A Great Alaskan Adventure
Bill Cooper MWO 8/15
Our trio of float planes banked hard to the north into Thorne Bay. A panoramic view of the vast Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island and the watery world of southeast Alaska popped into view like a gigantic mural.
Walt Fulps, owner of www.missouri.trouthunter.com, worked feverishly over a period of several weeks completing the details to host 12 fly fishermen for a week of fishing, exploring and socializing in the vast reaches of the nation’s third largest island.
After a short jaunt through the fishing village of Thorne Bay, our party reached the charming comforts of Thorne Bay Lodge. Numerous superbly decorated rooms greeted our tired adventurers.
After settling in, three of us hopped on a boat wiBrent Dickinson, the lodge owner, and headed out into the bay to check crab pots. Thirty minutes later we had enough Dungeness crabs for dinner.
Fulps divided party members into groups and made assignments for the next day after dinner. Beginning flyfishermen headed to Thorne River with him the next morning for lessons. Others headed out early to Coffman Cove to hook up with Cpt. John Rodriguez of J and J Charters for halibut, salmon and cod.
Despite the spectacular river scenery anglers enjoyed, fishing proved slow. An unprecedented drought had occurred during the previous 10 weeks, an unusual happenstance for a temperate rain forest. The rains returned the day we landed. Our hopes ran high that the spawning runs would begin. In the meantime, our crew kept checking various rivers and streams, but settled for Dolly Varden and the occasional sockeye and coho salmon.
The spectacular scenery combined with bear and Sitka black tailed deer sightings more than made up for the temporary shortage of fish, however.
The guys who fished with the J and J Charter boat experienced Alaskan fishing at it’s best. Everyone enjoyed the 30 minutes each morning to catch smelt on tiny jigs. Soon after, baits dropped into 250 feet of water began to tantalize cod and halibut.
Everyone on board shouted their support when 78-year-old Walt Fulps, Sr. watched his rod go down hard. The retired seaman was no stranger to strong fish. He leaned into the rod heavily while cranking his reel handle frantically. The powerful halibut seemed to gain the upper hand as it stripped line. Fulps groaned and held on, soon gaining line once again. Just when it looked like the heavy fish would succumb, it raced for the bottom a gain. Fulps took a seat, laid his rod across the gunwale and put more pressure on the big halibut.
Minutes later everyone cheered when Cpt. John snared the fish’s tail and flung it into the bottom of the boat. Exhausted, but proud, Fulps had the biggest halibut of the day flopping a this feet. I filmed the entire battle.
On day two, I traveled to Log Jam Falls, a spectacular shut-ins, with part of the crew. For the first few minutes, we stood watching as salmon attempted to jump the falls. It seemed that few could make it as the spawning fish flung themselves into the air, often crashing into the rocks.
Steve Waldron began casting and within minutes hooked a powerful Coho salmon. The fish immediately turned and went over a drop it had just cleared. Waldron danced the two step as he negotiated slippery rocks down the gulch and chased the fish downstream. We stood in awe expecting the fish to win the epic fight. Waldron prevailed.
Our group compiled an unbelievable log of fish stories and tall tales. A new legend was born in the process. Dan Nelson became the epitome of the flyfishing angler and gained great fame in a matter of days. His name became a cabin hold word. I even heard that sharks in the area hold a Dan Nelson Week.
River fishing picked by the day as rains continued to fall. Groups reported seeing hundreds of fish making their way up stream by the hundreds. The general word was that the fish traveled fast as if they were late for spawning. Only the occasional fish fell to a lure.
I spent the last day of the trip on the J and J Charters boat with Cpt. John.
Silver salmon were staging in the bays at the mouths of the rivers. We headed straight to one and began seeing pods of fish immediately. We cast medium size Mepps Flying C spinners with great success. I hooked my sixth Coho 22 minutes after I began fishing.
Cpt. John headed to deeper water for halibut. An hour later, all four of us on board had our halibut , plus a few cod.
An organized group with an experienced leader is a great way to enjoy Alaska fishing. I highly recommend the following: Walt Fulps. www.missouritrouthunter.com. Thorne Bay Lodge. www.thornebaylodge.com. J and J Charters. www.jandjcharters.com. Too, consider using Alaska Airlines. www.alaskaairlines.com. They offer a credit card which will reduce your original air fare and also award points towards future flights.
A Great Alaskan Adventure
Bill Cooper MWO 8/15
Our trio of float planes banked hard to the north into Thorne Bay. A panoramic view of the vast Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island and the watery world of southeast Alaska popped into view like a gigantic mural.
Walt Fulps, owner of www.missouri.trouthunter.com, worked feverishly over a period of several weeks completing the details to host 12 fly fishermen for a week of fishing, exploring and socializing in the vast reaches of the nation’s third largest island.
After a short jaunt through the fishing village of Thorne Bay, our party reached the charming comforts of Thorne Bay Lodge. Numerous superbly decorated rooms greeted our tired adventurers.
After settling in, three of us hopped on a boat wiBrent Dickinson, the lodge owner, and headed out into the bay to check crab pots. Thirty minutes later we had enough Dungeness crabs for dinner.
Fulps divided party members into groups and made assignments for the next day after dinner. Beginning flyfishermen headed to Thorne River with him the next morning for lessons. Others headed out early to Coffman Cove to hook up with Cpt. John Rodriguez of J and J Charters for halibut, salmon and cod.
Despite the spectacular river scenery anglers enjoyed, fishing proved slow. An unprecedented drought had occurred during the previous 10 weeks, an unusual happenstance for a temperate rain forest. The rains returned the day we landed. Our hopes ran high that the spawning runs would begin. In the meantime, our crew kept checking various rivers and streams, but settled for Dolly Varden and the occasional sockeye and coho salmon.
The spectacular scenery combined with bear and Sitka black tailed deer sightings more than made up for the temporary shortage of fish, however.
The guys who fished with the J and J Charter boat experienced Alaskan fishing at it’s best. Everyone enjoyed the 30 minutes each morning to catch smelt on tiny jigs. Soon after, baits dropped into 250 feet of water began to tantalize cod and halibut.
Everyone on board shouted their support when 78-year-old Walt Fulps, Sr. watched his rod go down hard. The retired seaman was no stranger to strong fish. He leaned into the rod heavily while cranking his reel handle frantically. The powerful halibut seemed to gain the upper hand as it stripped line. Fulps groaned and held on, soon gaining line once again. Just when it looked like the heavy fish would succumb, it raced for the bottom a gain. Fulps took a seat, laid his rod across the gunwale and put more pressure on the big halibut.
Minutes later everyone cheered when Cpt. John snared the fish’s tail and flung it into the bottom of the boat. Exhausted, but proud, Fulps had the biggest halibut of the day flopping a this feet. I filmed the entire battle.
On day two, I traveled to Log Jam Falls, a spectacular shut-ins, with part of the crew. For the first few minutes, we stood watching as salmon attempted to jump the falls. It seemed that few could make it as the spawning fish flung themselves into the air, often crashing into the rocks.
Steve Waldron began casting and within minutes hooked a powerful Coho salmon. The fish immediately turned and went over a drop it had just cleared. Waldron danced the two step as he negotiated slippery rocks down the gulch and chased the fish downstream. We stood in awe expecting the fish to win the epic fight. Waldron prevailed.
Our group compiled an unbelievable log of fish stories and tall tales. A new legend was born in the process. Dan Nelson became the epitome of the flyfishing angler and gained great fame in a matter of days. His name became a cabin hold word. I even heard that sharks in the area hold a Dan Nelson Week.
River fishing picked by the day as rains continued to fall. Groups reported seeing hundreds of fish making their way up stream by the hundreds. The general word was that the fish traveled fast as if they were late for spawning. Only the occasional fish fell to a lure.
I spent the last day of the trip on the J and J Charters boat with Cpt. John.
Silver salmon were staging in the bays at the mouths of the rivers. We headed straight to one and began seeing pods of fish immediately. We cast medium size Mepps Flying C spinners with great success. I hooked my sixth Coho 22 minutes after I began fishing.
Cpt. John headed to deeper water for halibut. An hour later, all four of us on board had our halibut , plus a few cod.
An organized group with an experienced leader is a great way to enjoy Alaska fishing. I highly recommend the following: Walt Fulps. www.missouritrouthunter.com. Thorne Bay Lodge. www.thornebaylodge.com. J and J Charters. www.jandjcharters.com. Too, consider using Alaska Airlines. www.alaskaairlines.com. They offer a credit card which will reduce your original air fare and also award points towards future flights.
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