Alaska Trip

I, along with probably thousands out there, take too many things for granted. Here in the USA, we all can do pretty much what we want and when we want to do it as long as we have the means to do so. I got the wake up call recently with my saddle PE. Luckily I am still around to enjoy life!! My upcoming Alaska trip is going to be so special!!! This being my 26th year fishing Alaska, I have taken it for granted!! I am so fortunate to be able to fish special places like Alaska and meet so many wonderful friends worldwide. I am doing fine, starting to workout. Will definately be 100% ready to catch some monster silvers and char at my buddy GAry LaRose's Pumice Creek Lodge. Gary and I have become very good friends over the years and I cannot imagine fishing in Alaska elsewhere as the fishing cannot get better!! ON a side note, would like to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts, and prayers! I definately do not take friendship for granted and would try my best to helpout all! Thanks again and I will be on the river shortly!! Bob

ALASKA HALIBUT DERBY UPDATE

Having had the opportunity to fish in various Alaska Halibut derbies, I constantly check the leader boards each month to see if any "monsters" have been landed. Some of the biggest halibut in Alaska come from the towns of Seward, Valdez, and Homer. Each of these towns have numerous charter boats available to take you out to the best halibut grounds. Each city also has a great run of silver salmon. The largest halibut caught in these derbies gives the winning angler a great payday exceeding $1000. Derby tickets are normally $10 per day and about $50 for the season. The Seward Derby ran from June 1 to the end of June. The winning halibut weighed in at a whopping 312.2 pounds. The Valdez Derby runs from May 17 to Aug 31. Currently a halibut weighing in at 203.6 pounds leads the derby. The Homer Jackpot Derby runs from May 15 to Sept 15. Currently a 196.8 pounds halibut is in the lead. Years ago while fishing out of Valdez our group of 5 landed a 300, 297.250.225 and 4 more monster halibut exceeding 100 pounds. We did not even place in the tournament!! The average halibut weighs about 30 to 40 pounds so monsters are not the norm! Halibut are in my opinion the best eating fish I have tasted. So, if heading to Alaska this summer, make sure to buy a halibut derby ticket and you might catch a monster worth thousands of dollars!

SCOTT LAKE LODGE , NORTHERN SASKATCHEWA END OF JUNE REPORT

 

Friend and avid fly fishermen Jeff Berg recently made a return trip to Scott Lake Lodge in search of monster Northern pike on the fly. Scott Lake is located on the border of the NorthWest Territories and Saskatchewa. Here over 100,000 acres of water teaming with monster pike, huge lake trout, and trophy arctic grayling awaits avid anglers. Scott Lake caters especially to fly fishermen putting them on monster pike daily. Their boats have bow casting platforms which aids in fly casting to pike. Jeff has visited Scott Lake numerous times and says this was perhaps his best trip there for monster pike. Jeff and his partner landed a total of 21 monster/trophy pike over 40 inch including 2x 45in. The best fly according to Jeff was a 6in black bunny leach. Jeff said the ice had recently gone out which stage the pike up in the warmer shallow bays. Often, they can be sight casted and resemble large logs laying in the water sunning themselves. For more information check out www.scottlakelodge.com

VENICE, LA REDFISH STILL REDHOT

Avid redfish angler, Dr. Gary Clark, reports fantastic action out of Venice, LA for big bull redfish. This past week, Gary, along with friends Dave Fields and Jeff Stagg, caught a whopping 121 bull redfish while being guided by Capt. Keith Kennedy of Born to Fish Charters. The majority of the redfish were in the 20lbs range with 3 bulls going between 30-34 lbs. According to Dr. Clark, the El Grande Lures Boom-R-Ang fluke inline with a popping cork was the ticket to landing these bulls. Earlier last week, friend Cole Lundquist also took a group of three to fish with Capt. Kennedy. Cole's group had similar results with perhaps more bulls in the 30 lbs range. The group also caught a few bonus jack crevelle and shark. The fishing in Venice is world class and for a fraction of the cost you would pay for International Trips. Capt. Keith offers everything down to you license. Keith was a prior top notch chef and his meals are another highlight of the trip. A few openings remain for the summer action so give Keith a call at 504-908-3108

Alaska Peninsula Silver Salmon

Catching Great Lakes cohos on plugs on planar boards or downriggers is fun, until you catch an Alaska silver. These silvers are fresh out of the saltwater and are as mean as a pitbull! The Alaska Peninsula offers the best silver fishing in Alaska. The Peninsula extends about 500 miles to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska, ending in the Aleutian Islands. One if not the best fishing lodge for monster silvers is Gary LaRose's Pumice Creek Lodge. The lodge is located about 376 air miles from Anchorage and 86 air miles from King Salmon. Here you are away from the Bristol Bay crowds. You will see more brown bears than humans. LaRose offers daily flyouts to the Cinder River for monster silvers. Days of landing over 50 silvers per person are the norm here rather than the exception. These silvers are mostly chrome bright having just come in from the salt still with sealice on them. The Alaska Peninsula offers some of the largest silvers in Alaska with some exceeding 20lbs. My guess is the average silver out of the Cinder River would be 12 pounds. LaRose limits groups up to six so you more or less have the river to yourself. A guide is with at all times always on the lookout for the brown bears. Fishing is normally done either wading with spinning or fly equipment. Pumice Creek Lodge also offers fantastic dolly varden/char fishing where catches of over 100 per fisherman are the norm. For silvers, the best time is toward the end of August and the beginning of September. Also during these months the char will be it total spawning coloration. This will be my 26th straight year battling the monster silvers on the Alaska Peninsula. Am already counting the days!! Check out www.garylarose.com for more info.

Redhot Memorial weekend Redfish Action

Friend Jeff Berg fished with friends Peggy Light, and Sheff Wider for 3 days over Memorial Weekend with Capt Keith Kennedy of Born to Fish Charters. Jeff says the fishing was excellent as they landed 48 redfish on Saturday, a whopping 81 on Sunday and 57 on Monday along with a few jack crevalle. Jeff says the weather was excellent with low winds. Many of the bull reds exceeding 30lbs with the largest being a trophy 35lbs landed by Jeff. Capt Keith has been putting folks into great bull redfish for some time. He has a few openings this summer to get into this great action. Give him a call at 504-908-3108 for more information.

Papua New Guinea for 2014

The season for Papua New Guinea black bass in the Gulf Providence starts in June and ends in November. Jason Yip of www.sportfishingpng.net has a few openings remaining for trips into this remote region. Here, monster PNG black bass and huge barramundi await in perhaps the most remote area on earth! Jason personally takes groups up to 8 into this remote region and has exclusive rights to fish there per agreements with the local tribes. As some my know, Jason set the IGFA all tackle world record PNG bass will I was in camp a few years ago. The monster weighed in at 46lbs. Jason claims to have seen larger bass, but good luck in landing them. Having the opportunity to battle the best of the best freshwater fish on earth, the PNG black bass is at the top in terms of fighting strength! When I obtained a strike from a PNG bass weighing over 40lbs, I was literally pulled down to my knees! During trips, you will have the opportunity to visit remote tribal villages and possibly purchase a gift or 2. Some of these villages are so remote that they have yet to see a "white man". PLus, the noted "bird of paradise" only lives on this stretch of earth. This trip as mentioned is into very remote sections of earth, but it is quite safe under Jason's watchful eye. If you ever wanted to catch one of the top freshwater fish on earth, I highly recommend booking a trip with Jason. Contact Steve Yatomi at www.adventuretravelalliance.com or you can contact me at doradokiller@hotmail.com for questions regarding Jason's opeation. This is definatley a "Trip of a Lifetime" and you will have so many memories which will remain forever!