I found myself telling this story to some clients in Montana the other day and it seemed like a good one for a blog post.  I’ve got lots of Alaska Fly Fishing stories, but I usually only remember them as they float up in a conversation.  This one had just slipped my mind again, but then I read the latest blog post at Gink and Gasoline.  It’s titled Dos and Don’ts for Guided Fishing.  One of the points is “Do be clear about your expectations”

I had a family group booked for a full day fishing trip on the Upper Kenai on an early July day.  When I discussed departure time with dad, I said I would like to go as early as possible, since the weather was bright and sunny.  He said nine would be fine.  That was about four hours later than I was hoping for, but when the wife and kids are involved, you go on family time.  Then I asked where they were staying.  Since they turned out to be staying at the Kenai Princess Lodge, I offered to pick them up right on the water.  I figured that would save us 30min of travel and launching time.  At least we would be rolling at 9 a.m.

I was waiting for them at ten minutes to nine.  Dad comes down to the river in loafers at nine on the dot.  He says that the family is just sitting down to breakfast in the dining room.  Then he asks me to join them.  So I slog up the hill in my waders and wet boots.  I got some evil looks from the hostess as I tromped across the carpet and sat in on breakfast.  Over poached eggs, the family told me about their expectations for the day.

It’s always a good idea to talk to the guide about what you expect, so you can both be on the same page.  By knowing our guests desires, we have a better chance of facilitating their chosen outcome.  If the expectations are unrealistic or unreasonable, it’s good to get that out in the open, right from the start.

Son- I want to catch a King Salmon

Guide – Well, that’s hypothetically possible, but we are not fishing for King Salmon and this section of the river is closed to King Salmon fishing.  It’s also a couple weeks early for there to be many fish on this section of river, but it’s possible.

Daughter – I want to see a moose.

Guide- Well, there are lots of moose in the area and during calving season (late May and early June) we see them along the river frequently, but now that salmon are running and bear are around, we don’t see them very often, but it’s possible.

Mom – I want to see a Bald Eagle catch a salmon.

Guide- Well, I’d like to see that also.  We have lots of eagles around here and they eat lots of salmon, but they generally don’t pick up live salmon from the river, because it’s too dangerous and too much work.  They usually just eat off the carcasses or chase ducks, but it’s possible.

Dad- I want to catch a really big rainbow trout.

Guide- Now you are speaking my language.  This is the place for big rainbow trout.  Of course we are getting a really late start and the fish bite best very early and late in the day under these conditions.  Big rainbows are also very hard to hook and land.  You will have to be on your game.  But, it’s possible.  As the party pulls off from shore at 10:15 a.m., the guide thinks, “It’s going to be a long boat ride.”

Episode 1

Son hooks 30# King Salmon on 10# leader.  Instead of emptying his reel, King comes to the surface next to the boat and begins thrashing.  Mom grabs camera, guide grabs leader, photo is taken, leader is touched, fish swims away and hook is still attached to leader. Check 1.

It's Possible

Episode 2/3/4

We are near the end of the day.  Everyone has had a good time, but there is unfinished business.  As we float into a small braid, an eagle is circling.  A moose crosses the river below us.  The eagle dives and manages to lift off with a live sockeye salmon, just as Dad hooks a huge rainbow. We landed it. Check 2, Check 3, Check 4.

It's Possible

It's Possible

Episode 5

Guide tells story for the first time in the Princess Bar and wonders if anyone believes him.

To be clear, this story actually happened.  It’s also clearly a good idea when you are going guided to discuss your realistic expectations for your trip.  All you have to do is ask.  It may not happen, but when you are Alaska Fly Fishing, it’s possible.

That’s pretty neat, but those are just little pink salmon. I once watched a juvenile bald eagle latch on to a king salmon in a shallow riffle. Looked like he was on a wave runner. The fish won.

For anyone who has watched the great film, Eastern Rises, you know Frank Smethurst has a thing for Bigfoot.  Maybe Frank needs to go fishing with me. Just ask to see Big Foot Frank.

It's Possible

I can list many instances were a positive or happy-go-lucky outlook led to big fish success.  Gene Zeller is one of those guys with the right approach.  Gene made his first fly-fishing trip to Alaska several seasons ago in September.  He was traveling with a couple veterans of Alaska fly fishing. Gene is the type of guest that guides love. His expectations were simple. He wanted to have a good time with his friends, while trying to catch a few fish. He was a self-professed novice, just looking to learn and take it all in. On his first day, Gene landed quite a few fish, including one impressive male rainbow that was easily over 10lbs. I think it was safe to say that Gene was in awe of the Kenai River’s rainbows and Alaska Fishing in general. Guides will tell you that attitude is everything when it comes to catching fish. Gene’s attitude was spot on.

On the fourth and final day of Gene’s trip, we set up on what was to be our last stop.   It was a perfect location at the top of a side channel, below a riffle full of spawning sockeye.

Spawning Sockeye Salmon

The other three guys jumped out of the boat like commandos and spread out in the prime water. The slot was full of big voracious dollies and a few smaller rainbows. Gene let the other guys pick their water first and then asked me where he should go. I directed him toward the bottom of the prime run, noting that sometimes the bigger rainbows would be across from a particular tree, in a little bucket.

I quickly got lost in a frenzy of netting fish.

Get the Nets

I eventually ended up in front of Gene, while helping his upstream buddy land a Dolly. Then I witnessed a swirl near Gene’s drift, followed by the explosion that only a monster fish can make.  I said, “Gene, I am going to need a bigger net and you need to start chasing that fish.” I dashed to the drift boat for my big Frabil rubber net. When I got back to Gene, he was still holding ground, watching his reel handle spin.  I said, “Gene, if you want this fish, we are going to have to run, maybe all the way to the end of the island.”

We followed the fish along the bank, down a tall grassy bear trail. Then it was back to the water’s edge, slogging through sticky mud and over mounds of slippery dead sockeye.  There were several treacherous log obstacles and one perilously fast channel to cross. I approached our quarry three times with the net, but there was no way he was letting me near enough to close the deal. He seemed completely unfazed by the meager pressure of 0X tippet.  Twice, the fly line was caught on in-river obstructions, but I managed to wade out and clear it. As we neared the end of the island, I decided to attempt an ambush. Gene was getting tired and the fish was showing no give. We were running out of playroom. I slogged down to a deeper pocket I knew the fish would travel through. I figured if I got in the water and was dead still, he might swim close enough to me for a sweep of the net.

Shoreline Obstacles

I laid my trap and sure enough, Gene came around the bend following our rainbow. He swam right into the pocket where I was waiting.  I was waist deep in a little hole where a small channel cut in. At first, I could not see the fish. Then I recognized his form and was getting ready for my move, when he erupted. I mean he exploded out of the water, coming straight at me like a missile. I ducked and he went over my head as I tried to avoid the line. Icy water soaked my chest.  By the time I helped Gene across the cut, the badass fish was way into backing again. To make matters worse, the backing was folded over a submerged limb, way out in the channel. Gene was getting winded from the battle. I knew there was no way he could clear the line and continue. We had been chasing the fish now for 40 minutes. I said “Gene, if we are going to land this fish, I will need to take the rod and go get him.” I really wanted that fish in the net. I have never had a trout make me feel so helpless, foolish and downright mad. The thought of not landing him made me sick.

Losing Big Fish Makes Me Sick

I think Gene was relieved to give up the rod. He was more tired than the trout.  I think he was more worried about letting me down then landing the fish.  I can get a little intense when a truly large fish is on the line.  I took the rod, eased up on the tension and waded to my chest.  I found the snag and managed to kick the line loose without falling down in the current. Miraculously, the fish was still on. He had actually moved back upstream. As I picked up slack, he turned and bolted back down-river. He was soon heading out into the main channel and we were out of island. The battle was about over. In moments, the remaining backing would be gone and our connection would fail.  For a second, I almost accepted that. Then, I decided to try one last trick. Sticking the rod tip all the way to the bottom, I eased up on the pressure and waited. The spool rotation began to slow and finally, it stopped. Gently, I began to retrieve line. It took fifteen more minutes to get it all back. I backed up to the point where Gene was now resting on a log. I handed him the rod with the fish he had hooked-up an hour earlier, still attached. Then I put that fish in the net.

By now, I’m sure some of you who frequent the more fishy portions of the web have come across an unsavory character who calls himself Roderick Hawg Brown.

First he attempts to grasp the word Mystic.

(For those of you with only primary school educations, Mystic is defined as “Enigmatic, obscure.”; Mysticism as “Vague, groundless speculation.” You get the idea. Or, maybe you don’t)

I think what he was reaching for was supernatural, magical and/or sage.

Then he attempts to disparage the noble Rainbow Trout, a native fish prized by anglers throughout North America.

(It’s no great secret why there are no browns in Alaska: if there were, people would have no reason to go all the way to Patagonia to fish for searun browns. No doubt the nancy-boy rainbows up north are glad for the lack of Hawg Browns.)

Maybe that is simply to deflect inspection of his shady past. Well what is a Brown Trout really?  Brown Trout are simply the bastard fish of British Imperialism.  When the local populace eventually kicks the British out or absorbs them into the local culture, they are still forced to endure Brown Trout occupation.  In the USA, a recently immigrated and completely misguided biologist from Michigan went and dumped some German Brown Trout into the Pere Marquette River.  I’m almost ashamed to have been born in Michigan.

I also know that Nancy Morris from King Salmon, Alaska (not a boy) would probably welcome you into Alaska as well as she would, say…the Pebble Mine.

After asking me about my first guide trip, he Missed my point entirely and had has this to say.

(So, what you did was prove that guides don’t really know what they’re doing. Perception is everything and bluffing isn’t just for poker.)

I will admit to His Sliminess that guiding is often about bluffing and perception.  That also extends to the fish.  Oh the many fish that I have bluffed.  As to perception:  When people perceive that they are having a blast catching fish, they actually are.

To read the entire interrogation, Check out Roderick Hawg-Brown and leave a comment for His Ugliness.

The flows on the Missouri River below Holter Dam are at 4,860cfs.  That’s far below last year and more than 2,000cfs below the mean for the date.  What it means right now, is warmer, clearer water and fish looking up for prolific hatches of bugs.  Midges, mayflies, caddis and even some stoneflies are on the menu.  Terrestrials are even flying around.  How about plopping a mouse in the evening for a Hawg Brown?  The weather is pretty good also.  You should drop everything and go fly fishing on the Missouri River.

Fish On Montana!

Start out by fishing a deep caddis pupa with a baetis nymph in the morning.  Switch to a pupa and a soft hackle in the afternoon and let those flies get tight and lift up.  The more vertical (less swing) you can achieve on your lift, the more bites you will get.  Don’t break your tippet on the savage grab.  Look for rising fish and be ready with a caddis dry and a pupa combo.  Splashy rises and flashes mean the trout are on the emerging pupa’s.  If you hear gulping, watch that dry.  You can also try a drowned adult for your dropper.  If the fish are really gulping, just stick to your dry and focus on getting a good drift.  Repeat and enjoy!

If you need a guide, I might know one or two.

I’m like a laid up silver salmon or tarpon.  I like to conserve energy.  When it comes to tying flies, I seldom rely on patterns that take more than a couple materials.  I have tied flies that take 3o min, but they usually end up under a rock or in a submerged root wad. I end up feeling displeasure at the prospect of replacing said fly.  Here is my latest easy to tie creation. I named it the Polar Express Baitfish. It fills my niche for a quick and realistic baitfish pattern with endless customization possibilities. All you need is a hook, some dumbbell eyes, some UV Polar Chenille, and your tying thread. Artists can then get creative with waterproof markers.

Yesterday I fished with my son. He was drifting a big stonefly. He caught lots of rainbows. I was throwing a Polar Express Baitfish colored like a little rainbow trout. I caught only Brown Trout. Interesting.

Here is the latest edition of the Big R Fly Shop Emagazine. It is worth a look.

Tight Lines!

Simms on the Marquee at MSU

Simms Ice Out has come and gone.  I’ve been on a bit of a fishing bender since.  I guess hanging around 500 fishing fools between April 19 and 21 kind of fired me up even more than usual.  I worked several days in the Big R Fly Shop and even mowed the lawn.  I also carried out bushels of last year’s detritus, but my head has been firmly stuck in the river. It’s hard to focus when I’m working in the yard and baetis are landing on my rake. The last couple weeks, or should I say this entire *off season has flown by.  They say that time goes faster when you get older, so I can only imagine how it will fly in a few more years. *October 16 through June 10 is the Mystic Waters (Kenai River) Off Season, though Fred and Stacy are still on other waters frequently.

Hanging out with the Trout Bum

This years Ice Out was quite an event.  Bobby Knight killed it in a packed theater, after the film Shoot Out. The Guide Olympics rocked MSU. Dave Whitlock, John Simms, and John Gierach shared some personal stories and insights in the “Ask A Legend” panel. Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood gave a great presentation on “State of the Rivers”. Jeff Courier tantalized us with stories and photos from fishing adventures around the world. Robert Younghanz aka The Bug Guy, turned the Gallatin River inside out and showed us how to think like a bug.  When Saturday night rolled around, the guide Super Sale seemed anticlimactic, though the house was packed.  I might have felt differently, if I’d have won the Ro Drift Boat raffle.  I really wanted to win that boat. Thanks to RO, I dontated $120 to TU.

SIMMS RO Driftboat

Here are the film Shoot Out Entries.

“Untitled” DETONATION STUDIOS (IAN MAJSZAK) 2012 SHOOT OUT WINNER!

“Lights Out” SWIFT CURRENT PRODUCTIONS (RYAN THOMPSON) PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER!

“Brant Oswald” RAW WATER PRODUCTIONS (ADAM KRYDER & LUCAS CARROLL)

“Bending the Big Sky” FISHBITE MEDIA (BRYAN HUSKEY)

Casting at Ice Out

Courage for the Cooler Pull

EZ keeping it tight during the Rod Rigging Event.

Marty Shepard had his own game.

YETI are Hard Core and Heavy

I know hundreds of guides who have Mr. RHB on their most wanted list.  I know Arlo Townsend has embarrassed him more than once.  I usually fish for more regal species like Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, and King Salmon, but I’ve tangled with the brown.

Roderick Hawg Browns Honey

In fact, several junior browns lost their minds over my new Polar Express Baitfish Streamer today.  Now I’m going to tie up a big one and attach it to some heavy tippet behind a heavy tip.  I’ll see you soon RHB.

Ice Out time is here in Montana. That means thousands of hungry fish are on the prowl.  Here is another Big R Fly Shop “Fly of the Week” video with a pattern for the season.

Ice Out also means hundreds of fly fishing guides will be rolling into Bozeman Montana.  Thursday is the opening day for the the Simms Ice Out Guide Event.

2010 was the first official year, followed by a even bigger Ice Out Guide event in 2011.  This year promises to be bigger again, with a larger attendance and with the likes of Coach Bobby Knight opening things up.  Then we have the Film Shoot Out hosted by Catch Magazine, before Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures throws an after party.  Friday and Saturday will be packed with more events, including the Guide Olympics.  I plan to be there participating throughout the three days.  I’m sure there will be some highlights to report, so stay tuned.

I care deeply about what happens in Bristol Bay.  I live and guide on the Kenai River, hundreds of miles away from Bristol Bay, but It’s still Alaska.  The oceans are all connected.  Wild salmon populations throughout the region all matter. Maintaining a healthy Bristol Bay region is vital to Alaska’s fishing future.  I have fished some of the waters of Bristol Bay and plan to again; hopefully for many years to come.

Calvin Fuller has guided from Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge on the Kvichak River.  He has this to say…

Bristol Bay still lives inside of my soul.   I still picture waters alive with millions of salmon and rainbow trout waiting for the annual migration of smolts and spawning fish. It is a truly remarkable place that every fishermen or hunter should visit.  Today begins the largest collaborative effort by sportsmen, to help save Bristol Bay.

Bristol Bay Rainbow Trout

From: www.savebristolbay.org

A large delegation of sportsmen from across the country is meeting with Members of Congress and the Obama Administration this week to push for protection of Bristol Bay, and its natural resources and fisheries.

The forty leaders from 17 states across the country will also deliver a letter from more than 500 hunting and angling groups around the nation to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The letter calls on the EPA to “use all the tools at your disposal to protect a sport fishing and hunting destination that is unrivaled in America and perhaps the world, for this and future generations of sportsmen and women.”

In addition to Trout Unlimited, the letter is signed by a host of influential sporting, angling and hunting groups, including the American Sportfishing Association, Dallas Safari Club, Camp Fire Club of America, Wildlife Forever, Bull Moose Sportsmen’s Alliance and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

Read more here: http://www.savebristolbay.org/blog/sportsmen-summit-begins-in-dc-april-16-2012
See what Kate Taylor has to say: http://www.rogueangels.net/

Save Bristol Bay on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaveBristolBay

I’m working in a Montana fly shop right now and some days are painful.  I hear so many stories and fishing reports.  I get invitations to fish secret spots and special private waters.  The only problem is, I’m working in the fly shop.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m still getting some time on the waters.  Just never on the right days it seems.  Sometimes the special window closes by the time I’m able to go.  The epic hatch was yesterday.   The water conditions have changed.  The invitations never fall on my open days.  When I do get to go, I pick the wrong river or target the wrong species on that day.  There are so many choices here and so many species to chase.  I want a big pike on fly.  I want a 30″ Brown.  I know some places now where they live and even when to go.  I’ve not gotten the timing right…yet.  I know Alaska.  I’m learning Montana more and more, but in order to remain sane in the vortex of fly fishing stories and opportunism in a Montana spring, I’m recalling some Fly Fishing Alaska perfection.

Jerry loves Fly Fishing the Kenai River

Stacy "Guide Boy" showing off.

Charman Ultra

Jerry with a big Char

Russ with a great Rainbow

Fly Fishing on the Upper and Middle reaches of the Kenai River in late August of 2011 was about perfect.  We shared several days with long time guests from Colorado.  The weather, the company and the catching were spot on.

I’ve had a love affair with Alaska for a long time.  I also love Montana.  This is the first place I saw mountains and caught wild cutthroat many years ago.  Some days working in a Montana fly shop is great.  Just not when the weather is perfect and the fish are chomping.  The Missouri River is becoming a comfortable friend and is a great fishing river on any given day.  There are also many other choices and I want to taste everything before I head back for another season of Fly Fishing Alaska Perfection.

This is a rant.  I’m over it now, but a couple days ago I was incensed.  This is my Anger Management post.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced a similar problem with domain registration. I have a blogger blog named kenairiverfishingreport.blogspot.com.  A little over a year ago, I registered a custom domain name through Google and the site became simply kenairiverfishingreport.com.  In March, I renewed the domain.

Order date: Mar 6, 2012 7:17 PM MST

Google order number: 410898136786266

Digital delivery

Domain Registration Renewalkenairiverfishingreport.com  -  1 year registration for kenairiverfishingreport.com, powered by eNom

$10.00

Total:$10.00

(includes Tax (MT) $0.00

Purchased from:

Google Apps

1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy

Mountain View CA 94043

UNITED STATES

http://www.google.com/a

Paid with:

VISA xxx-xxxxFrederick C Telleen

Great Falls MT

UNITED STATES

After a few days, nothing happened.  I tried for hours to figure out how to get support.  Every link I followed turned into a loop with no resolution.  Since Google registered my domain with eNom, I called them and got a person on the phone.  He provided more links to support that tuned into more frustrating loops with no resolution.  I emailed my receipt to Google and eNom several times. Twice I received emails from Google asking for a survey regarding their support and my resolution. What support? What resolution?  I followed every Google support link provided.  I called eNom several times.  I got mad and went fishing.  A week later, I called eNom again and implored a solution.  I was advised to wait a couple weeks until the domain renewal period expired and then to renew it directly with eNom.  I finally got some help.

Google Clients                                                                                                   Apr 8

To me

Greetings,

The domain  *kenairiverfishingreport.com* is currently in a Redemption status as it passed through all available grace periods to renew at a regular rate.Thank you for contacting us in regards to your domain that has expired.

If you would like to renew this domain name we will able to assist in processing the redemption order for you. The price to recover a domain from redemption is $250.00 plus $39.95 for one year of renewal.   

(Wow…really? They can’t even form a correct sentence in their hurry to charge me $$$.$$  for a domain that I should rightfully own. Thanks so much.)

If you would like to recover this domain please follow the following steps: Hmm

1.       Open a new account with eNom at www.eNomCentral.com, including your valid credit card information. This credit card will be used to process your order.

2.       Reply to this email and include the following information:

a)      The complete domain name and the access password for verification.

b)      Your new eNom Central Login ID

c)       Your approval and authorization for the domain to be moved into your eNom Central account

d)      Your approval and authorization for us to charge $250.00 to the credit card you have placed in your new eNomcentral.com account for the redemption and $39.95 for the renewal.

e)      Indicate if you would like to re-purchase ID Protection (as this feature has also expired) on your domain name; $8 per year.

Upon approval of payment, we’ll move the domain into your account and recover the domain which can take up to 24 hours. You will receive an email order confirmation when complete.

Once the redemption order and renewal is processed, you will have full control and ownership of this domain for the remainder of the registration period.

Please be sure to keep your account email accurate, as all courtesy email renewal reminders will go to this address.

Best Regards,

Patrick T

Google Advanced Domain Support

Provided by eNom, Inc.

A Demand Media company

email  googleclients@enom.com

That my friends is Bull $#!T.  I don’t know Patrick and I’m sure he’s just doing his job.  A little spell check wouldn’t hurt though.  I went to Go Daddy and purchased kenaifishingreport.com for a two year period at a rate of $16.39.  I entered the name change in Blogger and it was done and live in minutes.  eNom can suck it.