ALASKAN ADVENTURE PART 2

By Brett Coffman

So our last blog ended with us disembarking from the MS Oosterdam. After spending the day at Jean’s house (Angela’s roommate when she worked in Seattle) we boarded the Alaskan Airline’s flight back up to Anchorage, AK. We picked up our rental car and promptly got lost finding our way around the city. The next day after picking up supplies at the nearest Fred Meyer, we set our sights along the Parks Highway north to Talkeetna. The scenery was absolutely amazing - we had a such a hard time keeping our eyes on the road - and were a little skittish due to the strict rental car agreements. (I have a tendency to pull off on any dirt road I think leads somewhere.)

As we pulled off the highway onto Talkeetna spur rd. we scoped out many a clear water tributary to the Big Susitna River which we followed up the road. After finding where we would be staying we checked out the little town of Talkeetna AK. In town there’s a small brewery, a few restaurants, and some tourist attractions that all rely on some sort of Susitna river recreation. We ate dinner at the West Rib and got the best in fresh salmon and seafood.

The next morning we woke to cloudy skies and decided to take a drive down to one of the creek inlets we had seen the previous day. After taking a small hike through bear country, we saw a few gear fisherman nab a few salmon and decided to take a few casts. So we geared up and took the small hike to inlet of the Susitna River.

Immediately my wife and others began to hook up. I was still swinging flies and continued to have problems catching fish. I then began to think of these fish as river fish and looked for structure for which they could take refuge. My first cast behind a current blocking sweeper produced a huge silver flash which was the only time I saw the identity of what was on my line. After fighting the beast for at least 10min he popped off. I’ve never been frustrated, as this was my first big hookup on a real Alaskan silver. The next cast produced nothing. Then WHAM! A big Coho at the end of my line. I got my wife’s attention and eventually led him downstream to an island to land him. We were both ecstatic - despite our catch and release ethic, this fish was to feed us for at least part of the week as we hadn’t bought too many provisions on our trip. Soon after, fish after fish hopped onto our lines - we had a blast catching 3 species of pacific salmon. We had caught the run perfect. Pink, Chum and Coho. To us lower landers this was bliss.

Enjoy the pictures part #3 Denali and beyond is coming soon.

KLAMATH KEN THE STEELHEAD WIZARD

by Luke Harris

Gramps and I recently floated the Klamath River with guide Ken Ratihn. Ken's been all over the world on foot and by raft. He's pioneered many rafting expeditions in Asia and was the first to float many of them. He's guided tricky stretches on the Colorado and several other places that only the most elite and skilled navigators go. Ken also orchestrates journeys to primitive places where the modern world has no influence such as New Guinea. His picture albums are fascinating, filled with pictures of his adventures and the tribal people he has hung out with in order to learn more about the art he likes to produce. In short he's California's version of an actual Indiana Jones.

Did I mention he's also a fishing guide. He's had his drift boat since 1984 and spent a season guiding in Alaska before "settling" near Sommes Bar, Ca. His place overlooks the river and I swear most of the fish on this section of the Klamath hang out in his backyard. If you're looking for a day on the river or maybe want to purchase some primitive art or (if you dare) fly across the world to meet some folks that are still living like Adam and Eve, I highly recommend looking him up. At the very least check out his website:

www.primitivedestinationsinternational.com

Thanks again Ken we really had a blast.




Crystal Clear Day on the Klamath



The Coolest Drift Boat Ever



Ken the steelhead master shows how its done right from his own backyard

PRODUCT REVIEW: JUST ZAP THAT GAP

by Luke Harris

All perverse tendencies aside, this stuff works great on foam body flies (and any other adhesive situations). It’s about $3 for .25oz so remember there’s only so many gaps you can actually zap. Okay there’s a comment section so go ahead and knock yourselves out just read the label so you don’t go blind.