I'll be spending a month in the Yakutat area. I'm really not sure of what river system I will be on just that it is secluded from any habitation of the upright type and extremely populated with the large four legged type. This is a job related trip but will have time to spend fishing. This will be in June that I leave. Just looking for some information of area and what to expect for fishing around the area? Thanks for any advise.

If it's late june, the Chinooks should be coming in, followed by sockeye if there is a large lake on the system. Should be resident dollies and cutthroats. If it's early june, you may be a bit early for the salmon. Try contacting the fish and game folks, via http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/adfghome.htm
They have always been very helpful to me in figuring out run timing. Find the closest office, call them, and ask for the biologist.

E-mail Grass Hopper on this BB. He has been there 20 times and has guided there.

I am going there May 5th thru 10th,,,e-mail me after that and I will give you a fresh report.

I've been there 5 times during June. Email me with where you'll be and specific questions you need help with, and I'll shoot you what I know. Sounds like a fun assignment to be on.

I have know clue on were I'll be. It's a job with no name attached. Two things I know. One it is a new fishing/Hunting lodge, and two it is very secluded. I'm being pulled in for the engineering of the job. (OOOOOH). They must realy be hurting to call me in. Anyway I do know that their is chinook/sockey within the time frame I'll be there. (June 14 - July 28). I looking at taking my light stealhead gear, and a medium outfit. Knowing me and the way I think I'll have all my gear with me so nothing will be left for chance of not having it. I'm already thinking of colors for tie-ups so I can start in. So their you have it. I'll atleast have a month to figure out the fishery. Hell it can't be worse than out rivers. Except for maybe the numbers.

Ahhh memories! Give me a call. (206)396-5380. Can tell you about town. The people. The Rivers by road. The rivers by boat. The rivers by plane. Still fish and guide the region. Would love to hear about the new lodge. Italio? Tsiu? Alsek? East Alsek? whos new in my back yard??
Glad to tell you more!
TOM

Craven, don't forget your Fraker (Sp) flies, or just tie em on the river. Oh and lots of those lead headed things. Wishin I was a fishin during that time frame.
Been there, done that,enough said, I'm out.

Grass Hopper, I exchanged some E mail with a guide up there. His E address was Italorip@.

Can you explain the rip?

FJ...out.

2 more months for 7 days...can't wait!

Grass Hopper,

I'll be giving you a call within the month. When I find out I let you know who's coming into your back yard. For now the next two weeks I'll be on our local rivers enjoying the best of the peninsula. The more I hear about this area the less work I think I'll be doing.

RAG-TIME,

My fishing buddy and I went up to Yakutat Lodge about 3 summers ago in July. We did the self guided river package, with one day of AWESOME halibut fishing in the saltchuck. Go out for these barn doors if you get a shot.

We fished the Situk River exclusively for Sockeye and Nooks. The week we were there the river was a bit low and only one day did any rising, the nooks are tougher to find when it was that low, as soon as the water started to move, things got better. There is a bridge where they put in the boats to float down stream, 9 mile bridge I think (maybe 7 mile), and there is an awesome bank spot right under that bridge for Sockeye. You can catch as many sockeye that time of year as you want. You can wade down river from the bridge a bit depending on water flow. If you can hook up with a drift boat, do it, easy float but really long. We could use eggs below the air strip around mid point of the float.

We did see a few downstream steelies, but the later in gets in the summer the less you'll find.

Good Luck and post some reports when you get back!!

GUSty

Gusty,

Thanks for the info. Thinking of driving up so I can take my drift boat. It all matters on weather. Nice to see that everyone isn't tight lipped about the area, like we are about our olympic rivers, or should I say streams at this point.

Keep it friendly. Thanks

Thinking about driving up? That would be a bit tough, unless you take a loooooong ferry boat ride. No way in or out except by air or sea.

Nine mile bridge is the launch for the 13 mile float down the Situk. The best sockeye hole is where the Old Situk and the main Situk merge, 2 miles down from the launch. The cabins, which mark the upper reach of bait usage (if they open it for bait) are three miles from the launch. Most of the best king holes are about two hours on the sticks from the launch. From there down, there are plenty of good holes.

Bring an 8 weight flyrod for the sockeye, 10 weight for kings along with a good drift rod. My GL3 1025 handles the kings on that system just fine. You will want 20-30 lb main line so you can horse them out of the logjams that are very prevelant on the river. There are a few other rivers down past nine mile that receive zero pressure. When you drive to them, you'll see why.

Just a heads up for anyone interested in Yakutat. This weekend on the TV show North to Alaska w/ Larry Csonka, the show is in Yakutat Steelheading (from last spring). Haven't seen the show, but it should give you a good idea what the river and town look like.
Tom

I've got a couple cousins in Yakutat. One I've never talked to. The one that I have talked to, the last I heard he was in jail

LMAO, gotta love family!!!

Predator Dog,

Well I feel like a complete idiot. I guess I will be flying in then if it's only accessible by plane or sea.

Thanks for the info. Hell I'm already packed and I think I better start thinking of the essentials.

Is anyone going to be in the area while I'm there.