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In Yakutat: (907)784-3697 E-mail: ***CLICK HERE*** Toll-free Message Only: 1-866-737-1123 2004 Flyfishing Photo Gallery Page #2 (First Half of September) Click on an image to bring up a larger version. Our August drought gave way to the largest September silver salmon run I have ever seen on the Italio. Since I've lived in my little cabin nearly every summer since I was 4 years old, I think that says a lot. See for yourself... First Week: First day of the San Diego
Flyfishers Club group, we fished close to camp. This stretch
of the Middle Italio River is about 1/2 mile from the IRA camp,
with 4 good holes from when the whole river passed through. As is
explained on the "The Rivers" page under the "Flyfishing"
heading, the Italio is now 4 separate rivers, so this is the
Middle Italio, which split away back in the late 1980's. It
has 5 small tributary streams that drain the flat forelands and
marshes, but lacks a real lake system. Looks like some light
rain showers. First day for a first time group, so we went
here to get their itch for landing lots of fish out of the way.
Hooking a silver on nearly every cast, with little current and
pretty clear water. The Middle has a bit of tannin color to it
most of the time. Easy to see the fish, unless we are hit by
a lot of rain. Day 2 finds us at the Old
Italio, which split away after the 1958 earthquake. Wide
open sand flats with four tributary creeks feeding it off the
forelands. Crystal clear water above the last tributary,
water only 18 inches deep in the "holes" and shallow riffles
between each hole. This is REALLY the best bass popper and pink
pollywog salmon fishing in all of Alaska! I hate saying things
like that, but when the conditions are perfect, you have
several chasers on every cast. When the conditions are off,
expect only to land a silver on topwater once in maybe 4 casts...
Today, we are
fishing the Akwe Estuary, where the Akwe, New Italio and
Back Rivers all join together. Read "The Rivers",
so I don't have to rehash all that geological crap. In a
nutshell, three rivers converge about 1/2 mile above where they
enter the ocean. The fish have to mill around a bit to figure out
which river is theirs. If you click on the third photo, you
can see the ocean in the distance, the three combined rivers
flowing up and to the right around the point, then there the first
guy is standing, that is the New Italio. The closer two guys
are fishing as the Back River joins in and then the much larger Akwe is
the water along the left edge. Wandering up the Back
River... It was originally a tributary to the Italio. Water
is dark tannin, but the stream is so small, you can see the
fish easily (unless it is flooded). At some point, the Back
was much larger and carved very defined banks and a wide channel.
It has its own lake, so carries all the salmon except kings.
LOTS of trout and char here, especially upstream above the
logjams. Back to the Middle
Italio, we are right at the river mouth. The schools are
stacking up in the surf and coming in in waves as the tidal surge pushes
them over the outer bar. On this particular day, the wind
was howling out of the north, making casting pollywogs at the Old
a bit too challenging. We had a half moon, so the tidal
change was only a 2 foot difference between high and low. The
drought conditions came back quickly, since the ground was so
dry. Extremely low water levels made it tough for the salmon to go
far into the river. With the 4 foot low and 6 foot high
tides, the first couple holes in the river just filled with
thousands of salmon and they didn't want to go anywhere. I took one set of brothers
for some quality family time. We bounced around the Middle until
ending the day in front of my cabin. We fished till we were
exhausted, then let Emma chase the school around for a while. Stories of the day,
a harmonica performance and another great dinner. Our last day was spent at
the Akwe Estuary again. The New Italio and Akwe have an earlier
run than the smaller streams and this happened to be the peak day of the
season here. What a way to end the week! Second Week: Bob's Camera... I took my gang for the New
Italio hike. We hiked through the woods to a point about 1 1/2
miles upstream, then dropped into the water and bobbed our way
downstream to where we parked the ATV. Yes, I made them pick
blueberries before I let them fish, so we could have fresh
blueberry pancakes for breakfast and fresh jam for my homemade bread. Now we're in front of my
cabin again. Quad after quad and a few five hook-ups, but it
is hard to take photos and fight fish at the same time. Back to the Akwe again and
a much needed change in the weather. Fished the estuary a little
bit before heading back up the Back River. A different combination of
people today, but the same plan. A few casts at the
estuary, before we wandered up the back River for great sight
fishing. We actually hiked up farther than I had ever been with
clients, something we do often now. Such a pristine
place, with unbelievably beautiful water. Dead pink salmon
all over the place, with trout and dolly varden char feeding on
the flesh and eggs. Today, we are on the
Middle Italio. Morning was upstream close to camp. Looks like we are at the
Old Italio for the first time this week. The run was really
starting to hit hard there, so we were on topwater. Even the
"never flyfished before" guys in the group were hitting them
on the bass poppers and wogs. The fishing was so
incredible on the Back River that we are back once again. We had a
good shot of rain, so the water is way up now.
FINALLY! A much needed shot of rain for the health of the
run. Fishing was still great, but the added water flow made
wading against the current more difficult. A little early morning
fishing at the Akwe before the plane arrives, then we're on the
Middle close to camp in the evening. Today, we're fishing
the lower end of the New Italio. Huge flocks of sandhill crane
heading south. The water was absolutely crystal clear, but a
bit high. Don's annual birthday with us, then their flight
home. Pat's Camera... Pat spent most of the week
on the Old, or the mouth of the Middle. Look for the surf
fishing. A real kick in the butt once you get the hang of it. Return to 2004 Photo Gallery Directory Page 2004 Flyfishing Photo Gallery Page #1 (August) 2004 Flyfishing Photo Gallery Page #2 (First Half of September) 2004 Flyfishing Photo Gallery Page #3 (Second Half of September) 2004 Flyfishing Photo Gallery Page #4 (October)
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