Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – Kenai to Anchorage
The RVs split up again this day – six of us went fishing or floating and the others went on to Anchorage. The fishermen and float trippers went to Kenai River Fly Fishing where we met up with our respective guides. Aaron, Andy, and I were with Mike our salmon fishing guide. Chrissy, Delaney and Gami got hooked up with their float trip.
Salmon fishing during the run is a little more like snagging than fishing. We used fly rods with a piece of yarn tied to a hook to create the “fly”. It was my one and only time using a fly rod. I have always wanted to learn to fly fish for real and that is still on my bucket list. We donned our waders, boarded a boat with Mike and took off down the river. We stopped at several places and everyone got fish. Andy got the first one of the day, then Aaron and I each got two. As the sockeye get close to spawning their bodies turn red. The best meat is before that happens and their bodies are still silver. Aaron caught the biggest fish of the day and it had not started to turn red at all. It was definitely the best fish of the day in addition to being the biggest. The grin on his face was priceless.
In an epic example of poor planning (or no planning, I suppose), our last-minute decision to fish on our last full day in Alaska left us with 16.8 lbs of filets to overnight back home to Florida instead of eating while we were in Alaska. Between the guide and the overnight charges, that was by far the most expensive fish I have ever eaten, and the experience was worth every penny.
Meanwhile, the girls were on their float trip on the same stretch of the Kenai River. They saw bald eagles, three incredibly good-looking fishermen, and a brown bear right around a bend from the fishermen. They freaked out a little thinking we might be in danger, but the bear never came anywhere near us and we never saw him.
After our fantastic day of fishing and floating, we drove on to Anchorage and rendezvoused with the other RV at the Golden Nugget RV park for one last night in Alaska. And, of course, we went back to the Moose’s Tooth for dinner. One more Backpacker pizza and craft beer. I can’t wait to get back for my next Backpacker, some more salmon, and hopefully some halibut fishing too.
Where Are We Going Now? 