Flyfishing in Alaska - Part III

[Pa]

Meanwhile back at the lodge...

Crab and brie in puff pastry; another gourmet appetizer prepared by chef Aaron.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Seafood kebabs, broccoli with red cabbage, and fruit salsa.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Apple baked in port wine with brie cheese garnish:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Gwen looks envious:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

The last day, we were treated to another flyout trip, this time to the headwaters of the Copper River. The guides mentioned a portage or two, but we didn't expect this:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

After landing at Upper Copper Lake and loading the rafts, we soon found ourselves in some fairly serious whitewater at the Lake outlet:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

At the first waterfall, we carried the gear around and let the guides shoot the falls in empty rafts:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

The second fall presented a greater challenge:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

The guides studied the options...

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

...and released the empty rafts...

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

...to be caught by Nick in the pool below.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

...while the rest of us lugged the gear around.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Chocolate lilies:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Nagoonberry flowers:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

I think Dan must have been giving extra tips; here two of the guides coach him to a good fish:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Busy bees working the alpine arnica:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

White yarrow and fireweed.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Enjoying the pictures at the end of the day with the guides:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

All too soon it was time to board the Beaver to begin the trip home.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

THE END.

Thanks for looking.

 

[olddogg]

Ah, yes! Great pictures! I will return to Alaska! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Palouse]

I've studied anglers for about 20 years and I know that anglers (especially fly anglers) and photographers are twins separated at birth--in terms of dedication to technique, equipment, location and the spirituality of our pursuits! It as much about doing as it is about "capturing" and we both revere the stetting and the rewards of our product.

Your series brings joy to my heart and. . . God, I wish I was there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BRAVO!

 

[Philinnz]

A fine set - I will go and find parts 1 and II now

 

[pat33]

Wow, excellent series. Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[fireflyer]

Great series. Two things I hope to do someday are pilot a beaver and catch an Alaskan leopard 'bow. I'm jealous!

 

[Candidcameraman]

Excellent set

Excellent set - what a fishing trip!

 

[Johan]

A one-way ticket to Alaska ... that's all I need.

Thanks for sharing these !


Johan

 

[RFCGRAPHICS]

Looks like you had a wonderful vaca. Thanks for sharing these very fine images with us

 

[Pa]

Thank you all for your kind remarks; I'm glad you enjoyed coming along on this adventure.

Please see my final remarks in a separate thread.

 

[davidwcramer]

You and Beth really know how to pick your trips! Great series, Jim.

 

[pr549f2678]

Jim,

Thanks for sharing your vacation and pictures with all of us, they
were super..........

Phil............:smile:

 

[Louis Champan]

Beautiful shots. Flyfishing is my second passion.

 

[mhcfires]

What a fantastic series and wonderful vacation spot! Thank you for sharing.:smile:

 

[wind_walker]

Jim:

First, let me say, WOW, the photos you took of the trip are wonderful. What lens did you find yourself using most often? The color and contrast of the pics are just great - almost like being there (well, not quite). They also say a lot for your ability to compose the shots - all great.

Second . . . man that's roughing it in style - looks like meals at a 5-star restaurant, not a cabin in the middle of nowhere :biggrin::biggrin:

I'm about 4 years from retirement (I hope) - and Alaska is high on the 'got to go there' list. I've never been there - looks like a wonderful trip. Is your wife a fly fisherperson too?

Sorry for the long post - wonderful shots - priceless memories.

 

[Pa]

What a fantastic series and wonderful vacation spot! Thank you for sharing.:smile:

Glad you enjoyed it. My pleasure.

Jim:

First, let me say, WOW, the photos you took of the trip are wonderful. What lens did you find yourself using most often? The color and contrast of the pics are just great - almost like being there (well, not quite). They also say a lot for your ability to compose the shots - all great.

Second . . . man that's roughing it in style - looks like meals at a 5-star restaurant, not a cabin in the middle of nowhere :biggrin::biggrin:

I'm about 4 years from retirement (I hope) - and Alaska is high on the 'got to go there' list. I've never been there - looks like a wonderful trip. Is your wife a fly fisherperson too?

Sorry for the long post - wonderful shots - priceless memories.

Thanks for the kind words. Actually, most of the pictures were taken by my wife, so she gets the credit! D40 plus 18-200VR.

Do get to Alaska - it's wonderful.

If you find my web page, you can see pictures of my 2004 trip to a different lodge.

 

[jkwa]

You were in "Gods Country", beautiful and unspoiled.
Thanks for posting these wonderfull photos.

 

[Pa]

You were in "Gods Country", beautiful and unspoiled.
Thanks for posting these wonderfull photos.

My pleasure, Joe. Hope you saw the other 3 threads in the series.

 

[Pa]

I would like to thank all who took time to look at all of my pictures in Parts I, II, and III in this series, and to give special thanks for all the kind remarks recorded there. The photographs were not intended as fine art, but simply as documentary evidence of a fine time, and to help us remember.

Now I would like to alert those interested to a serious threat to this pristine wilderness: the Pebble Mine project. A huge area north of Iliamna Lake is being developed as a potential copper and gold mining area which has the potential to destroy the main watershed streams of Iliamna Lake. It is not too late to stop it.

I would also like to recommend a few books for those interested in this area and the Alaska Outback. The first is Rivers of life : Southwest Alaska, the last great salmon fishery / photographs by Robert Glenn Ketchum ; essay by Bruce Hampton. This book has fantastic photographs of the Bristol Bay area while telling the story of the Bristol Bay fishery.

Then a pair of books by Bob Durr: The Coldman Cometh and Down in Bristol Bay. They tell the story of a tenured full professor of English at Syracuse University who left everything to move his family to Alaska for subsistence living in the bush.

Happy reading!

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Matthias]

Thanks again for sharing - what an awesome place.