Anchorage Fishing Info

[Two Fister]

I found out today that I have to go to Anchorage next week for work. :yay: :yay: :yay: I've never been to Alaska before and will probably get to spend the weekend. I'll have a rental car, a 7 wt spey, an 8 wt single hander and a 9 wt spey ready to go for coho and/or big trout. Can anybody point me to a good river that I can fish within two or three hours? Thanks :bowdown:
TF

[wade]

I was just there and although I didn't do any fishing, the next time I head up there I intend to look at the Russian River, a trib of the Kenai.

Kevin

[Two Fister]

Thanks Wade. I have some friends that fished the Russian last year around this time of the year. They did really well for coho on flies. I'll definitely give it a try!
TF

[lilnorthfork]

TF - when do you leave? My friend's aunt lives in Anchorage and is a flyfishing fanatic. Retired from teaching in AZ to fish full time in AK. :smash:

[Two Fister]

lilnorthfork,
I leave on the 9/22 and come back on 9/25 in the evening. I should be able to get my work done by mid-day on 9/24 so that leave me about 24 hours to fish :eek: :hoboy:
Then again, 24 hours of fishing in Alaska is better than none at all :yay: :yay: :yay:

[lilnorthfork]

Cool. I'll see if I can get you her contact info.. I think she generally opts to avoid the weekend crowds on the rivers and heads for the lakes for monster rainbows... just another option. lnf

[Two Fister]

That would be awesome! If she just wants to pass along some pointers and places to try that would be most appreciated. Thanks for the offer lilnorthfork! :bowdown: :cheers:

The the way, where did you end up fishing the other day when you were looking for someplace different to try?

[lilnorthfork]

Well Dan, how about a little follow-up? You've kept us on edge long enough. lnf

[Two Fister]

It's a long one, but you'll see why if you stick with it. :cheers:

Well you see it went like this...there I was getting ready to cast a size 26 Hardtosee Gnat to a monster 35" Rainbow when this huge grizz jumps out of the brush. Fortunately, I had my trusty Bowie Knife (never leave home without it) and I had him skinned in time to land the Rainbow of a lifetime...at least that's how it happened my dreams. :hoboy:

Now the sad, sad reality. Work took longer than expected so I didn't get done until late on Friday. I thought about packing up and heading out Friday PM, but I was really enjoying the IPA and the smoked salmon fettuccini alfredo at the brewery, so I decided to leave at 0 dark 30 on Saturday. Besides, the weather had been great the whole time I was crawling around a bunch of haz waste sites and the forecast was for a bit of overcast. Perfect. I had my fill of really rich pasta, a beer or four and went back to my hotel ready to go. It was gonna be great!

I woke up, full of anticipation, to the sound of something tapping on the window. When I threw open the curtains and what did my wondering eyes see...no not a sled and eight tiny reindeer as they would have definitely been grounded. Apparently, a bit of Anchorage "overcast" is just a wee bit different than down here in the lower 48. 50 MPH winds, blowing sideways rain, sleet, slush, snow and any small mammals that weren't tied down. By the time I got to my rental car (front wheel drive with little tread)it was flat out howling. I said to myself "it's my first time in Alaska and I am going fishing!" I fought my way through some very nasty conditions to Quartz Creek and the Russian River to cast to some big trout. LilNF I got some tips from your friends aunt and thought I was on it. Unfortunately, a local flyfishing publication had just run a feature article on fall trout fishing on Quartz Creek and the Russian River area and they named names. It was elbow to elbow flyfishers on the Russian and the Kenai, the Kenai had a bank closure to protect spawning fish and the riparian zone and I forgot to pack my driftboat, and I stepped into a gigantic, wet, bear paw print on Quartz Creek all the while noticing freshly eaten fish carcasses. I figured it would take me another 5 hours (it's usually only about 2 hours) to get back to the airport, I had a severe case of bear pucker factor, and so I said thanks for the memories, took a couple of pictures of the scenery and got back in the car. :redface:

I got to the airport just in time to have the power go out in half of Anchorage, including the airport. I got to wait in line while they frisked everyone trying to get on a plane as the metal detectors were also powerless. When they got the power back up three hours later I found out that they hadn't let our plane leave Fairbanks yet and there was a line of planes waiting to land. My flight ended up being delayed 12 hours!!! Fortunately, the taps at the bar are not effected by power outages so the beer flowed and the barmaid kept us on an honor system since the till was computerized. Apparently, there are not many honorable people in the Anchorage airport, myself included :cheers:

So now you see why I haven't been sending out too many fish stories. It's hard to make up fish stories if you didn't even get a chance to wet a line. :eek: :redface: :hoboy:

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :cheers:

[wade]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

They must lose power a lot up there. When I was trying to get out of town half of Seward lost power including the guy that was supposed to vaccuum pack my halibut. :help:


Kevin