Week 7 at Alaska West welcomed back the famed Dave Howe, with his family and friends along, for another great week on the Kanektok.
Dave has been joining us for so many years and he has always brought together memorable family and friends to enjoy this great time on the river. This year his sons, Dave Jr and Nelson came with him along with Nelson’s son Silas for his first time to camp. Another grandson, Mathew Moura also came along with Grampa Howe to keep him company. Steve Ward and Bobbie Brown also joined us again and Bobbie finally convinced her sister Alice, husband Sterling and children, Hopie and Reuben to come with them. It was quite the trip for them being that it was the first fishing trip they had ever been on.
Can you say go big or go home? They went big! Wren and Finn Ward joined parents Bobby and Steve for another week of fishing, rock hunting, shore lunches and movies in the lounge on the cold days. We have had so many memorable times with this group over the years that words just do not do it justice. It was great to see all of them again!
The weather this week was not nice at all, but our guests persevered through most of it. Robert was working overtime just to keep up with the hot soup and cocoa consumption. Most of the week was very wet, a bit windy and cold with very little sun. Our temps may have topped out at about 60! Fortunately the group new they only had to endure a week of it, before getting to warm up back at home, where for many it had been quite hot.
The fishing this week was pretty good overall, though we did have a rise in water levels mid week due to excessive rain. Normally the silver fishing is better this week, but with factors like the river coming up and it being a “Pink year” it was a bit slow. And this “Pink year” has been a record breaker with huge numbers of the small, but hard fighting salmon cruising into the river. Also, the chum run has been on record pace as well so finding silvers in the mix was quite tough at times.
Trout and dolly fishing was pretty consistent even in the not so nice weather. Some really nice fish were caught with some of the best being landed by new fly anglers. We also had a couple Pacific Salmon Grand Slams this week with Tom Olivo almost landing a Super Slam (all five salmon, dolly, rainbow, and grayling). Maybe next year Tom!
We look forward to seeing you all next year and doing it all over again.
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