Kodiak Trip - Week Two

[Phil Lilley]

New clients this week. Eight guys from the Kansas City area. All friends, fishing buddies- real nice guys.

The first 4 days have been charter boats and beach fishing. Because the charters can only take 6 clients out at a time, we've had to send out 6, then 3 on alternative days. Learning about this deep sea fishing here... there are tons of two species- halibut and black sea bass. Now finding the BIG halibut are alittle tricky but it seems the smaller "chickens" are all over the place. Sea bass are also abundant and they're the best eating. Fishing the tide currents is also interesting. Not saying I've figured this all out and going into the charter biz= no way! I went out on Tuesday- blue skies, 8 feet swells and I didn't do well, even after taking miedication. I get motion sickness pretty easily so charter captain isn't in my future.

The guys have done well all week. They had pretty rough seas yesterday but did the best, catching their limit of halibut, sea bass and king salmon plus some silvers, pinks and ling cod. About 200 pounds of meat.

The weather did turn yesterday. Fog this morning, drizzle and about 55 but it's supposed to be nicer by Sunday.

On the off days, we've been fishing the beaches for pinks. Still finding tons of fresh, silver pinks on fly rod.

You can find some pics posted here -

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=104883236262217089205&target=ALBUM&id=5642773027353704673&authkey=Gv1sRgCM3xr6mMoqK4Ug&invite=CP2F7dEK&feat=email

[Flysmallie]

Looks like a great time Phil. I have to throw down the cash and make a trip like that sometime.

Great pictures too, but I want to see some video from this guy.

[Phil Lilley]

Our fishing is over.

We flew to the Uganik River again, the same float we did last week. Fishing was better, if that's possible. Dolly Varden by the thousands and easy to catch. Fished the bottom part of the river and caught some nice pinks and one chum salmon.

We saw, no exaggeration, 50+ eagles. Adults, pairs, young eagles, a dozen nests. Never has any of us seen that many bald eagles combined in our lives. We could be more than a dozen at the end of our float on the flats. None of us had a decent camera to record the sight unfortunately. Not even the videos turned out. Rainy, cloudy day so light was low. Also saw a sow with 3 small cub yearlings and 3 more bears on the river. The river's level was up about 18 inches so the float was more enjoyable.

We'll get our clients off tomorrow and prepare for our trip home Tuesday. Our plan is to fish Willow Creek on Tuesday, north on Anchorage, if we get out of here early Tuesday. Our flight out Tuesday night is at midnight so we have a full day to kill. Might as well fish!

[Phil Lilley]

Well... our fishing isn't quite over.