Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Aug 17, 2015

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, AK

We started off early this morning and picked up some sandwiches from a restaurant that Mindy recommended for us and then we headed off to the boat launch to try our hand at fishing for Sockeye Salmon for the first time.  It would also be a new method of fishing because you snag Sockeyes, they do not eat as they head back “home” to spawn so they will not attack lures.  Where we would be fishing we were to snag them in the mouth to be legal.  In a few other areas, like Resurrection Bay, you can actually snag them anywhere and it is legal.  Always be sure you are with an experienced guide that knows the area laws or do your research before heading out to fish for any species!

After some instruction, LJ and I were trying our hand at snagging.  It was basically casting at 12-1 o’clock and then letting the line drift back to 9 o’clock as the fish swam upstream you could feel them hit the line and then with a quick pull you would try and snag them.  I was a bit intimidated at first but eventually got the hang of it and actually really enjoyed it.  We were picking and choosing our catches but most were a very good size.

It wasn’t long before LJ’s phone rang.  It had been drizzling on and off and Tim from Natron Air was calling to say he felt we should move up our departure time due to some afternoon weather that was predicted.  He gave us our updated time and LJ said goodbye.  After updating Mindy, she said, “well, you can’t leave without limiting out so you two better get busy!”.  We weren’t ones to argue so we got our fish on and it was amazing how quickly we actually did limit out!  After a few pics we were back in the boat and headed back to our car.  While we went down the river, Mindy expertly filleted our fish and bagged them, giving us instructions on where to take the fish to have them processed.  We’d be able to leave them until our last day there and add any fish from our trip later in the week to them and take them as a checked bag home with us.

Out of the boat we went up to the car, changed out of our boots and rain gear and transitioned over to “bear viewing” apparel.  Off we went with our garbage bags of fish and dropped them off at the processing place.  When we arrived back at Natron today, the dogs were so worn out from yesterday’s many adventures, they just kind of raised their heads with a hello… we know you guys so we won’t get up kind of look.

Since we were now old pros at this, we were loaded up and ready quickly and off we went!  Today we had clear skies heading over to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge.  Tim gave us some info about the area and we told him about our fishing extravaganza from the morning.  Before we knew it, he pointed out our “runway” which was the beach.  This wasn’t our first beach landing on a plane but still quite a thrill.  It’s amazing how smoothly these planes take off and land.  We safely arrived and were greeted by Mark, who serves as the fishing guide for the lodge.  Our gear was loaded into a trailer pulled by a four wheeler and then we got into another one, like a little cart pulled behind a four wheeler.  We waved our goodbyes to Tim and off we went to our cabin to settle in.

After getting dropped off at our cabin and settling in, we met our guide Brian (fantastic – one of the best guides we’ve had anywhere!) hopped back into the ATV rig and headed down to Silver Salmon Creek itself. The water was up due to the incoming tide, but the salmon were boiling, swirling and jumping. A good sign!

A short while of waiting at the main river crossing where the ATV’s get you from one side of the creek to the other, we saw out first bear – came right up the cut in the bank, ambling along the ATV path not far from us at all, then off into the tall grass. We headed out to the mouth of the creek, and watched another bear waiting on the beach for some fish to make the low tide run. No fish for the bear, but some nice shots in the fading light of the day before we headed back for the night.

As we had dinner in the main lodge that night, a bear ambled though the yard near the big fire pit – not something you see every day, at least not on the East Coast!