Mingo,

Hard to compare this Alaska trip to Kamchatka. More like contrasts. The Alaska trip was less remote - less than one hour by floatplane to D'ham. The camping was more primitive, but then the Russian camps were set up to be attractive to American tourist anglers. Plus we had beer and vodka in the Russian camps. We were weight restricted by the Beaver airplane, so no beer, only my hip flask of Scotch for the whole week. Like I said, it was rustic. The fishing was every bit as good as Kamchatka, and better by some measures, with trout, grayling, and pike in my catch. In Kamchatka I caugt rainbows and khundza, the white spotted char, that is related to Dolly Varden. I did catch a couple Alaska trout that were larger than the largest I caught in Kamchatka, but really, trout size is comparable, and will vary according to specific location in either Alaska or Kamchatka. In both places, the mouse was a very, very good bait to have. Oh, and the Alaska trip was less than 1/4 the cost of the Kamchatka trip. I've no regrets about either trip and would be happy to repeat either, but my travel budget won't allow me to visit Kamchatka on a regular basis. It was the trip of my lifetime unless I win the lottery or something.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.