I just returned from Big Lake, Alaska, about 2 hours north of
Anchorage. I stayed at a bed and breakfast on Morvro Lake, and flew out
to five different destinations over the course of 7 days. I fished the
Suisitna River drainage. I fished for grayling and large rainbow where
Lake Creek enters Lake Chelatna, for pike at Alexander lake, for sockeye
at the mouth of a creek on Judd Lake, and also for silvers on Indian
Creek, right off the Yetna river.
I caught all species on the fly using various patterns from glo bugs to
mice, from eggsucking leeches to flash flies. It was terrific. The
best fish were the Pike and silvers. The pike were not large. Perhaps
the largest weighed eight pounds, but the take on surface patterns was
incredible. When they struck your fly it was like someone dropped a
bowling ball into the water from ten feet. Water went everywhere and
all hell would break loose. The silvers were 35 miles from the salt,
but where still chrome with all the fight a coho is supposed to have.
They averaged 5-12 pounds with a lot of 7-8 pounders, and gobbled up a
pink, weighted flash fly tied with silver tinsel on a 2/0 hook. Also, a
2/0 Everglow worked well. I had a great time and will be going back for
Kings and dollies next June. Jeff Hale
