This is my major trip of the year and I book with Dave Duncan and Sons who first discovered the potential of this wonderful river more then 25 years ago.
They called it The Chosen but it's actually the Kanectoc, which is Yupik for "the river that changes", and it's located in western Alaska from the village of Quinhagak.
The Duncan's have two base camps on the river and also operate float trips. I have experienced all the fishing this magnificent river has to offer in the past 19 years and have now spent more than a year of my life here.
*The weeks I have in 2008 are July 12th to 19th and 19th to 26th for both Upper and Lower Base Camps. These are tented camps with every facility in a location which will never have a lodge due to it's special designation.
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Arctic Rainbow Trout |
You can realistically expect to catch a great many fish with the river having runs of King Salmon (Chinook) averaging 25lbs, Chum salmon averaging 10lbs, Sockeye salmon averaging 7lbs along with large numbers of sea run char, non migratory rainbows and grayling. In even years we also get large runs of Humpback (pink) salmon averaging 3lbs.
It's fly fishing only, next barbless hooks, catch and release on this beautiful, clear river with its perfect gravel bars.
Brad Duncan with Chris Sandford of TVs "Just Fishing" fame with a 38lb King Salmon
You can check this out on the Duncans web site: www.alaskaflyfishingcamps.com
Logistically Alaska is a tough location. You need to allocate 10 days to encompass a week on the river.
Fly first to Anchorage via mainland USA, stay overnight and then fly out to Bethel (one hour) and then on down to Quinhagak on the coast some 400 miles west of Anchorage. Here you meet the guides to be transported upriver to the camps by boat.
Summer in Alaska is a lovely time and you will see many thousands of fish.
Expect to pay some $4200 for the Lower Camp, $4300 for the Upper at 2008 trip and flight costs.
Principal flights are around £850 plus another £300 for the internal flights and then you need overnight accommodation plus tips etc.
Alaska isn't cheap but look at it in the light of two Scotland trips with very little chance of even seeing a fish against an exciting location with very large numbers of fish and currently the exchange rate makes this an extremely good deal.
The salmon fishing is largely with sink tip lines but with such a wealth of fish there are so many techniques which work and you can truly learn a huge amount on this trip and if you can avoid getting king salmon fever you can catch a lot of fish by mixing the species.
My Two weeks for 2008 as of November 2007 now only have one space remaining for each week. The Dollar rate will never be better so if you want to go to alaska in july call me soon. 01483 205 196
trips@petercockwill.com |
Charlie Frost and Guide Marc. 2007 |
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