Dec 3
PUMICE CREEK LODGE, ALASKA PENINSULA 8/29/2009-9/5/2009:
Fishing Report From Alaska by Bob Daly
Fishing Report From Alaska by Bob Daly............
A great friend and customer, Bob Daly, sent us a very complete day-by-day story about his latest trip to Alaska. Frankly, it was so good we asked Bob if he would mind if we included it in our newsletter. Being a gracious and charitable guy he is, Bob sent a quick "OK" with his best wishes.
Bob is truly a world class fisherman and has a great blog spot that he keeps well updated at: http://doradokiller.blogspot.com/ You can also contact Bob at his email to sign up for his own newsletter at: doradokiller@hotmail.com We thank Bob for giving us a chance to share this will all of our readers!
PUMICE CREEK LODGE, ALASKA PENINSULA 8/29/2009-9/5/2009:
Friends, Cole Lundquist, Dane Lundquist, Chuck Boyian, Kevin Cleary, George Hollenbeck, Vince Ippolito, and myself had to opportunity to fish at Gary LaRose's Pumice Creek Lodge during August 28th to September 5th . For the Lundquist's, Boyian, Cleary, and Ippolito, this would be the first time they have fished in Alaska. George Hollenbeck has fished Alaska numerous times, while this was my 20th trip to the Alaska Peninsula. When we arrived I met some friends from Germany who fished the previous 2 weeks. Fishing was reported to be fantastic. The sun was shining so numerous photos were taken as I told the group this might be the only day you can see the mountains surrounding the lodge. The Alaska Peninsula has a reputation for downright terrible weather with lots of rain and very high winds. I told the group the only people we would see all week was the guys in the group as the float planes from the lodges in Bristol Bay do not fly down on the Peninsula due to the weather. After a great meal, we all decided to fly to the Cinder River on Sunday for a day of silver salmon fishing. The Cinder River is about a 20 minute flight from the lodge. Lodge owner and pilot, Gary LaRose will have to take 3 trips back and forth from the lodge as only 3 passengers can go with him. Guides, Todd and Rudy will also go with along with Gary's dog, Cinder There are no runways on the Cinder River. Gary has cleared a small path to act as a runway. During the fight, we see numerous brown bears and a few
caribou. From the runway, it takes about a 5 minute walk to reach the Cinder River. Gary has 2 boats to take us to the hot spots. The best spot is a large flat which can be fished either from the bank or by wading. It takes about 15 minutes by boat to reach this spot. On my first cast, I hook into a big silver. I am fishing with a spinning rod and using a 7/8 oz flo. Red pixie spoon with a pink squid trailer. We are normally fishing in 3 to 4 foot of water. Everyone in the group catches numerous silvers. All use spinning equipment except George Hollenbeck who opts to fly fish.
caribou. From the runway, it takes about a 5 minute walk to reach the Cinder River. Gary has 2 boats to take us to the hot spots. The best spot is a large flat which can be fished either from the bank or by wading. It takes about 15 minutes by boat to reach this spot. On my first cast, I hook into a big silver. I am fishing with a spinning rod and using a 7/8 oz flo. Red pixie spoon with a pink squid trailer. We are normally fishing in 3 to 4 foot of water. Everyone in the group catches numerous silvers. All use spinning equipment except George Hollenbeck who opts to fly fish.
On Day 2, Ippolito, the Lundquist's, and myself opt to fly to Lava Creek to fish for char while Cleary, Boyian, and Hollenbeck again fish at the Cinder River. Lava Creek is about a 15 minute flight from the lodge. We will walk the Creek while fishing along the way. Numerous char are caught by all on 6
wt fly rods. I also catch a good rainbow trout. On Day 3 we all decide to fish again for silvers on the Cinder River. Today we all decide to keep a few silvers for smoking. Fishing is again non-stop as
all catch more salmon then they can handle. The weather is again poor with rain, but we are too busy catching silvers to notice. The biggest salmon of the day was approximately 17 lbs. On average the salmon are weighing about 12 to 13 lbs. On Day 4, Hollenbeck and Cleary decide to fish for char on Lava Creek and catch many. The others again fly out to the Cinder for another day of fabulous silver salmon fishing.
On Day 5, we all decide to fish for silvers on the Cinder River. As usual an enormous amount of silvers are landed by all. In the afternoon, I am walking slowly in the river, turn around to cast my pixie spoon, only to see a big Alaska Brown Bear on the bank standing on her back legs growling at me. I start to yell and the bear runs upriver on the bank in front of where Kevin Cleary is fishing. Kevin starts to yell and the brown bear with cub runs off. On the last day, Kevin and I decide to go back to Lava Creek to catch char. Kevin opts to use a small spinning rod, while I use a 6 wt fly rod. Fishing is
fantastic as numerous big char are caught by both. It also is a great sunny day, so we can site cast to the char.
fantastic as numerous big char are caught by both. It also is a great sunny day, so we can site cast to the char.
In all everyone in the group had a "fishing trip of a lifetime." This was another one of the great Alaska fishing trips I have taken. I caught about 240 silvers in 4 days of fishing on the Cinder River and 114 char and 2 rainbows in 2 days of fishing on Lava Creek. The scenery is breath taking around the lodge and the flout trips to the rivers. Numerous brown bears are seen by all. The lodge food is fantastic as usual
with moose steaks being our favorite. Gary LaRose is a great host and also one of the best pilots I have seen. Gary can land a plane on a dime. Our fantastic guides, Rudy and Todd, really put us on the fish. However, the best part of the trip for me was being able to fish with a great bunch of friends. Cinder was also a delight to be around and play ball with. Most of us have booked already for next season, and I am booked until I depart which hopefully will be a long time from now. Cannot wait till next year to hook into the big Cinder River silvers and Lava Creek char. If there is a better place on this earth to catch more and bigger
silvers than the Alaska Peninsula, I would like to see it to believe. If ever interested in experience the fantastic fishing we had, please let me know and I will put you in contact with Gary LaRose.
Thanks to all involved in making this a special fishing trip!!
with moose steaks being our favorite. Gary LaRose is a great host and also one of the best pilots I have seen. Gary can land a plane on a dime. Our fantastic guides, Rudy and Todd, really put us on the fish. However, the best part of the trip for me was being able to fish with a great bunch of friends. Cinder was also a delight to be around and play ball with. Most of us have booked already for next season, and I am booked until I depart which hopefully will be a long time from now. Cannot wait till next year to hook into the big Cinder River silvers and Lava Creek char. If there is a better place on this earth to catch more and bigger
silvers than the Alaska Peninsula, I would like to see it to believe. If ever interested in experience the fantastic fishing we had, please let me know and I will put you in contact with Gary LaRose.
Thanks to all involved in making this a special fishing trip!!
Bob Daly
If you are interested in making a "dream trip" such as Bob has done check out Gary LaRosa's web site at: http://www.garylarose.com/
