Wildman Lodge Alaska - catching not fishing

As promised here is the report on our trip to Wildman Lake Lodge, Alaska    (http://www.wildmanlodge.com/index.php )   which is located close to the mainland beginning of the Aleutian chain.   The nearest road is 500 miles away and the way you get around is either by bush plane with large balloon tyres or by floatplane.

 

I chose this lodge as it was the only one offering dedicated wildlife viewing (for my wife) whilst I was able to fish – most of the others apart from one on Kodiak either had wildlife viewing and nothing else or just fishing and they expected my wife Jen could tag along and might?? see a bear of two. 

As this holiday was a 60th birthday present to ourselves this lodge was by far and away the best option.

Now I know these lodges aren’t cheap but as this was a once in a lifetime trip we figured we had to stretch the budget – bluntly we should have stretched it further and stayed for the whole week – it was truly that special. Let me put it this way – if I get the slimmest of possibilities to get back there wild horses won’t keep me from getting there.

Our light plane transport landed on the dirt strip and pulled up literally on the lawn outside the lodge accommodation where we were greeted by all the staff.  I was lucky, as the only fisherman in the group that week I had an exclusive guide Peter who immediately asked whether I wanted to go fishing after lunch – you bet I did.

The lodge actually overlooks Ocean River which is spring fed and crystal clear all year around.  Now before heading to Alaska I had learned (poorly or soooo poorly ) how to fly fish and the guide offered his personal top of the line gear for my exclusive use. 

Walking mere metres from the lodge to the “minefield” – an area of shallow gravel bars which run for perhaps 300 yards downstream - I was greeted with the most unbelievable sight, literally hundreds of coloured up spawning sockeye as far as the eye could see. 

 

Peter attached a “lawyer” fly – a purple egg sucking leech and instructed me to drop it immediately behind ‘that’spawning salmon which was not exactly difficult given there were hundreds in view. The weighted fly drifted all of two feet before it was engulfed by a dolly varden and my first fish on a fly was on – a good fight ensured but it was soon unhooked and released.

  Next cast a large male sockeye angrily slashed at the fly as it drifted through it’s terror and another hook up and a much harder fight with smashed knuckles from the fly reel again stinging like hell.  And so it went on all afternoon, crappy cast or not (and there was plenty of terrible casting by me) fish after fish came to hand to be released.

The next day was the same – we jet boated to several places including a tributary containing massive rainbows only to be chased away by a grizzly and two cubs after only one good fish – you do not mess with mumma  bears as they are extremely danagerous.

My tally on day two was (we lost count) somewhere in the order of 46 fish, sockeye, a lone silver, dollies and char as well as the single large rainbow – I lost at least double that as in the afternoon we had made it more sporting changing to a two weight light tippet dry fly set up – now that really is exciting – casting to tiny rises only to hook up on really large fish as well as the occasional small one.

Third day started wet and after meeting the remainder of the wildlife viewing group my guide and I walked miles along the black sands Bering Sea noting huge bear tracks and wolf prints bigger that my hand.   We collected numerous net float glass balls last used by Japanese trawlers back in the fifties yet still surfacing and floating ashore 60 years later.

As part of the activities at the lodge I got a trip over the smoking caldera of Mt Aniakchak which was clearly visible from the main lodge – we passed  over the caldera twice just to ensure everyone aboard the 1957 Beaver didn’t miss getting a good view

Great trip, great accommodation, food, guiding and fishing (catching) – worth every cent and when compared with exclusive barra fishing in the Territory  - apart from the airfares quite comparable – add it to your bucket list – it is a must

 

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Lucky Tim's picture

Posts: 2536

Date Joined: 28/11/07

beautiful water clarity and

Sun, 2011-09-11 13:42

beautiful water clarity and some speccy scenery too.

How many more reports to come? I'm really enjoying seeing them

sunshine's picture

Posts: 2600

Date Joined: 03/03/09

Thats it - I could write for hours

Sun, 2011-09-11 13:51

And post many many more stunning photos -  I honestly cannot speak more highly of our trip and the friendliness of Alaskans who made us so welcome - oddly the only part of the trip I would NOT do again was the Inside Passage Cruise it was expensive, most of the sailing was done at night so apart from tourist trap ports (how many more jewellery stores and cheap souvenir stores can you visit) the only good part was Galcier Bay but as we had already seen been on and close to numerous glaciers even that was a bit of a let down - I hope we get back and the money I save on the cruise will go to a longer stay at the lodge in prime salmon season (we went between "runs") - the mind boggles  

Redfinman's picture

Posts: 80

Date Joined: 18/10/09

Great photo's and story

Sun, 2011-09-11 14:52

Great photo's and story Sunshine - hope to see the collection of pics at your place soon along with a glass or 2 of red. Glad you had such a top trip and what a way to celebrate being 60. Will get my 2 weight out and take you for a fish on one of my favourite SW streams some time.

soupster51's picture

Posts: 2724

Date Joined: 29/11/06

Fantastic

Sun, 2011-09-11 17:11

Fantastic trip by the look and sound of it. Thanks for sharing. A must do for sure.

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The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.

damo6230's picture

Posts: 2029

Date Joined: 07/06/08

Alaska

Sun, 2011-09-11 17:50

Spent a summer and winter in Alaska hikking / fishing / canoeing /sea kayaking / ice climbing etc and the place certainly has magnetism I have not experienced in other parts of the planet I have travelled.....

It really is the adventure playground.

It was so easy just to throw the backpack on and wander into the wilds and live off the land....so many hiking/canoe/fishing options and the sea kayaking would take us hundreds of miles.......

Oh the memories.

And yes the Alaskan's are very friendly and partial to trying to drink wandering Aussies under the table.....not that it was hard to say no.....

Really is worth the miles getting there.....

Cheers for the shot's

uncle's picture

Posts: 9474

Date Joined: 10/02/07

great country, real special

Sun, 2011-09-11 17:57

was on my bucket list, but now something I can't do, bugger

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all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs

grayzeee's picture

Posts: 2283

Date Joined: 09/07/09

fantastic report and photo's

Sun, 2011-09-11 18:31

fantastic report and photo's sunshine.

got to be a piece of heaven on earth.

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If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.