Sitka 2010: Great fishing, weather permitting… 3
The annual pilgrimage to Southeast Alaska is an event that my friends and I look forward to each and every year. You never know what you're going to get on the fish or weather front and this season held many surprises on both accounts!
Our first day was sunny and flat calm. Our 28' Stabicraft "Big Red" AKA "The ESPN Boat" awaits it's crew for our run to the grounds.
Running to the outside waters was the first call and it proved to be a good one too as Gary Mitchell hoists his first Sitka king of the season.
Jack Reyes and I quickly followed up with a double and Sitka 2010 is quickly in full swing!
I have to admit, the Fetha Styx 1065 is the finest salmon rod I have ever used. There has got to be a very good reason for me to EVER use less than a 10 1/2 foot rod for salmon again!
On our second day "Big Phil" Michelsen put this fine 70lb halibut on board. This dandy ate an entire salmon head…whole!…The halibut I mean….not Phil…
The weather really changed when my second group of buddies showed up but we managed to get out and while the weather could not be described as "flat" it was still workable. With a Gale forecast looming we were going to work hard to reach the productive outside waters of Kruzof Island.
Three downriggers out and three fish on!!! Left to right, Larry Stauffer, Jim Woods and Dave Heiser enjoy three kings all running different directions!
Jim Woods with the biggest king of the trip (so far) with this fat chinook pushing 30 lbs!
Usually, I wait until the end of the trip to lay down a blog but with the winds gusting to 45mph and seas to 20 feet… we are taking something of a break from fishing… When it lays down, we will be back out and you might just see "Sitka Part Two" Stay tuned…
Looks like a great start to a great 10 days of fishing. Can't wait to sample some of Nelly's famous smoked salmon.
Oops...meant to say "hit".
Looks like you guys are having a great time up there Nelly. Same down here until the weather his terminal suck-ocity yesterday. 22 foot seas and gale force winds here right now. Brutal!