First fish report!! Kautumn lodge is open!!

We are opening up the lodge the last week and the family is out here with me.  The boats are in the water, the tackle has been sorted and the fish are biting hot. We have been doing some late night pike fishing and getting the kids into some really fun times.  My oldest daughter casted, hooked and landed a pike all by her self on her little pole.  She was supper excited and is going to cook it up for all of us.  The trout have been pretty active late in the evening.  We are having incredibly hot weather out here, a few days into the 90's and a week of solid 80's.  The river is really low and clear.  We are gearing up for a really good season and will keep you posted.

George's Fishing Trip with Bearfoot Adventures

I love it when a plan comes together and that is exactly what happened today. George and I left early to try out a new spot for sockeye and dedicate what time remained to trout fishing. I cannot tell you how happy I was to arrive at our first destination to find sockeye lined up right where we were expecting. George is a fantastic angler and it didn't take 10 minutes before we had sockeye in the fish box. After numerous battles and many laughs we had our limit and regrouped for a short hike further upstream to catch trout. George expertly landed 8 rainbows, 4 grayling, 1 dolly varden, and 2 chum salmon on 6# line in less than 2 hours.

Just to round out an already stellar fishing day we stopped at a spot on our way home and landed a nice 9 pound king salmon. George summed up the day by commenting "fantastic fishing, fantastic weather, fantastic company." George I'm flattered!!!!

Pittsburgh Sportsman

Two anglers from Pittsburgh, PA (Go Steelers!) arrived yesterday evening eager to hit the river and catch salmon. We fished a short while for sockeye landing six, then ran a short distance to try our luck at the kings. Almost immediately we hooked a big one and after an epic battle that included many jumps, we netted the 26-pounder.  Maybe it was the jet lag or Chelsea's great cooking, but it was late and the guys very tired. 

 This morning we caught limits of sockeye in short order and dedicated the rest of the afternoon to kings. We landed one nice keeper as well as several small ones before the wind kicked up and with a full fish box we happily called it a short day.

2012 Fishing Season

The last couple of days have been filled with anticipation as the kings have been showing up in some of the usual spots close by. Today we hit the river to find not only were the kings around but in huge numbers. The two anglers in my boat today landed over 30 kings with the biggest going 40 pounds (left). As I ran back and forth to help release the fish it sank in how exceptional our day was when one angler exclaimed, "I've caught enough, let’s go back to the lodge and rest." This day will not soon be forgotten.

-ISAAC

Another great Fishing Season

The 2011 fishing season on the Mulchatna River is officially wrapped up. Our season started the first week of June with hungry grayling and rainbow trout lining the bank just below the lodge. The best pike fishing this year was also in June with post spawn fish readily attacking most any spinners or surface flies.  Alaska department of Fish and Game recorded a stronger number of kings for 2011 than the past few years and the last week of June found us anxiously awaiting the first big push of bright kings. July proved not to disappoint as several holes close to the lodge filled with kings and many late nights were spent fishing the bank right at the lodge. The sockeye run this year proved healthy again and huge numbers ran up the Stuyahok and Koktuli Rivers drawing with them countless hungry trout. Some of the best wade fishing this year was spent up the Stuyahok and Koktuli fishing the upper stretches for sockeye and the tail outs for rainbows and Dolly Varden.  Silver salmon never disappoint and this year was no different. For the months of August through September we enjoyed fantastic silver fishing just moments from the lodge. If you have never experienced fishing in Alaska come for silver season, 100 fish days, aggressive surface hits, multiple twisting jumps and bright red fillets. 

A genuine thank you goes out all the fisherman who spent the time and money to visit us this summer. We encourage you to send us any particularly of your great pictures, to share on our website, from your trip and we hope to see you again next summer.  Chet and I now shift our focus to next year and making final plans for the shows we will be attending this winter in Dallas and Harrisburg. Check back for show dates and booth numbers so you can come by and meet us and plan your fishing trip of a lifetime!

                                                                                               

-Isaac Sullens

Silver Standard

'World class fishing' does not begin to describe how the silver salmon fishing is here, right now.  I would not hesitate to wager anyone, armed with several spoons or some large streamers, that “100+ fish” days could easily be produced.  I know those are bold statements but, if you were in the boat this afternoon I seriously doubt you would bet me.  All this from a guide who takes his job so seriously, I sometimes stay awake at night plotting the demise of fish.  Man, I love silver season for this simple reason- happy clients, every time.  With huge jumps, multiple reel screaming runs, ‘Jaws’ like take downs and beautiful fillets what’s not to love?

Silver bullets

The long anticipated silver run has started with a huge wave of ocean bright silvers arriving overnight. While fishing for other species we have been checking in on the local silver spots for the past week now. While doing one of these "checkups" Chet landed smack dab in a huge school of 10 pound silvers. The fishing was fast to put it mildly and ever since we have enjoyed fantastic fishing. The chrome bright fish are excellent eating and Chelsea has been working her regular magic in the kitchen with smoked salmon spread this evening as our appetizer.  

Monster Kings

I went down to the boats after dinner last night to bale them before bed and once again kings were jumping and rolling right behind the boats. I rigged my 10 foot rod up with a leader and made a couple casts. After several hits and landing 2 15 pound kings I hooked a monster fish. As soon as I set the hook I knew something was different. My reel screamed as 175 yards of line disappeared in one fast continuous run. I debated whether to chase it downriver or try and pull it back up. Faced with losing all my line I chose to chase it. As I started down the bank I felt the pressure release and instantly knew I had just lost what might have been the biggest fish of the season. I reeled all my line in and after a close inspection realized my small Gamakatsu hooks are no match for a really huge king in fast water.

With a new trophy hunting game plan I tied several 5/0 Owner cutting point hooks up and proceeded to laugh at any trout that dared bite my line. It didn’t take but 7 or 8 casts and I found myself once again tied into an absolute monster king unlike any I have ever hooked!!

This fish used every inch of the long stretch of river running hundreds of yards in every direction just to turn and run again. From up in the dining room window I must have looked like a lunatic swatting mosquitos and crazily jumping from boat to boat trying to gain any line on the monster I had hooked. Armed with my huge hook and beefy rod I leaned into the fish and pulled with all my weight only to have the rod shutter and bend all the way into the cork handle. After almost an hour I realized I was fighting a losing battle and started yelling for Chelsea to come help. She showed up and both of us marveled at the size of the swirls this huge fish was making as it kept up its steady march downriver. By now I had had this fish on for an hour and was no closer to landing it then when I first hooked it. I had run out of bank and was faced with the sickening realization the fish was making its way for the left arm and I was standing on the right. With over 250 yards of line out and nowhere to go, I sadly thumbed the spool in a Hail Mary last ditch effort to turn the fish. I cringed as I felt all 250 yards of 65# braid stretch until breaking point and finally with a loud cracking sound I felt the line part.

I have still not gotten over loosing that fish. There might only be a hand full of fish like that one swim up this river each season but, if you want a shot at landing one, we need to gear up accordingly. I am currently rethinking my strategy for this afternoon and I will not be caught with my pants down again, I guarantee it!!!!