TOP LURES FOR MONSTER ALASKAN SILVER SALMON

Having had the opportunity to fish the top rivers on the Alaska Peninsula over the last 26 years for monster silver salmon, I feel that I have the experience to recommend the top lure producers. The Blue Fox pixee spoon is without a doubt the top lure of choice. These come in 3 sizes (1.4oz, 1/2oz, and 7/8oz). I always use the 7/8oz which retrieves deep and steady in fast river currents. The pixess have either UV, nickel plated, gold plated, or painted & metallic finishes. They have an egg insert which will attract silvers. The inserts come in various colorations with top choices being red, orange, pink, and green. Each lure comes with a single siwash hook to replace the treble hook if desired. Often we attach a plastic squid to the siwash hook to tempt shy silvers. Another top producer is the Blue Fox Clasic vibrax spinners. These spinners come in various sizes and colorations. For silvers go with either size #5 or #6. The brass stamped blades are either silver planted, copper plated or painted. The bodies come in various sizes with hot pink, nickel red, and red tiger being the top producer.

ALASKA PENINSULA REPORT FOR SEPT 6 TO 13

Had the opportunity to fish at Pumice Creek Lodge, which is located 100 miles south of King Salmon on the Alaska Peninsula. This was my 26th straight year fishing for monster silver salmon on the Peninsula. Friends Cole Lundquist and Kevin Cleary made up the rest of the group. Pumice Creek Lodge is owned by Gary LaRose, www.garylarose.com. We are given the option of fishing for silvers on the Cinder River or for arctic char on Lava Creek. During the week we fished both locations with tremendous success. The silver salmon were really packed in tight near deep holes. This year's low amount of precipitation, make the river structure change from past years as many spots filled in with sand and gravel. Once we locked into the silvers, it was practically a silver every few casts. My best day was landing and releasing 89 silvers all caught on spinning equipment with a pixee spoon. Cole and Kevin also had similar results. Lava Creek is like nothing you have fished. We each stopped counting char at 100 and that catch was normally made around noon. Many of the char were in their brillant spawning colorations. The weather on the Peninsula is known to be terrible. However, this year we did not have any rain, but had winds up to 60mph which made flying interesting. While fishing the Cinder River, we would flyout and land the plane in the tundra then motor up to the hotspots. On Lava Creek we would land on a cinder path then wade the creek. During flying we saw a few moose, a few caribou, but no brown bear this year for some unknown reason. This trip is on top of my favorite list. The scenery on the Peninsula is breathtaking and there are no others around for miles nad miles. Cannot wait to head back next September to battle the monster silvers and abundant char.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA JUNGLE FISHING TRIPS

IGFA PNG bass world recored holder, Jason Yip, recently announced he is offering remote fishing trips into unfished rivers in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Jason is using a luxury yacht for the mothership base and can access remote areas of Papua New Gunea which are not accessible by any other means. Here, there are no cell phones or other type of modern civilization, just you and nature! Papua New Guinea has large populations of the extremely tough black bass which can grow in excess of 70lbs in my opinion. Also monster barramundi reaching weights close to 100lbs are a possiblity. Having had the opportunity to fish with Jason, I can attest this is one of the smoothest operations worldwide. Jason and his staff make sure everything is planned and make all the necessary arrangements to make this a very safe trip. Papua New Guinea black bass are in my opinon the fiercest freshwater fish on earth so be prepared for the battle of your fishing life!! Papua New Guinea is like a "Land Which Time Forgot" so make sure to get in before the crowds arrive. Check out Jason's website at www.sportfishingpng.net or you can contact Steve Yatomi at www.adventuretravelalliance.com or myself for more info on this once in a lifetime experience.

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