As my season in AK was coming to a close, it was time to do something special and tie together everything we'd dealt with regarding fishing conditions, weather, logistics, and desires to explore something new. Along with guiding Dad, my brother had also chosen to join us in AK for the last week, so we really wanted to give him a good backcountry 'Alaskan Experience'.
I was still having dreams of orange char bellies, glistening against a sunset. The question was where to find them, and would we still be too early for them to be really colored up in preparation for the spawn.
After heading the word of friends, sifting through some books, pondering the maps and time required, and making some phone calls, a plan emerged and we settled on checking out the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. Simple plan -- pick a river, fly in, get dropped, set up a camp, fish a few days, get picked up a few days later, fly out. Of course there would still be the finding the fish and getting them to eat factor.
After some rained-out exploration on the mainland, it was time to pit-stop in King Salmon for some fuel, and load up the float plane. During the flight we spotted a nice bull caribou from the air, running around in the middle of a shallow pond. Likely trying to escape the 'white socks' (AKA black flies with white legs). Turns out it would foreshadow a bit of what was to come.
Eventually we touched down and within five minutes it seems we were alone on a riverbank, listening to the sound of the prop fading in the background, donning headnets, and unpacking tents in the afternoon sun. Sockeye were porpoising. Hopes were high.
Sometimes it takes a lot of hard work before the river rewards you. Sometimes it never does. But, sometimes, the river just smiles back at you as you wade into it. This would prove to be one of those times.
By evening on the first night, visions of orange char bellies came to fruition. The 20" Arctic Grayling 'threshold' you so often hear about in Alaska was shattered by all (a rarity lost on certain inexperienced brethren, but he'll learn). This was a very special place indeed. Maybe the river just knew our journey to that point, and felt it would play along.
As evening came upon us, it was clear this was the place we were meant to be. My goals had been met in just a few hours. With days yet to come, the icing on the cake was already in place and only going to get sweeter.
Camp life would be good.
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