First (of many) Trip to Alaska

Just got back from Juneau. We were actually about an hour north on Berners Bay at a Christian kids camp called Echo Ranch Bible Camp. We went with our church and provided labor for the camp as they're building a new chapel. We had absolutely amazing weather from what I understand, 8 straight days of sunshine. Only broke out the rain jacket one time and probably didn't even need it.

Schedule was basically as follows:
5:30 Wake Up
5:30-7:00 Fish
7:00-8:00 Devotionals
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-5:00 Work on Chapel
5:00-6:00 Dinner
6:00-10:00 Fish
10:00-11:00 Clean Fish

We did that Monday-Friday. We caught Pinks like crazy and a couple trout. Caught my first fish on a fly rod which was exciting. Got a hold of a boat and caught some halibut, rockfish, and cod. Even set out a skate one night and pulled up a 10 foot sleeper shark the next day which was exciting to say the least. Brough home about 35 pounds of salmon and 15 pounds of halibut. Had a wonderful fish fry our last evening on the beach.

Saturday morning we headed to Juneau to spend a few days. We checked out the hatchery, Mendenhall Glacier, and hiked Mt. Roberts.

Sunday we took a tour boat down to Tracy Fjord. Cool expirience, a little long for my preference but the wife loved it.

Monday we were supposed to come home but got stuck in Seattle for the day/night. Went down to the Market and had a great meal and wine pairing at Anthony's.

Hopefully the next time I go to Alaska I'll be checking a firearm instead of fishing poles. Let me know if anyone has any advice for basing out of Juneau or Anchorage. Probably spring black bear of sitka deer for my first hunt.


Enjoy the pics...

Pic #1: First fish ever caught on a fly rod for me
Pic #2: Stabbing Halibut
Pic #3: Our vehicle for the week. If you're not getting stuck you're not fishing in hard enough spots.
Pic #4: 13 pounder
Pic #5: Group with an evenings haul
Pic #6: 10 ft sleeper shark we pulled up from a skate
Pic #7: Not a bad view to fly fish
Pic #8: First salmon ever on the first night
Pic #9: Got to explore via horseback one day... regretfully didn't pack the fly rod cause we found some beautiful streams.
Pic #10: The wifes first salmon

man that looks like a blast!

Question, first off I've never heard of a sleeper shark lol but what'd you do with the shark? You guys end up eating it? If so how much meat does that yield/how'd it taste?

Looks like an awesome time!

teej89 said:

man that looks like a blast!

Question, first off I've never heard of a sleeper shark lol but what'd you do with the shark? You guys end up eating it? If so how much meat does that yield/how'd it taste?

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We caught him on a skate (basically a trot-line for us lake people) so he was all wrapped up in the line and dead when we pulled him up. We called fish and game and they said the natives don't even eat sleeper shark and get some pics and toss him back. So that's what we did.

Great trip!! Was the stuck Van your personal doing?

fowladdict1 said:

Great trip!! Was the stuck Van your personal doing?

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haha no it wasn't me it was a buddy.

nice

Awsome trip

Awesome trip,sounds and looks like lots of fun.