Where the heck is the record run of Sockeye salmon the Alaska Department of Fish & Wildlife are predicting? That was the big question all week for our return guests who planned on having lights out fishing for the chrome wonders. Normally you can set your calendar by the annual return of Sockeyes, but as we approach what is traditionally that latter part of the chrome bright run of fish, we are starting to wonder if they will show at all. Rumors out in the bay are telling us that they are out there, but no one knows why they are so slow to come into the rivers. Water temps and levels are good and as normal as normal can be. Time will tell.
Meanwhile, there are just enough Sockeye coming into the Naknek river system to keep the bears happy at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. Viewing these big bears this past week was absolutely great. If you have never been out there or are just missing the view, check out this really fun website and the live web-cams http://explore.org/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls
Our native species, Rainbow trout, Arctic Grayling, Dolly Varden and Actic Char were all fishing well. We saw some beautiful trout from the Goodnews system and the upper Nushagak wore out more than one arm on the Dolly Varden fishing.
The salmon fishing was still pretty darn solid with some bright King Salmon still being caught on the Nushagak and Togiak rivers. We had some spey fisherman in house this week and their valiant efforts where rewarded nicely. Bright Chum salmon were thick for those wanting to pick a fight as well.
