This could be a great day for BWOs emerging (if the wind does not blow ’em away) and fish responding. USBurRec dropped the flow out of Palisades Dam last night from 3000 cfs to 2750 cfs. That’s less than a 10 per cent drop so should not impact fishing success, but for sure increases wading possibilities. More drops in flow are coming up. Now is also the time to concentrate on presenting streamers. Browns will be looking for them big time wind or not!
We hear that fishing shallow water all around the lake is currently terrific. That means crowding in easily reached locations such as the west side county boat dock and campground, but especially at the State Park. Expect a crowd of shoreline anglers as well as numerous boats in front and at nearby Howard Creek. At the northwest corner of the lake, within a half mile off the highway, and on the west side road there is a pull-out and primitive launch site suitable only for float tubes and pontoon boats. This site put you in great position for fishing the west side and north shorelines. Try the standard Henry’s Lake flies we recommend in our October 11th Henry’s Lake report.
End of an Era Coming
Don’t let that color fool you: he (the fish!) fought like the devil!
Since 2001 I have much enjoyed fishing for huge Kodiak silver salmon. So much, in fact that I have returned every year except three for family reasons, during this twenty-first century. This Kodiak strain produces the largest, on average, silvers in Alaska. Tying into these in fresh condition is like no other salmonid I have experienced. They jump and run to challenge your personal durabilty, the length of your backing, the flexibility of your rod, your knots, your leader strength, and the drag system on which your reel operates.
I owe most of my pleasure in fishing for these superb salmonids to Dan and Randy Busch’s Kodiak Island River Camps operation. For the last twenty-one years Dan and Randy, husband and wife retired school teachers, have offered services second to none for fly-fishers seeking a memorable experience. They begin the season with whale watching outings, then July outings for sockeyes and chum. The real fun begins with their mid-to-late September outings to the Pasagshak River system for the fresh silver salmon. Their scheduled trips end in mid October with fly-in steelhead outings to Kodiak’s fabled Karluk River. I did the Karluk trip about ten years ago. What an experience: steelhead and a late run of fresh silvers. Talk about fly-fishing heaven!
What does their service consist of, you ask? Their fee, which for five solid days of fishing, is perhaps the most reasonable to be found during Alaska’s silver salmon season. From the time Dan picks you up on arrival at the Kodiak airport (usually on a Sunday afternoon) to when he returns you for departure (usually on the morning of the following Saturday) all meals, all transportation, all accommodations are covered under his fee. The only items outside their fee is your fishing license ($55 for seven days) and any particular food or beverage you wish to supplement the superb meals you will experience. On Sunday arrival you go to Dan & Randy’s home for a superb welcome dinner. From that you leave for the Pasaghak system forty-some-odd miles south of town for five days full of fishing. On Friday evening return you go to Dan & Randy’s home for another superb meal, their farewell dinner.
Where do I fish, you ask? Dan leases a summer home with all utilities near the Pasagshak River. Comfortable and clean, it is the base of operations for upcoming fishing on the Pasagshak estuary which you can walk to, the river itself, and Lake Rose Tead about a mile above the home. Then there is a special location about five miles away on the road back to town. This is Kalsin Pond which drains into the Olds River which also hosts silvers and can be fished. When Kalsin Pond’s silvers feel like hitting your offered flies, it can be an unforgettable fly-fishing experience. For fishing the lake, pond and estuary, Dan provides kick boats and fins. The rivers (Pasagshak and Olds) can be waded. Whether you fish the lake, the rivers, or the pond your day begins with a hearty 6 AM breakfast then fishing begins soon after until a lunch break and ends just before 4PM with a return to the home to relax for a while before an excellent dinner. Evenings can be used for sea-side walks, fly tying or “philosophy” of all kinds.
What are the silvers like, you ask? Full of energy, they come in from the ocean a bit more than a mile away. They average fifteen pounds and run up to just over twenty. Other than an occasional jack, (early returner), it is not common to encounter an individual under twelve pounds. A good day is when you land five of these devils. A fifteen to twenty minute fight is usual, and for sure you are doing good to land half of your hook-ups where near hundred yard runs are possible. Between encountering fish, the wise fly-fisher checks flies, knots, leaders, lines, and rods for integrity.
What equipment do I need, you ask? An eight or nine weight system including a nine to ten foot rod works well. For shallows in the lake, pond, river and estuary a floating line works best. Two-handed rods can be used when wading the river or shorelines. When fish move to deeper water in the relatively shallow lake, an intermediate line is ideal. Nine foot leaders of fifteen pound test are almost a requirement. Simple fly patterns patterns in infra-red (fucshia, pink, red) and ultra-violet (blue, green, purple) colors are the norm. So are needle-nosed pliers or stout forceps for removing flies from toothy mouths. A reliable raincoat, waders of the same property, a stripping glove, and clothes comfortable enough for fifty degree Fahrenheit air and water are musts.
What is the weather like in this northern location? With a marine climate, Kodiak, will have daytime air temperatures in the 50s of degrees Fahrenheit. Nighttime is mild, but a light frost is possible. Any visitor must expect rain, sometimes mild and pleasant, but other times ferocious and pounding with strong winds. Therein lies the need for a reliable raincoat!
Alaska Airlines has the best connections for reaching Kodiak from the lower forty-eight. We in east Idaho can leave Boise in the morning and, with connections met in Seattle and Anchorage, arrive in Kodiak that afternoon. Be advised that weather can interfere.
Dan and Randy will wrap up their operations in a few years, and that is why I offer this description of an unusually great opportunity to enjoy fresh, powerful silver salmon. You can get more details from them at their email address: [email protected]. We, here in the shop, can also help you contact them and provide the benefit of experience. A hospitable and action filled fly-fishing experience awaits you through Kodiak Island River Camps.
Daniels Reservoir currently offers the best fishing on our irrigation reservoirs. A terrific scud bloom is ongoing there.Take advantage of it by using your favorite scud pattern on an intermediate line. Also try suspending that pattern under an indicator and giving an occasional small twitch. Trying these techniques near submerged vegetation brings best results. Midge pupa patterns presented two to ten feet under an indicator are also producing, but trout seem most interested in the plentiful scuds. Weeds are beginning to break up on Springfield Reservoir making for easier wet fly fishing. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator, small prince nymphs, and leech patterns in black or olive are producing there.
For the River below Ashton Dam strategies used on the South Fork apply quite well. This time of year the big attractions are the BWO activity and streamers during low light conditions. One difference: you will see more tiny blue winged olives (pseudocloeon) here than on the South Fork. With the change of weather for the worst coming up, both BWO (and tiny blue wing olive) life cycle patterns and streamer patterns should be the ticket for the best fishing here. Flows out of Island Park Dam are just above 200 cfs making wading the Box Canyon a great choice. Streamers can bring out those big fish, and a double nymph rig drifted through runs and holes can produce.
Fishing is picking up here as cooler weather helps bring fish closer to shorelines. With the cloudy, possibly stormy weather coming in for the next few days, action could really pick up. We have some reports of big flies on such as streamers and various large wooly buggers working, but the standard olive or gold crystals, California leeches, Mity mites, bead head peacock leeches, peacock AHs, and halloweens seem to work just as well. Cutts have move into the State Park-Howard Creek area. This means lots of folks fishing from banks and boats. Might be a good place to start up a taco wagon business or hold a tall tales contest!
Beautiful weather means spotty BWO activity. BWOs can be active under such, but not everywhere on the river. We have reports of some good fishing resulting from BWOs during our recent gorgeous weather, but this takes place unpredictably. Kinda like “gold is where you find it.” This inconsistency should change as some cooler cloudy weather is coming in for the next few days. Combine this with the recent constant flow out of Palisades Dam, and the immediate future looks good for responses to BWO activity. But with October advancing, streamer fishing will give better chances for big fish up and down the river. With sunrise closing in on 8AM, and sunset closing in on 7PM, this makes for more convenient times for presenting streamers. So will the upcoming change in weather. Remember that streamer pattern selection is not as important as presentation.
Thursday we fished the Blackfoot River about eight miles below the dam. Flow out of the dam is only 67 cfs, and the impact on the river below is almost tragic for trout. This low flow concentrates them in deepest water. It was a bright, beautiful day so the normally sparse BWO emergence did not happen. Hoppers still abound, and trout will come up for them. Streamside cover where fingerling trout find refuge is high and dry because of the low flow. This puts them in deeper water where they are preyed on by larger trout. Need I say any more?
With flow in the river dropping, it is time to get out trying for migrating brown trout. Get those streamers in order, and rig up sink tip lines. There are a number of locations for walk-in wade fishing and float fishing. Come into the shop to get some ideas on where to give either a try.
We have not heard consistent reports of good fishing here. Part of the reason could be the great “Indian Summer” weather we currently have. Looks like that could change this coming weekend when cooler temps and increased chance of precipitation is predicted. That just may be the ticket to bringing more fish into shallower water around the lake.