The jangling of the telephone sliced through the darkness, shaking me to my core. It was 4:30 a.m., and in the handful of instants before Ken could pick up the phone on his side of the bed, I imagined every possible disaster in the book.

Who is it? I mouthed, unable to stand the suspense a moment longer. Northwest Airlines…. he lip synched to me in return. And so, our vacation began. For months, we had been planning it our return to Alaska after a two-year hiatus. And now, the recording on the other end of the telephone was telling us our flight had been canceled because the Duluth Airport was socked in by fog. Oh, noooooo….. I moaned into my pillow. I quickly reemerged, however. Lets get in the car, drive to Minneapolis and catch it there! I cried. We leaped out of bed and scrambled around in the darkness resolve quickly taking over for despair. Twelve hours later, we found ourselves circling over the tree-covered hills, dramatic ocean flats and snow-capped mountains surrounding Anchorage. It was like coming home again our fourth trip to a land wed grown to know and love ever since our son, Jason, first moved there to attend college in Fairbanks.

We made a quick trip to the market for supplies to replenish the pantry at the fishing lodge Jason now operates on Lake Creek, and we arrived at Rusts Flying Service on Lake Hood shortly before 5 p.m. with our four big duffel bags and five boxes of groceries. A group of tourists who had just returned from a flight seeing trip to Mount McKinley seemed impressed by our mountain of gear. Youd think we were going out caribou hunting for weeks, wouldnt you? I commented with a grin to no one in particular. We went into the office and checked in for our float plane flight and then returned outside to await our departure. An older woman from the flight seeing group tentatively approached me and asked shyly, Are you really going caribou hunting? No, I laughed, were actually going out to our sons fishing lodge. Oh, darn! she replied, looking disappointed. I was so impressed to think that you were actually going caribou hunting!

It wasnt until the next morning, when we were finally knee-deep in the middle of Lake Creek in our hip waders that I finally began to relax and let Alaska truly began to seep under my skin and rid me of all the stress and tension of the days and weeks leading up to that moment. Before I was even ready for it, a silver salmon hit my line. Mom, mom, let him run with it! yelled Jason. And dont forget to keep your rod tip up or hell break it right off! No matter how often Ive done it before, I always seem to have that breaking in period where I forget everything Ive been taught and simply panic. And as quickly as it began, my battle with the fish was over as he broke loose and darted away. It wasnt long, however, before another one hit my line. At this time of year, the salmon are preparing to spawn, so they hit the bait more out of anger and distraction than hunger, and they put up a mighty fight when they get hooked.

My line zinged almost continually as the silver salmon made run after run with it, and finally he managed to cartwheel his entire length above the surface of the water. Man, oh, man, I yelled. This is living! Remembering at last my carefully-tutored instructions of a couple of years ago, I patiently worked the fish until I got him far enough up toward shore for Jason to ease him out of the water.

The 8-pound salmon was solid muscle and in the early throes of turning the tell-tale scarlet of the spawning season. Intending to release him, I wanted first to have my picture taken with him. I handed my digital camera to Jason, and he carefully transferred the fish into my eagerly waiting grasp. Now, Mom, Jason cautioned, be careful not to squeeze him too hard, but keep a firm grip so he doesnt get away from you….

I wrapped one hand around the base of the fishs tail and gingerly slipped the other just under its gills, keeping him low to the water. And then, as I looked up into the camera lens and turned on a dazzling smile, the fish gave one mighty twist and got away.

Part II

The bone-chilling cold of the morning was warring with the sleep-inducing warmth of the big quilt that engulfed us. The skies had cleared overnight, and the temperature had dipped below freezing, coating the grass and the front porch of our little cabin with a brittle coat of frost. Though it would have been easy to give in to the beckoning of our warm covers, the thought of the thermos of hot coffee that I knew would be waiting out front on the porch railing was too strong to resist.

I gingerly crawled into jeans that were as cold as the outside air, dragged a sweatshirt over my head and darted outside to grab the waiting thermos and the thick mug that accompanied it.

I knew that my son, Jason, probably had been up for hours already and I marveled at how all things come full circle…. Later, we walked up to the main lodge, where Jason was frying hash browns generously laced with onion on the grill in the kitchen. Off in another corner of the grill was a mountain of eggs scrambled with thick slices of sausage. Breakfast is definitely one of the high points of the day at Wilderness Place Lodge, and after one sniff of its delicious aromas, there was no turning back! We pretty much inhaled our breakfast, however eager to set out on our planned trip to a salmon creek known as Eight Mile, up the mighty Yenta and Skwentna rivers. We were soon zooming up the Yenta in one of the lodges flat-bottomed jet boats, bundled up to the eyebrows against the icy morning air. For a time, I felt as though my eye sockets were freezing until we rounded a bend in the river and were greeted by the full panorama of the Alaska Range in bold relief against the brightening morning sky. It took our collective breaths away, and we forgot all about being cold.

At last, we arrived at our destination a sand bar just at the confluence of the Skwentna and Eight Mile. We beached the boat, threw the anchor ashore and disembarked with all of our gear.

As the morning sun began to warm us, it was a day unlike few others and the silvers were biting! Silver salmon are fighting fish, and their acrobatics and reel-smoking runs make stream fishing for them as exciting as any fishing Ive ever encountered. One minute the line is casually drifting through pockets of calm water along the shoreline, and the next, the brawny fish hit with spine-tingling aggression and proceed to give you the wildest game tug-of-war youve every played!

And though we did battle with so many of them our arms were aching by the end of the morning, we only kept three of them one to eat for dinner that night and two to take back and smoke over a slow-burning alder fire in the smoker.

Before heading back to the lodge, we decided to stop and hike in from the river to the Skwentna Roadhouse for lunch in the warm, homey kitchen of the old two-story house located in a small clearing in the woods. The roadhouse, like so many others scattered across Alaska, is meant as a stopping-over place for remote travelers in the Alaskan wilderness. This particular one also once served as a wintertime boarding house for children whose families lived in areas too isolated for them to get to school every day. It also plays host to race spectators during the famous Iditarod Sled Dog race each year (the Skwentna Post Office across the river is the races first official stopover).

The couple who has owned and run the roadhouse for the past 40 years has been trying to retire for the past several years so they can fulfill their dream of living on a sailboat off the coast of Baja California. But alas they have been unable to find a buyer and so they run it still.

Part of the ritual of stopping there is sitting around the big kitchen table and shooting the breeze with them for a while before ordering your food no matter how empty your stomach is. When we mentioned we were from northern Minnesota, the husband, John, commented with a grin, Wow as if I couldnt tell from the accent! Whoo-ee, Joyce, he guffawed to his wife, maybe we should put on the Fargo tape while these folks are here…!!

Information on Wilderness Place Lodge may be found online at:

Wendy Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/an-alaska-fishing-experience-on-lake-creek-travels-in-the-village-of-skwentna-87311.html

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I have had the pleasure of fishing for salmon in Alaska. It was a thrilling experience!

To see 3 feet long Silver’s in a stream surrounded by 10,000+ foot mountains is something you dream about.

If you have fished for salmon anywhere and they are spawning you know they aren’t all that easy to catch as they aren’t feeding only intent on

running up stream to their spawning spot. So it takes some patience and good timing as well as knowing where and when they are running.

But for any fisherman, this is one of the ultimate experiences!

Here are a few tips:

Your First Pole:
The most important piece of equipment is a fishing pole of course! The best place to purchase a pole is at a real pro shop or bait and tackle shop.

Pro shops usually have a generous return policy. If you get a pole that is not comfortable for you, too stiff or too flexible, too long or too short, they will generally exchange it for a pole that will work better for you.

Bottom line, they want your return business for other things like bait and tackle.

The Place:
The best place to fish for salmon is in the river when they come up to spawn. The local pro shop should be happy to provide you with the best times for fishing salmon.

Salmon spawn at different times and come up the rivers at different intervals throughout the season. So, planning is important if you want to

actually fish when the salmon are spawning. You can get alot of good information with a subscription to Alaska magazine or do a search online for the location you are interested in.

The Boat:
Best case scenario is to have a flat bottom river boat, but those are expensive. It may not be a good idea to take a regular “V” hull lake boat into the river because the depths can be too shallow and unpredictable.

Another wonderful way to experience your first salmon trip is by hiring a guide. You’ll learn more from the guide then on your own. It can be pricey, but it’s worth it. Alaska guides generally charge $200/day per person.

No boat? No worries. Fishing from shore is a wonderful way to experience this fantastic hobby as well. Get some waders and watch out for the slippery rocks!

The Bait:
Ask the Pro’s at the pro shop what works best in your area or the area you are going to fish. They will most likely suggest salmon eggs. They are cured in many different ways and everyone has their favorite.

You may wonder why you would want to use salmon eggs. It’s very simply really. After salmon spawn, the parent fish stay around the nest to protect the eggs from predators like trout.

The currents will also carry the eggs away. When this happens the parent fish gently pick the eggs in their mouth and bring them back to the nest.

So, when you dangle salmon eggs in the water after the salmon have spawned, they will see the eggs and assume that some have floated out of the nest. When they go to retrieve them, they get hooked!

The Catch:
Take along an ice chest filled with ice to keep your catch fresh. You may want to have a couple of five gallon buckets as well. One bucket for cleaning your catch. Another bucket to keep the ready-to-eat gutted and cleaned salmon in.

If you clean it before you take it home, you avoid the smelly bloody mess in your kitchen. Many rivers in Alaska, Kenai, Russian, Montana, Bird…have fish cleaning facilities.

A third bucket could be used to save salmon eggs gutted from a female. You can save the egg sack and cure it later. You can learn more about how to cure the eggs, or roe, online or talk to someone in your local pro shop for suggestions.

The Filleting:
You can cut your fish in two ways, steaks or fillets. Salmon steaks are the easiest way to cut them up. Filleting takes a little more practice. You will

probably mangle the first few you try to fillet. Don’t let that bother you. All those little mangled pieces can be smoked and turned into a salmon dip.

Mmm good!

The Cooking:
There are many ways to cook salmon. Pan fry, BBQ, roasted or even smoked. If you do decide to smoke your salmon pieces, be sure not to over dry

them.

Here’s a simple recipe for salmon dip.

One cup smoked salmon
Two 8 oz packages of cream cheese
Half cup chopped onion
Salt, pepper, garlic, to taste

Now it’s time to stop reading about it and go out there and catch some salmon!

Dan Farrell
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/salmon-fishing-tips-79560.html

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Recreation is an important aspect in the life of human beings. Anglers represent the major group of leisure seekers, and have a determined advantage over the other groups who make use of nature’s wonderful creatures and elements for food.

Consequently, the popularity of fishing in many areas had continuously dominated the society. That is why along with its series of activities, people now realize the need for fishing lodges especially in places where fishing activities seem to never end.

Among all fishing lodges available in the industry today, the Alaska Fishing Lodges are among the most treasured and most popular fishing lodges in the United States.

The Alaska Fishing Lodge provides its customers full customer service satisfaction with their wide array of fishing activities and endless strings of fishing fun.

Normally, Alaska Fishing Lodges are made up of logs; sturdily build to provide each angler optimum convenience and comfort. It is known for its spacious interiors, creatively decorated with the right embellishments, thereby, setting the mood for fishing and wilderness.

In addition, because it carries the true Alaskan heritage, Alaska Fishing Lodges offer services and products that can be afforded by anyone. With its affordable rates, the place is inhabited by people, who mostly want to enjoy life and fishing but cannot afford to buy the pleasures in expensive beaches and lodges.

Best of all, Alaska Fishing Lodges are perfectly located in areas where the waters are abundant with the different species of fish. Usually, these lodges are situated in a place where trout, northern pike, and grayling mostly inhabit the waters.

On the other hand, most Alaska Fishing Lodges are built big enough to occupy 16 guests, in which each guest can avail of personal and individualized services.

Moreover, this type of lodge also houses a place where king salmon are abundant especially during the months of June and early part of July. Most lodges also provide a wide variety of fishing equipment, from rods to tackles and lines.

With all these beautiful features present in every Alaska Fishing Lodge, there is no better place to enjoy fishing and the wilderness like what this particular lodge can offer.

Staying in an Alaska Fishing Lodge is, indeed, an ultimate fishing experience.

Nicky Pilkington
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/alaska-fishing-lodge-the-natures-abode-10104.html

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Recreation is an important aspect in people’s life. Anglers represent the main group of leisure seekers, and have a determined advantage on the other groups who make use of nature’s great creatures and elements for food.

Therefore, in many areas, the popularity of fishing had continuously dominated the society. That is why beside its series of activities, people now understand the necessity for fishing lodges particularly in regions where fishing activities seem to never end.

The Alaska Fishing Lodges, among all fishing lodges available in the industry today, are among the most valued and most popular fishing lodges in the USA.

The Alaska Fishing Lodge gives its customers full customer service satisfaction with their broad selection of fishing activities and never-ending strings of fishing fun. You can find party boats that hold from fifteen to as many as sixty anglers. The boat provides everything like bait, rod, reel, sinkers and hooks. They assist you in fishing and take the fish off the hook for you. Other fishers will spot you and will generally stay close to help you if you need to.

Usually, Alaska Fishing Lodges are build with logs; sturdily build to offer each angler optimum convenience and comfort. It is recognized for its spacious interiors, ingeniously decorated with the right embellishments, thereby, setting the mood for wilderness and fishing.

In addition, because it carries the real Alaskan heritage, Alaska Fishing Lodges offer services and products which can be afforded by anyone. With its affordable prices, the place is inhabited by people, who really wish to take pleasure in life and fishing but cannot afford to get the pleasures in expensive beaches and lodges.

Best of all, Alaska Fishing Lodges are well situated in areas where the waters are full of different varieties of fish. Normally, these lodges are located in an area where trout, northern pike, and grayling inhabit the waters for the most part.

However, most Alaska Fishing Lodges are built big enough to occupy 16 persons, in which each guest can avail of special and individualized services.

Furthermore, this category of lodge also houses an area where king salmon are abundant particularly for the period of June and early part of July. Many lodges also offer a wide choice of fishing tools, from rods to tackles and lines.

With all these beautiful elements you can find in each Alaska Fishing Lodge, it sure is the best place to enjoy fishing and the wilderness like what this exceptional lodge can present.

Staying in an Alaska Fishing Lodge is really a very interesting fishing adventure.

Paul Zayer
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/alaska-fishing-lodges-looking-for-adventure-358842.html

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Most men have this dream of catching that one big fish. The fish that’s bigger, faster, better than everyone else’s catch. While going after this dream, a lot of them find that suddenly, fishing has become a passion that they can’t live without. It becomes almost their raison d’etre. And there’s always a better place to explore to get a better catch. This is where tours win out.

All the planning is done for you and you get taken to the best spots. It leaves you free for what you want to do: simply fish! There’s nothing quite like the Alaskan fishing tours to transport you to your own fishing paradise. Here one gets an opportunity to try and catch the king salmon which is known to weigh 50 pounds or more. A tour will take people to all those places that are off the beaten path. Trout, flying fish, king salmon, the guides know it all and are more than willing to give you information on how to get to the exact location and how to lure them in. They might also have a thing or two to say about your fishing technique and where you are going wrong. Some of the best salt water fishing is found straight off the coastal areas so be it that elusive king salmon or that huge beautiful trout, the guide knows it all.

The tour will take you to many of the best locations around the state. You find some of the best salt water fishing right off the southern coastal areas. Most tourists to Alaska go there just for the fishing. A little planning and information gathering before the trip will hold one in good stead. The website on Alaska has extensive planning guides and will give you all the information that you could possibly want. You’ll find that every possible area in Alaska is teeming with a large variety of fish and can plan a trip that could incorporate as many places as your time allows and the best location for the type of fish that you are particularly looking for. .

It is advised to do a little planning before one heads out. The best thing that one can do is to plan one’s trip to the right areas beforehand. The good news is that you can find extensive planning guides online to help. Visit the state’s website and find out where the best Alaska fishing tours can be found. One’s first goal is to find the best location for the type of fish that one is after as some areas are better known for specific types of fish.

Now that you know where you’re going, get ready to find the right guided tours offered in that area. You can also find these details available online. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure that they are legitimate and then bookings should be made in advance as with the coming of the fishing season there is no chance that one will be able to get any sort of booking.

You could also book into one of the lodges there and then make enquiries at their help desk regarding places to go to and guides who will take you there. The locals are after all, the best sources of information about that particular area. You might just come up with the perfect spot and come back having caught the perfect catch!

Tom Sample
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/find-the-ultimate-fishing-experience-in-alaska-83810.html

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Alaska Fishing Lodge: The Nature’s Abode

Recreation is an important aspect in the life of human beings. Anglers represent the major group of leisure seekers, and have a determined advantage over the other groups who make use of nature’s wonderful creatures and elements for food.

Consequently, the popularity of fishing in many areas had continuously dominated the society.  That is why  along with its series of activities, people now realize the need for fishing lodges especially in places where fishing activities seem to never end.

Among all fishing lodges available in the industry today, the Alaska Fishing Lodges are among the most treasured and most popular fishing lodges in the United States.

The Alaska Fishing Lodge provides its customers full customer service satisfaction with their wide array of fishing activities and endless strings of fishing fun.

Normally, Alaska Fishing Lodges are made up of logs; sturdily build to provide each angler optimum convenience and comfort. It is known for its spacious interiors, creatively decorated with the right embellishments, thereby, setting the mood for fishing and wilderness.

In addition, because it carries the true Alaskan heritage, Alaska Fishing Lodges offer services and products that can be afforded by anyone.  With its affordable rates, the place is inhabited by people, who mostly want to enjoy life and fishing but cannot afford to buy the pleasures in expensive beaches and lodges.

Best of all, Alaska Fishing Lodges are perfectly located in areas where the waters are abundant with the different species of fish. Usually, these lodges are situated in a place where trout, northern pike, and grayling mostly inhabit the waters.

On the other hand, most Alaska Fishing Lodges are built big enough to occupy 16 guests, in which each guest can avail of personal and individualized services.

Moreover, this type of lodge also houses a place where king salmon are abundant especially during the months of June and early part of July. Most lodges also provide a wide variety of fishing equipment, from rods to tackles and lines.

With all these beautiful features present in every Alaska Fishing Lodge, there is no better place to enjoy fishing and the wilderness like what this particular lodge can offer.

Staying in an Alaska Fishing Lodge is, indeed, an ultimate fishing experience.

www.fishingfreevideo.com

GuBu
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/alaska-fishing-lodge-the-natures-abode-676681.html

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Fishing in Alaska is a dream come true for many an angler. The air and environment is clear and beautiful. The water is sparkling and what lies in that water is what has hundreds of people flocking to the state for the best fishing of their life. It is not unheard of to land a 35 pound King Salmon here and you will be amazed at the fish that are teaming in the waters.

In fact, you can catch that king salmon at up to weights of 50 pounds! Youll also find huge fish including halibut, northern pike, Graylings, shiner perch, sturgeon, herring, and many, many more. Cod, walleye, flounder, crabs and shrimp are just teaming for you.

As for where to find them, you will need to check out the southeast region of Alaska. There are many locations to fish here and you can target just the fish species you are after. This is a warmer winter area of Alaska as well. But, still summers are cool and excellent for getting halibut on the move. Salmon migrate here to spawn and youll find a wide range of trout here too. Head to the locations between Bristol Bay and Cooper River where youll find many fish. You can also fish the coastal waters for halibut and ocean fish.

Make sure to check out Lower Cook Inlet. This is a popular location where you will be able to find Dolly Varden, a type of salmon. Youll also find trout too in this area. You can dig for clams or fish for halibut and salmon off the coast. Another excellent location is in the Western and arctic regions. Youll catch your fill of trout, pike, graylings, char and burbot here.

What To Take With You

Of course you will need your rods, freshwater and saltwater depending on where you head. Make sure to take twice as much tackle than you think youll need. Flies, weights, lures, a net, fishing line of several types, as well as pliers, waders, maps, and a compass are also necessary. Make sure to stock your first aid kit and include enough water in case you can leave the fish! For clothing, dont forget you are in Alaska and you do need warm clothing, a fishing vest, sunglasses, hiking books, bug repellent and sunscreen. Check on getting the right fishing licenses too. Dont forget your camera because these are truly some amazing locations not to mention the size of fish youll catch!

For bait, take a wide range of live bait. This could be prawns, night crawlers, crayfish, and razor fish. Look for frozen baits too. In artificial, take with you a wide range including lures, flies, streamers, spoons and spinners. Go for natural bit from the area if you can. Youll find plenty of locations to purchase it in the area and of course you can find your own if you like. Dont over bait though.

When heading off to fish in Alaska, it’s often wise to take with you a professional or to book a tour. These individuals can help you find the hidden locations where your fish are lurking. And, they can make sure that you see some of the best fish out there. Take the time to check out a few locations online and insure the organization’s quality. Then, head to the beautiful Alaskan country to get in some of the best fishing of your life.

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