Fishing Articles

World-class Coho Salmon fishing on the Egegik River. This amazing watershed includes the 2nd largest lake in Alaska - Becharof Lake, and then flows into the incredible Bristol Bay. With a massive run of Sockeye and Coho, this river is the place to go to experience silver salmon fishing, fresh from the Ocean, with incredible food and cozy experience. Read Scott's Article about the Egegik River When you book at the Becharof Lodge, they'll take you to the most incredible holes and riffles for catching loads of sockeye, chum and coho. Depending on when you arrive, you'll have a chance...

In wavy seas a side-finding sonar screen circles your face. Somebody has to stare at it. No lines out. Just watching. The boat path forms sine waves over a basin flat in a search pattern taking us off structure. Way off. No man’s land. “There’s one,” says walleye guide Tony Roach as he seems to throw the boat into reverse and pitch back in the general direction of the mark at the same time. Fire drill. For me, standing and pitching at the same time—in waves—is hard enough. Roach is working a Northland Puppet Minnow. I have on a Rapala...

The magic words… “Fish On!” came screaming out from John McKessock’s lips. My rod was pumping and bucking. The Ambassadeur was screaming and moaning. John jumped for his rod to get the gear out the way. I threw the motor into neutral and I freed and hauled back on my rod. The big king 90 feet under the boat was obviously annoyed with the sting of the 2/0 Mustad barb buried firmly in his jaw. First the brute headed for safety going deep, then would turn tail, rise and begin heading towards the horizon. From the minute I grabbed the...

Largemouths cruise over dense weeds they use for bomb shelters later in the day. Long cast. Twitch, pause. Snap, pause. The lure hovers over the weed tops and neither sinks nor rises until it emerges in a spray-blasting explosion, fixed to the jaw of a largemouth bass. Midday. Smallmouths suspend away from a rocky point. They came up for a Pop-R at daybreak, but not now.  Long cast. Snap, snap, pause. The bait hovers like a paralyzed baitfish, terrified at the approach of so many bronze shadows from below. Rapala Husky Jerks, Smithwick Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers, Megabass Vision OneTen—the...

While walking to retrieve my vehicle at the take out’s parking lot, I was unexpectantly approached by an older gentleman. “Mind if I ask you a few questions partner?” the man said with a detectable southern drawl. My initial thought was, “Yeah, not a good time.” I had just completed a grueling, ten-hour, semi productive shift on the river, so I wasn’t really interested in starting a conversation. Also, I was more concerned about making it back to the Chicagoland area in time to put my kids, and then myself to bed. “What can I do for you sir?” using...