Volume 17 • Issue 8 • August/September 2017 Departments Features Nick Ohlrich Nick Fish Alaska Traveler 6 Haines by Terry W. Sheely 36 © 72 Fish Alaska Creel 8 Join Contributing Editor Terry Sheely for an off- Fish Alaska Gear Bag 10 the-beaten-path adventure in Haines, a rare drive-in destination with a pair of riveting freshwater salmon Fish Alaska Online 12 rivers, a plethora of saltwater opportunities and postcard- Fishing for a Compliment 14 quality scenery in every direction. Fish Alaska Families 16 Mini Steelhead Techniques for Trout & Dollies Salmon Sense 18 by JD Richey 44 Fish Alaska Conservation 20 Alaska’s rainbows, cutthroat and Dollies are perfect Fish Alaska Fly 22 fish for the fly rod, but you can also catch a bunch of Fish Alaska Boats 24 fish with scaled-down steelhead techniques on light, Fish Alaska Saltwater 30 traditional gear. Here JD Richey shows us how. Fish Alaska Stillwater 32 Making Memories by Andrew Cremata 52 Contributing Editor Andrew Cremata chronicles one Fish Alaska Recipe 78 © Terry W. Sheely W. © Terry of the true joys of fishing, successfully hooking a young 36 Advertiser Index 80 angler on the sport. Final Drift 82 Gateway to the Tongass by E. Donnall Thomas, Jr. 56 Don and Lori Thomas take us inside the target-rich Thorne Bay region for some of southeast Alaska’s best autumn action, where anglers can fish the saltwater one day and then easily drive to dozens of productive salmon streams the next. Top 5 DIY Adventures for Fall in Alaska by Troy Letherman 64 For do-it-yourself anglers there is nothing better than Alaska, and even more, Alaska in the fall. For those inclined to get out and test their mettle against some of the state’s hottest fish, here’s our guide to five of the most © JD Richey 44 sizzling fisheries this time of year. Pavlov’s Trout by Nick Ohlrich 72 You don’t need to be a late-19th century psychologist to ring the dinner bell for Alaska’s trophy trout, but as fish grow in size and sophistication, you do need to outsmart them. Here Kenai guide Nick Ohlrich takes us inside his daily game of cat-and-mouse and passes on his keys to becoming a better, smarter angler. COVER / Dolly Varden are abundant in Alaska and are usually quite willing to crush most lures. © Don and Lori Thomas 56 © Melissa Norris August/September 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 3 2 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com August/September 2017 August/September 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 3 PUBLISHERS Marcus Weiner Melissa Norris ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Patrick Speranza Kathy Anderson EDITOR Troy Letherman OPERATIONS MANAGER Wayne Norris EFFICIENCY MANAGER Ana Taylor ART DIRECTOR Bailey Anderson PRODUCTION MANAGER Russell K Porsley III GRAPHIC DESIGNER Melissa Wong CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Greg Brush, Troy Buzalsky, Andrew Cremata, Les Gara, Scott Haugen, Pudge Kleinkauf, George Krumm, J.D. Richey, Terry Sheely, E. Donnall Thomas Jr., Jeremy Anderson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Hastings A. Franks, Ken Baldwin, Anthony Madden, Tony Davis, Kristin Dunn, Brian Woobank REGIONAL SALES MANAGERS George Krumm (907) 529-6172 Rick Birch (907) 394-1763 Fish Alaska Magazine PO Box 772424 Eagle River, Alaska 99577 Toll Free 1-877-220-0787 (907) 345-4337 main (907) 223-8497 advertising www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com ISSN 2475-5710 (print) ISSN 2475-5729 (online) SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Check out our specials at www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com Already a Subscriber? Call for our renewal specials! (907)-345-4337 Toll Free: 1-877-220-0787 Fish Alaska magazine is published ten times annually in January-July, Aug/Sept, Oct/Nov and December by Fish Alaska Publications, LLC, P.O. Box 772424, Eagle River, Alaska 99577. Send all address changes to P.O. Box 772424, Eagle River, Alaska 99577. One year subscriptions are $30 U.S. dollars for subscriptions in the U.S., $50 U.S in Canada, and $80 U.S. in all other countries.The single copy price is $6.99 in U.S. dollars. To subscribe by phone please call 907-345-4337. Editorial correspondence should be sent to Attn: Editor, Fish Alaska magazine, P.O. Box 772424, Eagle River, Alaska 99577. Unsolicited manuscripts and photos will be considered, but must be accompanied by a self- addressed stamped envelope. Although we will take care, Fish Alaska is not responsible for the loss or return of unsolicited materials. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the opinions of Fish Alaska magazine publishers and editors. ©2017 by Fish Alaska Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. 4 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com August/September 2017 August/September 2017 www.FishAlaskaMagazine.com 5 Reps and Adam prepare the raft to Day-tripping Fish Hounds launch. Story and photos by Melissa Norris There’s a difference between loving to fish Talkeetna Mountains, Little Willow Creek and living to fish—and, Adam and Reps sees a run of kings, pinks, chum and silver live to fish, and they love to share it with salmon, plus rainbows and some Dollies. people of all experience levels. So when Rainbow trout average between 8- and you are looking for a guided day-trip while 20 inches in this creek. It is a clearwater staying in Anchorage, a good option is to tributary, which makes sight-fishing possible hire FishHound Expeditions for a half- or and it is easy to wade. A good pair of full-day of river fishing. polarized sunglasses is definitely a plus. FishHound Expeditions is a partnership Reps expertly backed the raft to the river’s between two experienced guides, Adam edge while Adam had me make several Cuthriell and Dave “Reps” Repta. I first hook-free casts towards him in the parking “met” Adam when he called me up at the lot. Using a 6-weight fly rod, we went over FishHound guides provide a hot lunch for guests on their full-day trips and pack extra rain ponchos if you lack the proper attire. In all my years of fishing with guides for the magazine I don’t recall any providing a pregame warm-up on land before heading out to the fishing grounds. I find that to be a great asset for a novice fly angler so they are less likely to spazz out on their very first hook-setting encounter. Fishing on the Little Willow is pretty easy for those with experience. It requires small flip casts to a riverbank less than 20 feet away in most places. There is plenty of vegetation to get caught up in if you don’t pay attention but a little observation and help from your boatmates goes a long way. No backcasting and extensive hauling is needed, so if you have shoulder problems or little experience this is a great way to go. We caught several nice trout that day and they were all healthy fish caught on darker Adam and Rado with a healthy Little Willow Creek rainbow trout. colored flies easily seen in this clear water. Reps expertly rowed us downriver in their suggestion of our mutual friend Jeremy the basics of catching and landing trout as spacious raft and I enjoyed listening to stories Anderson. Adam won me over quickly with he does with their clients. I passed the initial of fishing trips from all over the state and his love for dogs, his positive attitude and assessment and we jumped in the raft to fish beyond. He had me beat with the number an obvious passion for fishing. I readily the rocky stream. of Alaska rivers he’s fished.That’s not so easy accepted his invitation to float-fish on a Day-trips include wading or rafting the and I love hearing from fishermen with that Mat-Su river that summer. road-system rivers of the Susitna River much seasoning. We floated and fished for It was the end of June and we met in drainage, casting flies to catch-and-release about seven hours but you can make it a the morning at the Willow Creek State Alaska’s salmon, trout and Dollies just one shorter or longer float depending on stops. Recreational Area located at mile marker hour north of Anchorage. It is no problem To float straight through without fishing 70.8 of the George Parks Highway. It’s if you aren’t a hardcore fly fisherman would take somewhere around four hours. a nice place to camp in an RV, trailer or because these day-trips are best suited for For more practiced fishing nuts, Adam tent, so you could actually just base-camp those looking to experience Alaska in a and Reps also host extended trips up to 10 here and float-fish for several days on the safe, nature-loving way with the vast beauty days on remote rivers such as Clear Creek Susitna River tributaries that are most around you commanding your attention. and the Talachulitna River, as well as on a productive at the time. You could never have held a fly rod before couple of their favorite rivers in southwest I paid the $5 to park at the State Rec. in your life and it doesn’t matter because Alaska. Adam is a State of Alaska EMT and Area and went to find Adam. It was then these guys will treat you kindly and literally Reps is a gourmet cook. Adam and Reps that I met Reps and canine sidekick Rado. guide you into accomplishing the task. Adam have each been guiding for over 15 years I hopped in with them to trailer the boat and Reps are naturally equipped to help you and fishing far longer.