This is just an initial report, as I am still in the process of making a photo album link of the pictures and those of my fishing buddy, Allen, who will not be back for another week.
He has all the pictures of me and my fish on his camera, and I have all the ones of him and his fish on mine.
Originally we planned on spending 6 days and five nights at a remote Chigach National Forest Cabin in Shelter Bay on Hinchinbrook Island, in Prince William Sound, as a group of 4 to 6 fishermen… but only two of us made the trip…the others DEFINATELY lost out on one heck of an experience…
Due to an unforseen breakdown of our transporating boat, the remote trip was reduced to only 3 days and 2 nights, and we were instead provided with two 4 Mile float trip/flyfishing trips down the Robe River. We caught Pink, and Silver Salmon as well as dozens of Dolley Varden up to 24" in size. Additionally, we hooked and lost a number of Red and King Salmon… All five species of Salmon were present in this river at the same time… Truly amazing.
We spent the extra time fishing for Pink Salmon from shore right outside the gate to the Alyeska Oil Terminal in Valdez Bay. Caught and released dozens of 3-6 lb Salmon, and I kept a couple of dozen of the Pinks to ship home, and smoked a dozen of them using a dry brine. For my first batch of smoked salmon, I am truly proud, as they turned out tasty… I have over 10 pounds of smoked salmon in my freezer as we speak! Yum!
Our captain finally got his boat fixed, and we travelled to Hinchinbrook Island on Tuesday, arriving at low tide. The bay was emptying into the sound at the time, and the white water in the inlet, forced us to wade and tow our kayaks about 1/4 mile up the inlet to the Bay. We quickly unloaded all non fishing essentials in the cabin and set back out to fish. Kayaking out the inlet was my first white water, if you can call it that, experience… If they were deemed class 2 rapids, I would be surprised, even though there were a few large rocks and standing wav
Hey Troy
Nice report…what’s a trip like that cost??? Need some help eating all that fish???
Stinky</font id=“blue”></font id=“Comic Sans MS”>
Stinky,
I only spent $2500.00 on the whole trip… I could have spent much less by staying at the cabin longer (ie…not staying in Valdez and spending money on food, coffee, etc…), by not taking an extra charter for Halibut, and by having more people on the trip (If I had a party of seven or more, the shuttle to the island would have been cheaper, 10 people would have halved the cost, 15, the maximum number even more so…), and by flying only one airline, Alaska Airlines, since I would have saved $125.00 on excess and overwight baggage charges…
I am starting to plan a trip for next year now, trying to keep total cost under $2000.00 per person.
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!
Yak, very nice report and one helluva trip of a lifetime for most. I would love to join you once but to be honest thats too much dough to spend on just myself and a trip. Did that cost include your flight from the east coast to Alaska?
So, if we ever know we may meet again at Hunting Is. or where ever…I woulod love to sample some of that smoked salmon…yum!
“No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem”
beer
might go with you next year… I don’t mind spending money on myself.
How bout the Barf thing this year. I got reservations for Nov. 8-10th. Aint’ that about when we do it?
Yakonthefly
What a cool trip. When you are catching big fish in a yak are you ever afraid that the fish will pull you over? A 100 lb halibut would be tuff to gaff and carry back I would think. If you did go in the water how cold is it. Do you wear anything special in case this happens.
Beerbuzz,
I brought home 103 pounds Fish: Fresh Pink Salmon (about 20 lbs), Smoked Pink Salmon (about 10 pounds), Halibut (Over 30 Pounds), Lingcod (About 30 pounds) and Rockfish (about 3 pounds).
Almost paid for the trip by itself…
Cutmullet,
Yep, that is about right. Good weekend for it.
Better than the previous week for me, as I will be able to help out at the Paddlefest here in town on the weekend of the 4th. Let’s get BARF III rolling on the 11th.
Shallowskiff,
Yes, I do worry about falling in fighting a larger fish, that is why I keep a loose drag had a fishing buddy close by when in Alaska.
A 100 lb Halibut would have been gaffed and subdued with a club, then bled... Once dead, tied to a stringer and either towed to shore, or strapped to the deck. I know a guy who has laded a 200+ pounder from a Kayak.
I wear a pair of Goretex waders belted at the waist, and a goretex jacket over it... A PFD over the whole setup. The water was about 50 degrees, Not much water will get in with this setup, and you can quickly get back on the yak...Advantage of SOT's.
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!
Hey YOTF
When’s dinner?
Just pick a night and I’ll bring the “drinks”…just name it
I’ll even do the dishes 
SF</font id=“blue”></font id=“Comic Sans MS”>
quote:
Originally posted by YakontheFly
Cutmullet,
Yep, that is about right. Good weekend for it.
Better than the previous week for me, as I will be able to help out at the Paddlefest here in town on the weekend of the 4th. Let’s get BARF III rolling on the 11th.
Mornin’;
…you mean gather on the 9th and fish the 10th (Happy Birthday Marines)& 11th? Although that is a long weekend (Federal employees…Veteran’s Day).
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
X_Fishn…
Doh… I meant the 9th and 10th… The 11th for those of us fortunate enough to have it off if you all want to.
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!
Yotf
50 degree water would definitely get you attention.
Are there many kayakers up there?
Are the kayaks you used larger than the ones you use here?
quote:
Originally posted by shallowskiff
Yotf
50 degree water would definitely get you attention.
Are there many kayakers up there?
Are the kayaks you used larger than the ones you use here?
Shallowskiff,
Yes there are lots of kayakers up there, though almost all of them are touring sea kayakers visiting the glaciers and islands... As for Kayak fishermen, we were the only ones there that week, except for couple of locals who claim to kayak fish.... Though two of the touring company guides did have some nice picks of rockfish and black sea bass from a yak.
The normal touring yaks are 16" and longer... We were fishing in 13 footers (Wilderness System Rides).... Perfect!
Actually the water wasn't that cold, as long as you don't have to stay it it too long! :smiley:
YotF
Those who can’t fish, spend too much on seafood!
Put me on the list for next year if they have any kayaks with outboards…
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.”
Will Rogers