Who Here Has Made The Trek

fin little

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Who among us has made the trip to Alaska and experienced one of the last truly wild places left on earth? What did you hunt and what part of Alaska did you visit? My brother and I hunted caribou and fished for Coho in the land of the great brown bears. We lived for a week camped in a hut on the beach of Yantarni Bay. Its an hours flight by bush plane from King Salmon . We could see Kodiak Island from our camp. The hunting was good but the fishing was spectacular. 10 pound silvers from unnamed rivers until your arms were too weak to continue. That was back in sept 89. I'm hoping to see Gods country again someday.
 
I've never been there, but those giant bears sure look fun. I'd love to see one up-close, not too close though. LOL

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
 
I went caribou hunting two years ago and we are going again in August. I have never been to a place like it. It is a experience all hunters should try at least once. Hopefully you won't get hooked!
 
Your right, everyone should experience Alaska. Spending time in a wilderness that you know you ar'nt just going to walk out of if something goes wrong is amazing. We never got to see one of the giant bears but we were well aware of thier presence. There was fresh paper plate size tracks and scat on the beach outside camp every morning. The rivers we fished were littered with the remains of spawning humpbacks the bears were gorging on. I packed my magnum everywhere we went. I would have liked to have seen a bear . maybe someday.
 
Alaska is truly America's last frontier. I spent 7 summers working in Southeast Alaska(a.k.a. the panhandle) earning money to pay for my schooling. That was in the 1976-1983 time period. One year I worked in a logging camp. The next year I work in a fish cold storage. The last 5 years I commercially fished for salmon on a troller. It was a 2 man operation and it is the only commercially way to fish salmon with fishing lines, much like sport fishing. The other methods involve the use of nets(gill netting and seining). I got to see alot of the southeast. One year we did help someone move to Homer near the Kenai Pennsila, which is not far from Koidiak Island. We drove from Haines, along the Yukon highway. Beautiful country. Fishing is unbelievable. In the southeast , once the salmon start running there are very few creeks on almost any island that are not filled with salmon. On occasion we would catch halibut. The halibut in Alaska can get HUGE! The largest we ever caught was 7 feet 10 inches long and weighed 370 lbs. The cheeks were 6 lbs. In Alaska the locals have learned the halibut cheeeks are a pretty tasty treat. Anyway I could go on and on. I never have hunted in Alaska but it is something I have been thinking about lately. jim
 
Last year was my first time up and I loved it. We went to Soldetna and fished the Kenai for reds. It was awesome. I got to see a 'bou that was absolutely huge all in velvet, unfortunately I didn't get to take any pics because I dropped my camera in the river that morning. My buddies and I are now making the pilgrimage every year and will be up there in July. Haven't got to hunt anything yet, but I am sure that won't be to far in the future.

Sportfury
 
Back in 1984 the wife and I took a month vacation and I drove up to Alaska. Spent a week with a good friend in Valdez, and fished every day for Silvers. Check the 2 pictures under the "Welcome To Our New Forum" at the beginning of this thread. That was a "days catch" for the wife and I.
Left Valdez and drove down to Kenai and visit with my step-brother and he took me out on the Kenai and we fished for "reds".
Then the wife and I went up throught central Alaska to Fairbanks, where we stayed for a few days sightseeing, then back down to Tok.
Believe me, you can not see everything in ONE MONTH. Haven't been back yet, but the time is nearing as my step-brother keeps bugging me about coming up and going fishing at his remote fish camp across the Cook Inlet.
Hunting up there would be a "extra" during the stay.

Brian
 
I spent a summer working at my Brother-in laws family lodge on Prince of Wales, west of Ketchikan. I was a maintenance guy. It was sweet, I had 2 hour lunch breaks and a few hours of daylight after the guests got back with their fish. I spent every spare moment fishing or hiking around the island. I got to shoot a black bear and a couple of sitka blacktails. On my way, via boat, to go fishing, I had 6 shrimp pots that I pulled for my own personal use. Holy balls those spotties are tasty! I wound up sending home a total of 70 lbs of cleaned shrimp, around 280 lbs of salmon filets and right at 420 lbs of halibut and 100 lbs of cured salmon roe for bait. Need less to say, I had to have my fiancee go out and buy me another freezer. All of my friends and family ate like kings on seafood for quite a while. I would give just about anything to do it all again. If all of mine and my wife's family werent down here, I would move up there in a heartbeat! When I lost my job last year, I tried my dambdest to get my wife to move to Alaska. I am hoping to get back up in 2005 or 2006 to do some moose,bear and maybe dall hunting.
Eric
 
I have only fished. I went six years straight, back in the eighties. The biggest salmon I ever got was 48lbs. One day, me and a friend caught and released 40 silvers in one morning. Caught them on 10lb test and steelhead rods. Things are not that good anymore where I went. To many people!
 
I spent 2 summers commercial fishing up there during college. Got in some pretty good halibut and silver fishing. I am heading back up at the end of August for a Caribou/black bear hunt and to do some fishing with my brother in Valdez. Can't wait.
 
I spent 2 years working consttruction in Juneau 87-88. We fished every day the weather permitted and hunted the rest. Got several Sitka's and a nice bear. I think that S.E. AK. is some of the best fishing in the world. I have taken my family up twice for vacation my kids caught fish tell they were exhausted.

Ironhead
 
I have not been yet but want to go bad. On average, how much can you do a fishing trip for? Can anybody give me an idea on how much I need to save.
 
I am 5 months away from my first trip up (moose and caribou). It's been 2 years in the planning, and I'm already losing sleep just thinking about it!!!! :)
 
Ok, I am interested to know more about your trip. Like, how did you decide where to go--how much time have you got planned for the trip---are you flying in and floating a rive or going guided --or un-guided. How many are going with you?

Mike McCrary
Alaska Bush Sports
http://www.alaskabushsports.com
 
Just the fishing portion of the trip could cost you less than the ticket to get to Alaska. But I would say---with a week off work, a plane ticket, some gear, license, food, some kind of transportation once you are here, and misc. expenses---3,ooo.oo bucks?

what kind of fishing---where and when will be variables that could increase the cost, easily up to about 4,ooo.oo

Mike McCrary
Alaska Bush Sports
http://www.alaskabushsports.com
 
I'm interested in going sometime in the next 2 years. would like to hunt caribou and moose before I can't get around anymore. whats a good 7-10 day combo hunt costing these days? Are there hunts that an older guy can do? I need to get the ball rolling.
 
206Mike, I talked to every outfitter and air taxi service I could find, and talked to people who had gone. I guess the outfitter I picked was just on a gut feeling. We are flying in, then floating 50 miles of river. It is an unguided hunt, but fully outfitted, and there will be 4 people on the river. It's a 14 day hunt, primarily for moose, but should be a lot of caribou in the area. It's supposedly a really tough float, with about 3 or 4 portages along the way.
The cost for the outfitter was $2900, plus another grand for airline tickets, and another grand on top of that for all the tags.
 
3 trips so far, just for fishing and sightseeing. mostly on the peninsula. I would love to hunt moose, but at 24 with a new house and baby, it'll be a while.
 
Yeah I think the outfitter will laugh when I give him my AARP card and expect a discount. Better check out Alaskan Bush Sports and make sure they take it :)
 
Well, I do not know if "good moose/caribou combos" can be done in 7-10 days. If you had 15 to 20 days and 8.5K you can find a couple of good options. [Of course if you had an AARP card there is one outfit that might give a discount!!]

What I would recommend is plan a really good caribou hunt. Add in a couple of days of fishing or sight seeing and stay the 10 days. Plan on spending 3.5K. Forget the moose hunt. Moose hunts are expensive, too much work, you do not have the same likley hood of success as with the caribou.

If you think you really have to have a moose. Just plan the moose hunt. Go solo, go guided. Put all the odds in your favor you can, and get it done.

You can hunt caribou from a wheel chair----I know.

Mike McCrary
Alaska Bush Sports
http://www.alaskabushsports.com
 
I made it, but not hunting/fishing. My wife and I did a Carnival Cruise on the inside passage. Fantastic!! Will never forget it. Planning on another the summer of '05. Will be fishing that time!!! PC
 
I did a Caribou hunt in 2001. We only got to hunt 4 days of a planned 8 day hunt due to 9/11 and not knowing what was going on in the world did dampen our spirits a little. Even w/ the crunch for time we were 8 for 8 on bou. We hired a flying service out of Dillingham that dropped us off at a lake. It involved alot of hiking & packing. The lake was huge and we rented a zodiac so we didn't all need to leave from the same spot to hunt. We didn't see as many animals as we wished so took our bull when the chance presented itself. I'd like to go again, maybe in a couple years. One of my buddies from the trip recently moved to AK & I'm hoping he'll invite up again.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-22-04 AT 08:58AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Apr-22-04 AT 08:56?AM (MST)

I made the trek in '86 to work in a fishcamp on the Kvichak River guiding flyfisherman back during the summer of '86. Ended up staying thru the end of '92. Ah...to be in my early 20s again and be able to do things on a whim like that again.

I shot a meat moose (no horns) and many Sitka Blactails while I lived on Kodiak Island. Never shot a caribou but ate a lot of it. Even tried muskox while I lived up there--talk about good eatin'~! Oh, I don't know if you can consider shooting a wild cow (yes, of the mooo variety) that were abandoned on one of the Aleutian islands counts as hunting or not...lol~!
 
I made the trek in 01'. I saved up $1000 got in my pickup and drove north, I spent 2 weeks in Skagway were I meet an owner of a B&B and worked odd jobs. I then ferryed down to Juneau were I stayed for 6 months. The fishing was incredible, I like many of you fished my brains out and caught enough fish to feed a small army. I worked for Temsco Helicopters while in Juneau and was able to take many flights around the Juneau Ice fields. From Juneau I ferryed to Haines and drove to Fairbanks were I ended up living for 2+ years. I worked at a gas station and rented a small cabin. With extensive research I planned a sheep hunt in the Brooks Range. I booked a flight with Coyote Air, highly recomend, and started buying top notch backpacking and hunting equipment. In the mean while I landed a job with a taxidermist fleshing bears and other game part time along with pumping gas. When time finally came around for my sheep hunt, I had to quit the gas job because they wouldn't give me the time off. I didn't care though, this was a once in a lifetime experience. I spent 14 days in the Brooks chasing Sheep around. I saw 5 grizzlies, 4 wolves, 1 caribou( I shot), and at least a 100 sheep. I ended up killing a 39 1/2 inch ram, the best I saw on the 9th day I was their. Weather keep me in camp 50% of the time, which was actually a nice break from walking in the tundra. I still reflect on that hunt and daydream of the days I was raoming around the Brooks. I have never experienced something so magnificant in my life. There is no way to explain the feelings you get on a wilderness adventure than to experience it yourself. The taxidermy work ended up full time were I learned much of the trade to feel comfortable doing mounts myself. I ended up moving back to my home state later the following year. I've since started venturing into the taxidermy business myself, it's a slow start but things are working out. I often ask myself why the hell did I move back. I'm planning to be back in Alaska hunting moose in 05'. I'm in the first stages of researching and man the information is almost overwhelming.. Can't wait to be back, I love Alaska.
 
I spent two weeks in SW Alaska in May of 96. A family friend has been commercial salmon fishing out of Sand Point for many years. He invited my dad & I up to visit him prior to his fishing season starting. We spent a week with him getting his boat ready, and exploring around the local islands fishing for halibut, cod, etc... We explored an old ghost town on an island called Unga Island. Very cool!

Our buddy knows a guy who runs a bear lodge on the peninsula about an hour's flight from Cold Bay. They flew us over to his lodge, where they were just finishing-up the spring bear hunts. The last of the hunters had left for the season, and it was just the guides/skinners/etc. left. We spent 5 days just hanging out at the lodge, catching Dolly Varden, spotting game, and listening to bear hunting stories. They had a bear hide strung-up getting ready for shipping when we arrived that was HUGE! If I can dig up the picture, I'll try to post it. The lodge had pictures of past bear hunting success' posted all over the place. Apparently the owner's father had 'home-steaded' the land after WWII, and slowly built it into an amazing bear hunting operation. They do a little caribou & moose, as well as some fishing in the summer, but they mainly focus on bears. Anyone ever hear of Bear Lake Lodge?

It was an amazing experience! I have a lot of great memories from that trip!

S.

:)
 
I went fishing in Southeast Alaska in 2001 and 2002. We stayed at the Silverking lodge near Ketchikan and had a blast. We caught many Silvers, Pinks, Chums, a few Kings, and a ton on halibut. I love Alaska and hope to go back next summer.
 
My first trip to Alaska was in '84 to Ketchican. $499 got air from Salt Lake, a condo, rental car, 16' aluminum boat, tackle, bait, fish prep, 5 days 6 nights. Ahhhhhh those were the days. Prices went up, but we went back every year from '84-97, just fishing. Been all over South East AK and the Penninsula (Anchorage to Homer to Seward). Then we went back on a cruise in 1998, which I thought I'd hate, but it was a good time. Now I havn't been back since. Too long to go without experiencing Alaska. I have never hunted there yet, but plan to this Nov or next, depending on the Draws. Always saw lots of bear, deer, moose, etc.
 
You youngsters need to make the trip before life ties you down with too many responsibilities. I had a chance back in '58 where it would have only cost me $250 or so for airfare.My uncle was in the Air Force up there, and was going to foot the bill for everything else. I didn't think I could afford it, and I have been kicking myself ever since. Started having kids, etc.Got into a profession, teaching, where money was short, and couldn,t get away during hunting season.Retired in '97 and finally can go west and hunt.
Next summer we are planning to fly from Florida to Seattle, rent a SUV, drive up to Ak. fishing where we can, see the sights, come back to Seattle on the Alaska Ferry System( I've heard good things about the trip on the ferry) , and fly home. I'll bet that's going to cost a little more than $250!!!
So, if you can, suck it up, save your pennies instead of wasting them on women (they'll be here when you get back) and get up there while you have a chance. If you can get a job up there and extend your time ,so much the better. I'll bet the guys who said they did that wouldn't trade the experience for anything!
 
I've been to Alaska five times, and I love it...I only wish I could afford to go every year...

I've done one float trip for moose and caribou, two unguided drops for moose and caribou and two unguided drops for caribou only...

I've never gone up for the sole purpose of fishing, but I have fished while on my hunting trips..

For anyone who loves wild places, being on your own in Alaska is an experience without equal...I'm currently planning to go back in 2006 with a friend, for one more "old man's" moose hunt...
 
Been up there twice; once visiting friends/backpacking/touristing with my bride, and once on a 2 week float hunt for moose NE of Fbks.
Anyone read Alaska Magazine? Remember the cover story last year about the Bison hunt? The author was my hunting partner on the moose trip. He's a friend from school who is a part time guide and licensed pilot. I live vicariously through him a lot.
I'll be going back sometime...
HB
 
have been there twice, my uncle bilt his sail boat in valdez, and my grandfather drove truck for kodiak north to prudhoe bay and has a place in faibanks. It is a truly awsome place can't wait to get back
 
I went to Yakutat last September for a Coho fishing trip. Caught tons of fish, a few halibut and saw several bears on the Situk River. This was my first and only trip to Alaska, and I sure hope it will not be my last. I had a great time and would love to go back.
 
I have been there 3 times and will go back. In May 2002, went on a guided spring black bear hunt-near Petersburg. Saw a ton of bears, but late May is alittle to late for great hides. I killed a smaller 5'10" bear with no rubs. But saw 3 bears well over 7' but rubbed bad-got alot of cool video!
In 2003, i killed a nice 6'1" bear in SE Alaska on unguided hunt also caught a 50LB King after the hunt! More cool video. My buddy killed a monster 7'6" bear that made all time book. This hunt was in april, fishing was slow, but I caught a nice one. August 2003, I hunted unguided on ADAK Island for Caribou-Weather sucks! Fishing is awesome! Senery was world class and caribou were killed. Mine scored 425 SCI.
I will go back for a late season Mnt goat or brown bear.
You have gotta love Alaska!
Marty
Wyoming
 
I've been 3 times. Went with my parents in 87. Drove all the way up and back from TX. What a trip. Sightseeing and fishing.

Talked my wife into AK for our honeymoon in 95. Another great trip and a bit of great fishing as time allowed.

Have a good friend that I coached in 4H shooting when he was in high school. He guides fishing up there in the summer. He asked me one to many times last summer. They go hunting after fishing is over. Thought we'd see no moose. Should have bought the tag....

Then hunt was late season and we had to move once. Running out of time I had to drop my bow and grab a rifle. But it was a once in a lifetime experience. Spot the bull about 3.5 miles from camp. Find him back again by himself 8 hours later. Make an unbelievable shot twice with my friends 338. Had 2 big bears watch us hike the hour it took to get up to my caribou. Kinda scary but the Smith Airweight 44 mag made me feel a bit better..... Super scenery. I think my friends video clip about us being on top of the mountain with God says it all. I get all tore up every time I relive it. It made my dads days too. As he could not and never will be in health to do it. :eek:(

I do have the suggestion, do it while you can. Especially if its non guided. We packed my bull out in one trip(2 of us). 3.5 miles to the airstrip over tough terrain. Luckily it was mostly downhill or flat. But its the most I've ever carried that far in my life. And 39 was almost too old. I'm trying to stay on a stair stepper 30 minutes a day now in prep for a muley hunt. Gets tougher the older you get.

My wife goes with us on the next hunt. I kidded my buddy about getting a hunting guides job too. Just got the note he's starting in the fall. Moose is ok but I need a guide for Sheep, big bear, and goats.

Buying good equipment isn't cheap. But when you realize where you are, its mandatory. Buy it once, buy it right, and live. A better tent is on the list(any advice??) as is a Leica spotting scope. An Epirb locator and maybe a sattelite phone also. Plus all my wifes clothes.

Believe the folks that a sleeping bag that works when wet, clothes that work when wet, and the best raingear you can get are super important. Glad I had them. I was ok but could have had even better gear.

Hopefully Moose is on the list in a year or two... But Carolyns Caribou will be tops on the list.

BTW a good camera and video are almost more important than the rifle. I almost loaded up to chips in the digital camera. Worth every picture!

Jeff
 
I went on a trip to kodiak two years ago. Cuaght tons of kings salmon and halibut. We saw everything from whales to dolphins and deer to kodiak brown bears, one even got into the back of the truck at the local dump in kodiak.
 
Twice: Fishing trip out of Soldotna going for the Kenai Kings & then a self guided trip on POW for big black beer. My wife took a 20" black.

Currently planing a Moose hunt - thinking hard about the Brooks in 07.
 
I spent 3 weeks floating the Chilikatrotna. Wild and scenic for sure.After flying out of Dummy Creek we spent another week on the Anchor fishing for steelhead and silvers.I also spent a week at the Salty Dog one night.
 
Been to Alaska 5 times (so far). Four fishing trips and one unguided caribou hunt (solo). Some time I need to write my story of the caribou hunt. It's an adventure I'll never forget for sure.

My last trip was July 2004 to Kenai for Reds, Kings, and Halibut with my two brothers.

Tope, some say you haven't been to Alaska till you've been to the Salty Dog Saloon. Be hard to argue.

Steve
 

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