Tikchik Narrows Alaska Fishing News & Updates
A Letter from Bud: 2011 Season Summary
Dear Angler,
We have finished up another successful season in Bristol Bay. This summer was much improved over last season, when we had a lot of rain and challenging weather. Although not one of our warmest years, we had very few delays and excellent fishing conditions in most of our fisheries throughout the season.
Please note that our 2012 Rates and Information Brochure is available. Our price will remain the same except a fuel surcharge may apply depending on fuel costs.
Linda, Gabe and I have moved back to Anchorage, Alaska after 6 years in Port Townsend. Thus, I have closed our Port Townsend office, and established my office here in Anchorage. Logistically, it will be easier to operate the lodge living here. I can get started flying earlier in the spring, and of course, have Linda and Gabe closer.
I was very surprised and pleased to see the Nushagak Kings (Chinook) salmon do as well as it did last summer. After a dismal return in 2010, I anticipated a terrible run in 2011, Wow, was I wrong! The Nushagak had a terrific run of King salmon and an epic run of Coho (Silver) salmon. The Togiak King run was down, and although the Kulukuk Kings were a bit late, it also turned out to be a good run with terrific fishing. We operated Sunset camp from June into August with terrific fishing. Karen Moore was back as our Sunset cook and hostess and Brandon Beebe returned for his 6th year at Sunset and David Blanton for his 3rd year.
From an operational point of view, our summer was very smooth. All of my veteran guides and pilots returned and our Executive Chef Matt Spence, produced his awesome cuisine. My manager of hospitality, Carol, made sure our level of service was extraordinary. Head guide Chip King orchestrated each day of fishing with experience and professionalism.
Above all, it was wonderful having so many return guests fish with us yet again and it was a pleasure to meet of the new anglers who we hope to see again. Thank you all for a fantastic season at Tikchik Narrows Lodge.
Sincerely
Bud Hodson Owner/Operator
New Insights on Pebble: Protect Bristol Bay
The President of the Alaska Senate has consistently preached caution in regards to the proposed Pebble Mine and he reiterated those words of caution again during a visit to Dillingham last week. KDLG’s Mike Mason sat down with Gary Stevens for this report.
PAC RATS: Midge Fishing for Bristol Bay’s Trophy Rainbows
Contributed by Adam Franceschini – Tikchik Narrows Lodge Pro-Guide
Every year there is a gap period between the smolt run and the bead drop when a select few Tikchik Guides known as the “PAC Rats” show off some trophy trout. Located in the heart of the Wood-Tikchik chain of lakes is the famed Agulapak River, or the ‘PAC’ as we call it. This is a two mile stretch of river that connects Lake Beverly to Lake Nerka. For a few weeks every summer, the PAC turns into a very challenging tail water. The words Midge and Light Tippet leave anglers shaking their heads in frustration. In this “how to” article, I will discuss some fly patterns and tips to help you land a fish to remember.
THE LEADER
First, I use a hand-tied ten to twelve foot fluorocarbon leader with an aggressive taper from the butt section to the tippet. Tippet has a smaller diameter than the normal tapered leader and as a result, the flies will sink faster and will be in the strike zone longer during your drift. Next, when midge fishing you have to eliminate all drag. The longer leader will allow you to keep your fly line on the reel, which results in less surface drag. Finally, Fluorocarbon is less visible and denser then Monofilament, which is key on the PAC where the fish get a lot of angling pressure.
THE RIGGING
When Nymph fishing, you want the flies to tumble and bounce along the bottom freely. One common oversight I find with a lot of anglers is that they fish with the same indicator depth all day. Because the PAC has both deep buckets and shallow shelves, you need to constantly change the depth of your indicator according to the depth of the water. If you set your depth too long, you will miss strikes due to the slack in your system. On the other hand, if you set your indicator depth too short, you won’t be in the strike zone. A good rule of thumb is you want your indicator to just slightly bounce as it drifts downstream.
There are many different ways to rig your tandem flies but I find that a distance of 15 inches between the split shot and the fly works best. I tie a piece of 5x tippet section with a double surgeon’s knot at the end of the leader to stop the split shot from sliding down the tippet. Attach your first fly, or point fly to the end of your tippet off the bend of the first hook. Then add a second piece of tippet usually 5 or 6x depending on your fly size and attach your second fly, or a dropper fly remembering the 15 inch rule to the end. Typically the leader break down is this: one foot of 15LB, one feet of 12LB, one foot of 10LB, two feet 8LB, and five feet 5LB line.
Now with the spilt shot bouncing on the stream bed, you are able to cover the first 30 inches of the water column with your flies.
THE FIGHT
To allow these tiny flies to drift drag free you will need to use 5 or 6x tippet. Again I use fluorocarbon. On most streams this would be the ‘go to’ sizes of tippet, but when you are targeting 24 plus inch fish this puts you at a huge disadvantage. First set the drag loose, once you hook a fish they will bolt off with runs going into the backing. If you tighten the drag, the fish will easily snap your line. DON’T EVER palm the reel. You have to go after these fish if you want a shot at landing them. Sometimes the fight lasts more the ten minutes. But when you have the Trophy pin at dinner time, it’s all worth it.
THE FLIES
THE DARK KNIGHT
This is my go to fly for the lower buckets. I have hooked and landed fish up to twenty six inches in length on this midge pupa pattern. With midges having black heads, you can use either a glass or metal bead. The fly is very easy to tie and has great durability. I almost always use the fly as a dropper or last fly.
HOOK: Tiemco 2488SPBL size 24-26
Bead: Matte Black or Black Glass
Thread: Black UTC 70
Rib: small blue wire counter wound
Body: Black UTC 70
Thorax: Black UV Ice Dub
THE REVEREND
This is my favorite fly for the upper flats, where the water is gin clear and moving slower, giving the fish a good look at what they are eating. When we spot and start to sight fish to a big rainbow this is the fly I put on. I will use this pattern as a point fly but find it works best in the second position.
HOOK: Tiemco 100SPBL size 20-24
Body: Olive UTC 70
COLAR: Grey Ghost krystal flash
HEAD: Black UTC 70
Photo Credits: Jennifer Shupert
Alaska Grown!
Naturally, the remote setting of the lodge is a cause for logistical challenges for attaining fresh produce. However, our chefs and kitchen workers take a lot of pride in serving the best quality food available despite our spectacular wilderness location. Most folks who visit Tikchik already know about the exceptional salmon meals and shore lunches. Just as Mother Earth provides us with beautiful fish, Tikchik has also embraced the fertility of its soil. That is why the lodge has invested in a large greenhouse set to help provide fresh herbs and greens for our guests.
Tikchik always has fresh herbs growing including dill, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, tarragon, and cilantro to name a few. Last year, Ursula (our Sous Chef and head Baker) had a rotational crop of baby lettuce mix, spinach, and arugula growing all season long. It takes about three weeks from planting to picking, but the timing on the rotation allows our lodge to have fresh greens every week!
This is an example of the extraordinary effort that our kitchen staff puts toward the quality of dining at TNL. The organic nature of Alaska and Bristol Bay is infectious. It may sound cliché, but a day on the water has a way of bringing us closer to the elements; nature. There is something very organic about fishing, and we try to exhibit that in our food and our service.
Road to the Final Fish: Bracketology
Cheeky Fly Fishing is hosting a March Madness bracket for all of you who are fishermen and not basketball fans. Even if you do follow hoops, this bracket is fun too. Go to http://www.cheekyflyfishing.com/news to enter your bracket and vote for the sport fish of Bristol Bay.
Click Image to Enlarge
So, here’s my run down for my picks for this year’s field of fish.
UPSETS:
1. I see Bluefish surprising the Roosterfish in the opening round. Their eagerness and ability to hit the surface with ferocity will be too much for the Roosterfish of Mexico and Central America.
2. The Silver Salmon have a great chance of knocking off the Sea-Run Brown. Not only did the Silver Salmon have an impressive post-season run up at Tikchik last year, but they are forecasted to come on strong this coming season in Bristol Bay. Look for the silvers to do some damage this March.
FINAL FOUR:
1. The Tarpon seems to have the easiest road to the final four. It will have to get past a feisty fish in the Giant Trevally, but I see the spectacular leaping ability of this megalop to be simply too much to handle.
2. I have another tropical saltwater fish in the Permit getting past the likes of the Redfish and Barracuda to make their first Final Four. Their ability to snatch up invertebrates and roam the flats and channels make them a top contender.
3. The King Salmon will have a difficult road as it faces the grace and beauty of the Brook Trout and the new kid on the block in sport fishing, the Carp. The King Salmon exhibits too much power and determination, and will eventually overcome its weaker competitor. I believe that the King Salmon will be the eventual winner of this year’s tournament.
4. Lastly, I have chosen the rainbow trout to make a push to the top 4 spots. Although they were granted only a 2 seed, their colors and explosive shakes and leaps will be difficult to contain. Their tournament experience will overwhelm both the Pike and Silver Salmon.
SNUBS:
1. I thought the arctic char should have gotten an at-large bid this season. You look at their resumé and RPI this past year and it is clear that they deserved a spot in this field of 32.
2. Another Bristol Bay fish that I think got the short stick from the selection committee was the Chum “Dogfish”. We saw this past year what a Chum Salmon is capable of when it is strong and fresh in the river. They should have gotten a chance over the Bluegill.
IMPORTANT ALASKA FISHING LEGISLATION
Sport Fishing Guide Board proposed to the Alaska Legislature
Senate Bill 24 introduced by Senator Lesil McGuire
“An Act establishing the Sport Fishing Guide Services Board and licensing requirements for sport fishing guide-outfitters, sport fishing outfitters, sport fishing assistant guides, and sport fishing transporters; making conforming amendments; allowing the Department of Fish and Game to collect information on guiding services; and providing for an effective date.”
Veteran Alaskan Guide Brian Cummins
Sport fishing is a key element of Alaska’s cultural and economic landscape and the sustainable development of our fisheries is one of the Legislature’s fundamental constitutional responsibilities. Each year approximately 460,000 individuals spend roughly 2.5 million days sport fishing in Alaska. Sport fishing and especially guided sport fishing has become an integral part of Alaska’s economy. In 2007 guided sport fishing contributed an estimated $641 million to Alaska’s economy and supported 7183 jobs. Annual direct expenditures attributed to sport fishing totaled $1.4 billion or 3.1% of the total gross state product (GSP) in 2007. An average of 1,670 sport fishing business licenses and 1,981 sport fishing guide licenses have been sold annually of which 90% are issued to Alaska residents. The sport fishing guide services industry is also an important source of information for fisheries managers. Sport fishing guides currently provide logbook data to the Department of Fish and Game which provides the department with one of the critical tools required to manage our fisheries.
Senate Bill 24 seeks to achieve two goals, each consistent with the language set forth in the State Constitution which mandates sustainable development for the maximum economic benefit of Alaska. The first goal is to assure that Alaska’s sport fishing services continue to compete favorable in the marketplace with the best in the world. The second goal is to assure that, as the state’s valuable fishery resources are invested in the sport fishing services industry, the State of Alaska is doing so as would a diligent investor in any business. SB 24 achieves these goals by establishing a more accurate, stable and appropriate regulatory framework than currently exists. Also, by shifting regulation of the industry from the Department of Fish and Game to a Sport Fishing Guide Services Board established within the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development SB 24 places sport fishing guides alongside other analogous industry groups. The new board is modeled on a similar board created for big game guides in 2005 and will promote self-regulation, quality control and accountability in the industry.
Tikchik Narrows Lodge from the sky
SB 24 also recognizing the importance of the logbook program by proposing to permanently repeal the logbook’s termination language in the existing statute. The Alaska legislature extended the program’s termination date for one year only in both 2009 and 2010. Data collected through the logbook program provides information fishery managers need. The program also allows Alaska to receive an exemption from the National Saltwater Angler Registry; a federal program that would begin levying fees for registration in 2011.
The following is an editorial comment by Bud Hodson
Senate Bill 24 is identical to a proposal put forth by a guide task force two years ago. The mission of the task force was to explore a way to reduce the number of guides and charter boats in some of Alaska’s fisheries.
Alaska has a common property clause in the State Constitution which prohibits limiting access to fish & wildlife. The State of Alaska had to amend the state constitution to allow limited entry of commercial fisheries. To amend the constitution, the people of Alaska had to vote to amend it, which they did over 30 years ago. The constitutional amendment would not apply to Sport Fishing Guides.
The task force foolishly thought they could come up with a bill that would mask the real intent for the bill, limiting entry. When the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and the task force introduced this proposed legislation to the industry two years it was shot down. The Dept. was reminded that the proposed bill is unconstitutional and the only way to limit entry of Sport Fishing Guides was to use a lottery system which is totally unacceptable to the industry.
So now, this same language shows up and gets introduced to the Alaska Legislature. For most of the industry this is a bad bill. The creation of a guide board mirrors the Big Game hunting guide board. The sport fishing guide board was a naive attempt at masking the limiting of guides. Take that unconstitutional part out of the bill and we are left with a board that will burden us with regulation and paperwork to try and justify their existence; it’s a joke.
Bud Hodson served 5 years on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, 4 as chairman. The Alaska Board of Fisheries is a 7-member Governor appointed board charged with regulating all of Alaska Fisheries, Commercial, Sport, Subsistence and Personal Use. He has been in the Sport Fishing business in Alaska for 32 years.
Bristol Bay Fishing Lodge: Childhood Memories
As adults, we can look back on our childhood and identify weeks, days, moments that are simply unforgettable. No matter how old we get, we will always have certain childhood experiences etched in the corners of our minds forever. For me, snap shots of family backpacking trips in southern Montana are irreplaceable in my treasure chest of life memories. Nobody can take this type of wealth away from me.
I know that Tikchik has fostered these experiences for many young kids, most of whom were brought to the lodge by their fish obsessed parents. The same parents who probably have fond memories of being hauled out to a river or lake to drown worms with their dad (or mom). Hence, the tradition of fishing, and more importantly, telling fish stories has been passed on to yet another generation. It is a succession that is both beautiful and a little sick.
I have literally watched young kids at Tikchik have fishing experiences that so deeply affect them, that those moments become pillars of their childhood memories. At Tikchik, there have been some epic battles between 65-pound half-pints and 30-pound King Salmon and other Goliath fish. This is truly something special to witness. I have heard with my own ears numerous accounts of catching 100+ fish in a day, beating big brother in darts, flying next to grizzly bears, catching more fish than Dad, playing with the lodge dogs, WILD boat rides, and catching the biggest rainbow of the week. All of these things add to the magic of Tikchik. Meeting Mickey Mouse and riding on Space Mountain won’t have the same effect after a rainbow nearly pulls you out of the boat at Tikchik Narrows Lodge!
Fishing is one of those nostalgic activities in life that seems to have more dimensions than is comprehensible. Even as a child, it has a way of penetrating into the soul, and leaving us an impression that lasts a lifetime.
Alaska Day Dream
A New Year has arrived, and the snow continues to fall at Tikchik. The cold air and falling flakes produce an alien silence. The lake is a static, unmoving mass that endures all. The rivers are slow and weary, and most of the creeks are just a trickle. It is the dark time in Bristol Bay. Fish are hunkered down in the deepest darkest holes unconsciously awaiting the perennial feeding frenzy of June.
In a cozy cabin in Montana, my mind wanders amid a crackling fire. A dim and misty backdrop arrives before me. White pillows are dramatically peeling off a lake in plumes of fog. The crisp air battles with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. A loon calls out and soon after the cough, cough and roar of a de Havilland Beaver echoes across the narrows. The sun bores down on the dock, and the fog fades into blue sky. Suddenly, a scene of sharp greens, yellows, and browns flash – a vast tundra, stretching out over winding rivers. Sparkling blue lakes decorate the floor, and a tall crowd of peaks looks over the scene as if to be the fatherly caretakers of this wild painting – a panorama of fishing paradise.
2010 A Success, Book 2011 Trip Now
After a successful 2010 season, we are back in our Port Townsend, WA office already starting to plan for 2011.
We are now accepting reservations for 2011. Our 2011 price is $7,400 per person. If Tikchik is in your travel plans for 2011, please let us know.
Bud Hodson – Owner/Operator
Lynne Muse – Office Manager
