucky clients where those that either were back for their second time or even a few that came for their very first time, because they were now spoiled for the rest of their lives. It would cost them many fortunes and Lord knows how many seasons to have the stars align like this particular week. So hard to feel too sorry for their soar arms.

Fourth of July was again celebrated by burning some of Dale’s money in the land of the mid-night sun. Our annual fireworks display always sounds much better than it looks as the sun shines bright and high in the 10 pm sky.

In addition to the nutty King Salmon fishing, the Sockeye Salmon were now running in the system at full force, making for super days of reel (knuckle) busting action. It is a great bonus to add a few of these chrome beauties your fish box.

As the week ended, the storm system built up into monster, impairing our onetime departures schedules slightly. The awning on the porch came out as we watched the rain fall and fog clear. After such a fast and furious week, it was nice to slow things down a bit. Just a bit.

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