I have 2 amazing home rivers. The Kenai River near Cooper Landing, Alaska has been running through my veins since 1989 and is my home river for the regular fishing season. The Missouri River in Montana has become my home river away from Alaska in my new home and family town of Great Falls, MT. After 4 days on the Naknek River near King Salmon, I could just about call this my home in Western Alaska. Stacy and I have been fishing with Justin Crump and staying at the Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge run by Nancy Morris. We’ve gotten pretty comfortable here. Our flight out of King Salmon got cancelled tonight and we are not crying about it. Only bummer is we got off the water too early today.
Justin and Stacy with The Man
Its always good to test new waters. Fishing the Naknek River in October is for serious anglers. If hard core wading and being able to manage a spey rod while standing waist deep in fast cold water is your game, then you might enjoy it. Action is sporadic. You might have an epic day and land several big fish and you might not, but the opportunity is there if you keep at it and have some faith. The fish are something special. They are big lake dwelling rainbows that move in and out of the river in the fall and spring. They are not steelhead, but really, there is little difference. We fished for them with swung flies steelhead style and the takes, when they came, were awesome. We landed fish to 32″ and tangled with two that will forever be remembered and mourned for their loss. We would like to come back and are eager to host a trip with our new friends next October. Please let me know if you’d like to consider joining us.
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Soooooo Fred you finally made it to the NAKNEK, its about time. All I will say is I told you so!!! THE SWING IS THE THING! Looks like you spent some time around the RAPIDS, maybe I will see you out there next year.
You told me and you were right. The Naknek is unique and fun. Glad I got to fish it and I do want some more. Hope to see you on some waters again here, there or somewhere.
Fred you make me feel so inadequate…I wouldn’t even know how to act with some of those big boys.
No need to feel inadequate. It does take most anglers some time to get experienced fighting, landing and holding big fish. We specialize in helping “experience” anglers. Come start in Montana and we can work up to Alaska.
The Naknek looks epic! I caught the biggest bow of my life there as a teenager and I was actually considering the 2011 Spey week at Sportsman’s lodge this year but the scheduling didn’t work out. Let me know if you pull something together next year!
Keep your spey on Joel and we will swing some great water again. I will keep you posted about the Naknek. Just swung Rainbows, dollies and a silver on the Kenai yesterday. Tight Lines!