Silvers Coming On Strong
The run of lovely weather we enjoyed earlier this week got completely blown out by a low pressure system that blasted in last night. Winds gusting to over 35 knots and intermittent heavy rain greeted our anglers today.
The salmon loved it.
Gary Vasquez used a Dolly Lama fly to fool at least 20 silvers this morning, all in a single spot. This afternoon we had to hunt for a few here, a few there, but with the wind blowing like it was no one went very far and we were all fishing in already-fished-in holes. It was wonderful fishing, no matter how you slice it.
Reports are in that silver runs on other Alaskan rivers are weak enough to warrant heavy restrictions or even river closings. No such problems here. The silvers are coming on strong.
Dean Moel and his daughter Linda Shimerda caught this silver salmon double on the Goodnews River.
The dollies have moved up the river, following the groceries. The chums have spawned out and are dying by the thousands, creating a stink along the river and a feast for flesh-feeding trout and dollies. Those trout and dollies also spend time behind spawning pink and king salmon. Finding them has been a bit more difficult this week than it was just 10 days ago.
Janie Axton with a Goodnews River Dolly varden.
Yesterday afternoon a chance cast with a Mepps Flying C spinner netted an eight pound dolly by an upriver bluff. Eighty-seven year old Dean Moel, a World War 2 veteran and survivor of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, ended up getting eight or ten beautiful, fat dollies. We also got a load of silver salmon. He is a true American hero and it was awesome to spend a day with him.
A few beautiful grayling were caught earlier this week as well. Don Dahlgren of Oklahoma City got one while mousing. Janie Axton, also from Oklahoma City, got an even bigger one on an egg-sucking leech. Both of them, and their spouses, also got loads of nice dollies and a few rainbows as well.
Janie Axton again, this time with a big grayling.
John Axton stayed busy with a bunch of dollies, a few rainbows, and this pink salmon.
Fish Story of the Week-
The above-mentioned Don Dahlgren and his lovely wife Alice spent a day with me on Monday. We ran about an hour upriver, intending to target trout and dollies. When we got to the first spot Don jumped right out and started wading the flat, casting a gurgler. Alice wasn’t rigged up, so we were still in the boat while I rigged her tackle.
A dolly quickly cooperated with Don. When he went to unhook I the dolly wriggled free, firmly planting the hook in the web of skin between his thumb and forefinger. He waded back to the boat, visibly concerned, hook obviously embedded in his hand.
Checking out the problem I assured him it would be easy to remove. Thirty seconds later the hook was out of his hand, and he was soon using the same fly to catch more dollies.
A few minutes later Alice and I were out wading too. I heard a splash and Alice was down in the water, trying desperately to get up. You can’t move fast enough I these situations, but I got there as fast as I could and Alice was soon upright. Fortunately she was well dressed and only her sleeves go wet.
In spite of the real shaky start we had a wonderful day, with lots of trout and dollies and a nice grayling caught.
Capt. Paul Souza (USN, Ret.) got this beautiful rainbow trout while fishing for silver salmon. Nice accident!
And that is this week’s Goodnews River Lodge, Alaska Fishing Report.
Life is great and I love my work!
Life is short- go fishing!
John Kumiski
All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.
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