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NEWS With a 30” rainbow caught on the Big Ku the first week of the season, the pace was set for an unbelievable summer of fishing, weather and water conditions. Early season weather was nice enough to have t-shirt temperatures and great dry fly action right from day one. Less rain than the previous year had all the rivers at a perfect level and a small salmon run made for great conditions for trout fishing. A late July experience of guides and guests spending the night on the river even turned out to be an adventure that will be retold in lodge folklore for years to come. Overall, Enchanted Lake Lodge’s 48th year of operation was as good as it had ever been and once again proved why ELL is considered the best lodge in the business. The Fishing... An especially warm spring in SW Alaska made for a great early season with nice weather and perfect water conditions. The salmon fry fishing was past its prime on some rivers but was replaced by earlier than usual insect hatches. These rivers had spectacular dry fly and nymph fishing from the season opener all the way until August. On the Brooks River we were lucky to have fry fishing overlap with great bug hatches, making for some phenomenal fishing. The American Creek stood out as a spot that produced better, day after day, than ever before. Lower water than normal allowed us to fish new areas on the middle section that we had not accessed before. Clients had the chance to see parts of the canyon they had not visited before, and were often rewarded with fishing so good that it was often described as, “indescribable.” The dry fly fishing on the upper and lower sections of the creek were fantastic as well. The lower section, with its jet-boat ride and numerous small braided channels is always an adventure and the sight fishing this summer was consistently great from June into August. The sockeye salmon entered the rivers a few weeks later than usual for the second year in a row, giving guests an extended dry fly season. Anglers who would normally fish egg patterns in late July had the chance to experience the amazing dry fly action usually available earlier in the summer. As the salmon arrived in early August the trout were ready and waiting. The fishing changed overnight from dry fly action to bead fishing that was so good rainbows were literally racing each other for the eggs. The Moraine, Funnel, Battle and Kulik were all great for the remainder of the season, and were at times the best the guide staff had ever seen them. The Kulik River was particularly impressive, with fish that were bigger, more beautifully colored and stronger than ever before. The number of salmon in the rivers remained at a perfect balance that kept the trout fishing great, with salmon never overrunning the rivers to the point of choking up. Head guide Nick Douglas thought that the fishing on many of the rivers was better than he had ever seen it. With an abundance of 24”-27” trout in the rivers, the future looks bright for the Katmai region trout fishery. The Enchanted Lake Difference... Once again this season we felt how lucky we are at ELL to have the experience of guides and pilots who have fished and flown the region for countless years. No matter what the conditions are, you can count on our pilots to get you there and back safely, with guides who will put you into the best fishing you have ever experienced. Back at the lodge, everybody is treated nightly to gourmet meals, fine wines, and luxury accommodations that would be spectacular in a big city, and are simply amazing when found in this remote setting. This, combined with the location of the lodge to easily access numerous world-class rivers with quick and easy flights, is why ELL has been called, “The best sport fishing lodge in the world.” Conservation... Enchanted Lake Lodge continues to work with The Conservation Fund, protecting strategically located tracts of private land along Southwest Alaska’s many rivers and lakes. The sale of these lands remains a constant threat to important habitat for fish and wildlife. The Conservation Fund, working with lodge owners to identify properties that are the most important for habitat and access, is compiling an impressive list of acquisitions in the region. The Fund, with the help of a major grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and financing from various federal grant programs and appropriations, has been able to raise substantial funds. Private dollars are needed, though, to provide the match that federal and private foundations require. This private participation also provides important political leverage when Congress is making appropriations decisions. Donor funds are leveraged at the rate of 10:1, historically. You can get involved in a few ways beyond the obvious role of a donor. If you are interested contact Glenn Elison, The Conservation Fund’s Alaska State Director, at (907) 868-7974 or glennelison@alaska.com or me. More information about this project is available at www.swakcc.org. Looking Ahead to 2010... We look forward to sharing another fantastic season at ELL with all of you. We will continue the tradition of providing experienced pilots, the best aircraft in the business, exceptional cuisine, unmatched service and accommodations, and professional guides that are the best in the business. For the discriminating angler looking for the best, this is the ultimate Alaskan experience. If you have not confirmed your reservation for 2010, please do so soon. We want to thank everyone who visited us last season and say we are looking forward to seeing you again this summer. |
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