My wife and I spent 7 days on a "Combination Trip" that was the best vacation ever....
6/27/2010
Wow, what a start to the 2010 season! I guess you can see from the delay fromthe past message that I have not been as active on "This week at Great Alaska Adventure Lodge" as I should have been! So much has happened and we've been busy doing rather than reporting, but I promise to do better!
The Fishing Report: Overall, we have had a very nice beginning to the season. We started off a bit bumpy with the first run of Kenai River King Salmon not showing up (according to the ADFG sonar counter) in numbers consistent with adequate escapement. In reaction to these low early seaon numbers Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game enacted an Emergency Order (E.O.) closing the Kenai river to all fishing for King salmon from Skilak lake (14 miles upstream) to the mouth...in essence the entire fishery. There was much gnashing of teath and rolling of eyes, as the Kenai River Professional Guides Ass'n (KRPGA) correctly pointed out that we have had a "Stages" based response to low numbers in the past- first "trophy only" (55 inches or better)..then "catch and release" completely, followed by a riverwide closure if the numbers continue to look alarming. These steps could have occurred in as little as 5 days of fishing (or even less) to have the guides and general public feel as if they were a part of the process. The ADFT chose not to do that and it's an issue we are looking at now. 
The good news is that less than 10 days after the closure, the sonar estimates rose dramatically and to the point that the fishery was opened back up and even the use of bait was allowed well earlier than the usual July 1st cutoff. While we continue to be unsure as to the accuracy of the sonar, the resulting fishing has been stellar. Driftboats and powerboats alike have been getting some beautiful Kenai River King Salmon in the 25-60 pound range, with a number of fish released over 50 inches. Steve and Jeremy and Mark all had nice limit catches since the opening and Cullen, Ken and Nolan have also had some great days in the driftboats. Here's operations manager /steelhead guide Andrew's first Kenai river king (while he was on the oars)--------------->
Offshore fishing has continued to be outstanding, wthe Cook Inlet being 
the target so far. Catches have been good with some nice sized fish coming over the gunwale and going home with our guests! As you can see from the picture, the seas have been mostly calm and the fish have been 
plentiful! We are also fishing in seward on the big boat, "The Fair Chase". Silvers are beginning to come into the bays and Ling cod season is right around the corner. Here are a couple of shots to whet your appetite....
More to come...Safaris report, Bearcamp report and adventure camp report!
05/10/2010
Well, here we go again! Season number 29 for Great Alaska Adventure Lodge is about to begin. The Big King Salmon are moving up the coast towards the Kasilof and Kenai rivers, the Brown bears have left their dens at Bearcamp and both sows and cubs are feeding on the mouth watering sedge grasses around camp. Days are getting longer and nights are getting shorter. Spring is here!
We are busy thawing frozen water lines and firing up the furnaces. The outboard motors are being turned over, the driftboats are being put on trailers, and reels are being greased in preparation for your arrival. The last snow was nearly two weeks ago, and the weather has been unseasonably warm. Here is a link to our current weather.
Because the glaciers and snow are just beginning to melt, the water level is at its lowest point of the season. This means great fly fishing for the early season King salmon that travel by the lodge each spring. If you will be with us in May or June and want to give fly fishing for Kings a try, call the office and we can discuss the equipment needed.
At bearcamp, the long winter is just ending but spring has definitely sprung! All of the bears have left their dens and the sows are teaching the cubs about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle... The nutritious sedge grasses that grow in the areas between the waters of Cook Inlet and Mt. Illiamna have been providing easy meals for these beautiful animals for millenia. Until the salmon begin to return to the local streams, these grasses draw bruins from miles away. It is not unusal for our early June groups to see 15 or more bears in the meadow at one time- last season the record was 28 at one time from our raised viewing platform.
Check back later for more.....
