ALASKA FEVER

Alaska. Just the word conjures up visions of beautiful rugged country, teaming with wildlife. Big Kodiak Bears strolling down to the river’s edge to scoop up a Salmon for an afternoon meal. Majestic Moose plodding through the bogs, with mats of green vegetation hanging from their mouths. Breathtaking vistas of mountain ranges that seem to start at the ocean’s edge and continue past the horizon.

Alaska is all this and more. One could spend a lifetime exploring it, and not see it all. It is a contagious attraction that gets in your system, and won’t let you go. I’ve got a terminal case. It infected me countless times during my trip. I caught my first whiff of it while I was weakened from a lack of sleep.

On Friday, I got off work and headed straight for the airport. After a night of flying through the air, and a long dark drive through the mountains, we arrived in the early pre-dawn hours at the river’s edge. We lay in the truck for about an hour, pretending to sleep and waiting for the sun. Then we hit the water.

On that first cold late September morning, I hooked my first wild Alaskan Steelhead on a fly. Notice I said, "hooked". She chewed me up and spit me out, literally, in what seemed like only a moment. From then on I was terminally infected.

Then there was our side trip to the Kenai River. We were too late for the great salmon runs on this famous water (the world record Chinook Salmon was caught here, 97.25 pounds!), but we were right on time to battle the giant Rainbow Trout that come up from the lakes to feast on the blizzard of eggs that these salmon produce.

Our guide had spent over 25 years on this water, and he looked the part. His old felt hat was falling apart and his beard was scraggly and long. His knowledge of and respect for this river, however, was immense. We spent a wonderful fall day battling these ‘Bows with rods normally designed to fight Steelhead. Sometimes we landed the brutes, the largest one approaching 25 inches and easily 6 pounds. Many times, these bruisers ran us well into our backing, and the only reward we got was a hoot and holler from the shore, and a snapped leader. It’s quite difficult to tie on a new fly when your hands are shaking from adrenaline overload…..

Contrary to what your physician may tell you, this is a disease that I think everyone should contract, as soon as possible. Adrenaline overload is normally not fatal, and is often quite euphoric. Battling fish that end up breaking your line (or your rod!) is not always depressing, it’s often awe-inspiring. This disease can be expensive. But then again, what isn’t? You can easily design your trip to fit your budget (and your tolerance for adventure).

Get out there and do it!! Then come back and tell us about how you caught that sought after syndrome, known as the Alaskan Fever.

by Gerrit Roelof