Nushagak River, Alaska

[NWRedside]

Has anyone ever fished this, its by Bristol Bay. I'm helping my dad plan a trip next year and we are thinking about focusing on this river. I'm looking for any imput on this river or any other alaska rivers that might be better for the money. My Grandpa is taking six of us up there next year for a week so I'm trying to find a good place to go. We're looking to spend in the neighborhood of 3k a piece, including airfare. So everyone, what are your suggestions as far where to go?

[Silver Hilton]

I fished it one day for silvers, after we had gotten blown out of another river. It was early, so we didn't do particularly well, about 15 fish for three guys.

It's a big river, that is heavily tidally influenced down low, where a lot of the fishing is done. There is a lot of fishing activity of the river, so you won't be alone.

Bob Toman runs a camp up there, which we visited but did not stay at. Seemed like a well run operation, and we are very grateful for the boat he loaned us that day.

My understanding is that most people fish it for the kings, and we weren't there during that time. It gets a great big run of fish, and I suspect puts out the fish when they are in.

If you are fishing it on your own, it might be a bit challenging to find the holes. Down low, it's a fairly featureless river, and the holes are not obvious.

Hope that helps.

[Grantspastor]

NWRedside

I lived in Alaska from 1977 to 1985. Have fished many of the Bristol Bay rivers. Most are great. Are you floating? Or camping? If possible try floating. For my money, the Alagnak river from Kukoklik Lake to a place called Estradas is simply great. Float planes can land on the river at that point to pick you up. There is one Class 3 rapid...otherwise no problems. Other rivers that have been very good to us are the Copper (Ilamna), and the Koktuli.

The Alagnak has many large rainbows, very large and numerous Grayling, plus occasional dollies and char. One thing that is very important in Alaska is to target the species of salmon you want to catch, and arrive at primetime. I reccomend the Sockeye. They will be in the Alagnak in force during the week after the 4th of July. (8 million or so). Be prepared to encounter numerous brown bears.

You shouldn't have any trouble staying in your budget...but don't charter a bush plane from Anchorage...instead fly commercial to Ilamna and take the bush plane from there...much cheaper.

If you like, e-mail me and I will provide you with information about gear, safety, and fly patterns, if you are a flyfisher.

You'll have a great time!

[NWRedside]

thanks for the input guys. Here's a few more details. Since they'll be six of us, ranging from experienced fisherman to an east coast tax attorney who has never fished before......we need to find a good mix for everyone. My grandpa wants to go with an outfit, for a week or so. We will probably be looking at fishing with guides all day in sleds I'm assuming. I think we want to focus on kings, and in large numbers. None of us are necessarily concerned about catching 70 lb'ers, just lots in the 20-40 lb range.
From what I've read, the nushagak is a good place to do that. Any other reccomendations for rivers that put out a lot of kings?

[Hogmaster]

NW Redside -

Here is some cut and pastes about "best place to fish in America" a thread that was out there a few months ago. I think you are right on looking for that river for your trip!

My vote would have to go for Toman's King Camp on the Nushiak River out of Dillingham Alaska. The tent camps were extremely well organized, the grub was plentiful and great, and the King salmon fishing was ridiculous!

We were fishing 4 + a guide in flat bottom jet sleds, and I am not kidding that if we went 15 minutes without a take down there was something seriously wrong! For 5 days!

Think about this. Get up leasurely about 7:30 or so, maybe even hop in a quick shower. At 8 the breakfast bell rings and the entire camp eats full breakfasts till it is time to go fish - about 9ish. Get in a sled, drive between 50 yards and maybe a mile or two and start fishing. Use plugs (wiggle warts) so you don't have to mess with baiting. Fish for about 1-2 minutes before your first take down! Fight a 15-40 pounder, only to release it to keep fishing. At 9:05 after you just landed yours, your buddy's rod goes down. And so on.

At 1 you take a break and drive back to camp to eat a catered lunch, and by two you're back out again. You come back for toddys and dinner at 6. By 8:30 you get back in the boat and fish until 10:30 or 11, when it is time to return (it is still light and all), have a nightcap or two and turn in.

Your catch is cleaned and frozen for you, you don't actually ever have to touch a fish if you choose not too...

Not only that, but they have rods for your use at the camp should you not get your fill. We even caught fish before and after breakfast waiting for the others! I even tied up a yarn fly and promptly started hooking Sockeye. Some of the camp help were catching voles and putting hooks on them and casting for big Pike in the backwater.

I do not work for Bob and I do not get a commission for all of this. And his camp is not cheap. But if you want an unbelievable fishing experience while being treated with kid gloves, his camp is primo! A true lifetime type experience!

There are other quality camps up there as well, but they are limited in capacity by regulation and tend to get filled quickly.

I am saving for another trip!
_______________

But that was before I realized Marty Peterson (ifish sponsor!) also has a camp up there. here is what he wrote:

I have to agree with you Hogmaster, the Nushagak has to be THE BEST king salmon fishery in the USA and the world! I was upriver from you about 5 miles at the Fins-Furs and Feathers Camp, and if I had to rate the camps on the river, ours and Bob's are TOPS!

Excerpt of my Journal:

Tuesday, July 2nd:

Took the crew, Mark and Liz Johnson and son Mark down to the "flats" where we landed 28 fish before returning for brunch keeping a chromer of 25 pounds. After brunch we headed back downriver and the action continued with 40 more fish to the boat for a total of 68 !!! We kept one of 33 and a whopper of 39 pounds, they were bright and beautiful and filled our limit for the day. Young Mark had the hot rod for most of the day but all had their share of the action! I only ran their 3 rods as I was to busy running the boat and un-hooking fish, it was an awesome day. Alot of bigger fish are showing up and we released a buch of dandy kings.

It don't get no better than that!

-Marty --------------------
Now taking reservations for WINTER STEELHEAD !!! (my favorite time of year!)

Marty Peterson, Gone Fishin' Guide Service (503) 842-8813

Go for it!



The budget is about right, BTW. It ain't cheap but it will last a lifetime!!!

Hog

[Steelie Steve]

You might also look into Fins Feathers and Furs . They are one of the sponsors for this site.

Steve

[Grantspastor]

Sounds like the fish camp that Silver Hilton mentioned would be prototypical. The most numerous salmon species is Sockeye. Most Alaksan rivers don't get huge numbers of Kings. The Nushagak has a reputation as one of the best. Be sure to get the dates right. Contact your outfitter and find when to arrive.

[NWRedside]

How much of an issue is it as how far the camps are up the river. One outfitter I spoke to last month's was 60 miles up. Would it be better to stay down low where the fish might be brighter? You guys that have fished there, when did you go and how fresh were the fish? Also, how far up the river were you?
I left a message with one of our sponsors about this river four weeks ago and never got a call back. I might give him one more call...but there's a lot of camps to choose from on this river.

[NWRedside]

Also, does anyone have Toman's number?

[onstep]

Toman's number is 503-658-6493. He is highly recommended for this fishery. You won't find a more honest, dedicated, and professional than Bob.

[Fishen Fool]

If you are looking fo big numbers of kings the Nushiak is the only place to go. All the camps mentioned are good and one that hasn't been mentioned yet is Dan Roths. Most of these camps will have Reps at the Portland sports show.Also if you really want to catch a lot of fish be sure your guide will use the dragging egg technique, it is really pretty easy and it catches more fish than hardware.

[blackdog]

NWRedside,

I strongly suggest you contact Travis of Fins, Feathers, and Furs. No knock on Toman, but Travis has the nicest operation on the river, from new Willie boats to fish out of, brand new tents with real beds to sleep in, first class meals, and top notch GLoomis rods and Shimano reels. Not to mention some of the northwests top guides working for him (including ifish's own Marty Peterson who worked with Travis last summer and will hopefully be back again this summer). The costs for a week should definitely be in your range. Most of the camps on the river are a ways upstream (about a two hour boat ride from Dillingham but only a 15 minute flight for all the guests). But don't worry, there are chromers aplenty. I promise you, after a week with Fins on the Nush, your fishing life will be changed forever.

Travis and Fins, Feathers, and Furs is a good choice.

[HarpMan]

I have been to Travis's camp on the Nush, it is a first class place and the price it right. He doesn't run tons of folks so yu will get plenty of attention and first class treatment. Again, the accomodations are the best on the river.....