Alaska July 2025

[BilletHead]

               Three weeks ago, Pat and I had no idea what a true blessing would be dropped on us. We got a text from the new lodge manager Duane Doty from the Seasons on the fly lodge on the Kvichak "Kwee-jak" River in Alaska.  We talked about his new job and duties while there. He mentioned that Pat and I should come up while there were openings His Brother Dave and Mike Riffel were going to be there also. I was at a loss of words, and I normally have plenty of things to say as some of you on here know. More texting followed and soon the phone begins to ring, and it was Duane. Let's talk I'm tired of texting. I put the phone on speaker so Pat could listen. Duane gave us the deal of what to expect and pricing. I at first said no maybe next year and Pat started poking me saying we can make this happen, we can do it. I told Duane we would call back in a bit. Off the phone I got the riot act from Pat. You know we are not getting any younger and what happens if we put this on hold and something happens, we will be mad we did not take advantage of this deal Bla, Bla, Bla-Bla. She ran some numbers, and we called for flight costs round trip from here to Anchorage Then the flight to the village airport in Igiugig "ig-ee-AH-gig" where Duane would be picking us up in a boat for the three-mile trip to the lodge.  Pat made this sound very feasible. I reminded her there will be so many extra expenses, so we need to be ready for that.  That set her off and very loudly she said WE CAN DO THIS!  I called Duane back and said we are a go. Whoop, whoop we are going to live a dream. It like many other trips were just a dream because of pricing but this do-it-yourself trip can happen you just have to make it happen. A group text began to form of Duane, Brother Dave, Mike Riffel and myself and Pat of course had the numbers and got in the middle of things.  On our end we decided to fly United out of Springfield to Chicago with a three-hour layover, then onto Anchorage for one night and next morning meeting Dave and Mike at Lake and Pen air for the flight to Igiugig. We have never met Mike and Dave but have heard of them and after all the texting I began to feel like I actually knew them. The morning, we met Mike and Dave that sealed that deal and it was then I knew this trip was going to be a hoot! All of our luggage was weighed and loaded on the plane. Then we loaded on the plane with some other people and off we went. Three other stops to drop off people and gear while picking up others. Finally, we were landing at Igiugig.

  Pictures of the trip first from United,

  Then Mike and Dave on the Lake and Pen flight,

Pat and I,    

 

 

Getting ready to land in Igiugig Note this Village is at the end of lake Iliamna where the Kvichak begins. Small village of approximately 65 people. 

  Igiugig, Alaska - Wikipedia

  Read about it people very interesting. 

Wheels on the ground and taxied up to the airport building, community center, official building and more.  Duane was waiting and we pitched our gear and luggage into the vehicle for the ride down the hill to the boat ramp and waiting boat. We looked like a barge heading to the lodge as all of us but Duane had wide eyes taking this all in. 

 Lodge in sight this would be our home away from home for a few days, Right off the bat we took our gear on the porch and Duane told us there was a group leaving and we were going to help them pull their nets out of the water. This group was sustenance netters from Wasilla after sockeye. Duane said Dave and Marty you are going to help as well as on of the party. Cool Beans! Duane on the motor we went to the net, directions were given on how Dave and I would be removing the sockeye from the net and putting into the box. Gill net and you will actually get the fish untangled and push them through the net and not lose them. Much easier than I thought it would be. After that we pull the float and anchor Steak on the shore and gather the net not tangling it and gently lay it into the boat. Back to the dock we took it out and laid the net out to dry. Later we packed it up and a couple more nets to store for the next year. 

 

          I know you all want to go fishing and see fish pictures but not tonight. Typing fingers cramping. 

 

 

 

[dpitt]

What a journey, rest fingers and post the fishing reports  

[Foghorn]

This should be good-the rumblings I heard were true!

[Terrierman]

Way to go PAT!!!!

[BilletHead]

14 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

Way to go PAT!!!!

           You got that right!

[BilletHead]

           Let's go fishing!

          Some of you know some of you don't. Sockeye don't bite when they enter the river to head for spawning grounds. What they do however is swim in groups in a line upstream with their mouths open along the banks in two feet of water or more depending on the current speed. IMO after learning and fishing for them too shallow would be hard as well as too deep. We are what is called flossing for them. Rig up with a straight piece of 12 to 17 pound mono or floro. Split shot to get the line down quickly and a one or two flies. Flip the line out with the fly rod (chuck and duck). Let the line sink and follow line downstream with shot bumping the bottom through the line of salmon. Repeat and repeat. When you feel tension of any kind give it a hookset. Could be the split shot catching on the bottom and could be hitting a sockeye. I will tell you that a very high percentage if you are doing it right are caught in the corner of the mouth and it's a good thing you do. These fish are powerful and in the mouth is a better way of landing that fish. There will be runs that will take you into your backing multiple times. Fish will jump and I mean jump trying to throw the hook upstream and downstream. Your drag should be set tight, or you can be spooled. This happed to Pat, and she was freaking out. Luckly the weakest link is the leader and knots for your flies. If you break off wind all that backing and fly line up and re rig. Then get back to swinging those flies. Good, polarized sunglasses are a good deal making sure you see fish to make sure you are swinging in the correct zone. Murky water is not your friend from boat wash as boats are going buy but those fish are still there and still moving upstream to complete their life cycle. I know this doesn't sound appealing to some of you catching this way, but it works, and you have one great fight to land them, fine eating I will add. We fished until ten thirty PM. That night we cleaned fish, ate a meal, took showers and went to bed at midnight! Pictures from that first night. Everyone caught fish but that first trip all we got picture wise was Pat and I. Too busy fishing than taking photos.

          Some pictures from inside the lodge,

   Some reading material.     

Sockeye Salmon Species Profile, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

                                                                                                                                           More to come fingers resting!

[BilletHead]

😆

 

 

[Terrierman]

Way to go PAT!!!

[Foghorn]

Any bets on whether Pat out fished Marty or not? Just speaking from my experiences fishing with the my wife.

[fishinwrench]

Killer !  👍 

Boy it would suck to feed one of those dogs, wouldn't it?    Big sucker !    😳