First things firt. My computer isn't recognizing the USB port, so I can't upload photos now. Since I have some job photos I need to upload, maybe IT will help me out soon.
Arrived in Quinhagak mid-Monday morning last week. After a quick bite of lunch, we were out on the water. I was pitching heavier stuff than I use for steelheading: my old Sage brownie 9140 with a 550 grn Skagit head and 12' of T-14 sink tip and flies with lead dumbell eyes for weight. Fished 4 days, actually until midnight Thursday. Caught one king of 15#, a few jacks, one nice rainbow trout about 22 -23", and chum pretty much at will.
Since I made the trip specifically for kings, I guess things didn't go as well as anticipated. Kings were present, but gear anglers and native subsistence and commercial fishermen all said abundance was low this year. The fish are scrappy, fishing in and just above tidal influence, even chinook jacks were reluctant to come to hand. Chums are really gamey, and I would have appreciated them more if I weren't thinking that the longer they take to land, the more time they take away from targeting kings. When the fly swung into slower moving water, and I felt a chum grab it, I'd not strike in hopes it would fall away without a hookup, and that often worked.
Mosquitos were present, but not as numerous as later. White Sox were bothersome, but didn't seem to be biting, just wanting to get in your face. DEET kept them an inch away and buzzing. Life on the tundra is characterized by bugs.
I'm uncertain about going back. Fishing for kings is the main attraction. If I'm pitching heavy gear, I think I want a little more reward for my effort. My other AK trips have been directed at fishing for rainbow trout, with light gear, or at least lighter Spey on the Naknek, with a little silver salmon action at the end. That just may hold more appeal to me; we'll see.
Highlights:
Quinhagak is a dry village. The only alcohol is what you smuggle in your duffle. The most common boat in the native fleet is the 18' Alaskan by Lund, which was interesting to me since I'm partial to Lund aluminum boats. 40 hp Yamaha jets were the most common outboard. Makes some sense to have uniformity since all parts have to be air shipped, probably from Anchorage. If nearly everyone has the same engine, they can cannibalize junked ones.
Saw lots of native salmon drying sheds around the village. Not sure I could develop a taste for dried salmon; I like mine BBQd. Principle means of transport in Quinhagak are 4WD ATVs. It was cool to see some more of AK. I think I'll go up there somewhere again next year.
Sg
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