With all the vacation talk on the board I thought now would be a good time to ask for some advice. My father and I have a trip booked with GBL to fish the Situk river the first week of May ( my first Ak trip but not my pops). 2 days are self guided. We are planning on fishing floats and hardware mostly. Jigs or beads under the floats. Spoons and spinners for the hardware.

Anyone have any suggestions to lures, colors or techniques? This will be my first time traveling by air with gear. Any tips there? I have been watching Youtube vids to get a feel for the river before we get there. It looks a bit different than the rivers I am used to here in Snohomish county.

Thanks.

Its lots different. Be ready to fish really small gear, or bigger stuff if there is rain. Watch out for the griz and moose.

I had more fun with the Hali when I was there two years ago in May.
The Situk was low and clear.
It's a small, meandering river. Similar to a midwest steelhead river.

Float and jig is a good choice.
You could back some plugs into a few spots.
Roll some worms.
A size 3 French (Blue Fox type) would be about right for me.

If it's not happening on the Situk book a flight on the mail plane with Jad for your second free day. (sightseeing on the cheap)
If you want to spend a little more ask about a "fly out".
I'm not sure what fisheries are available in that time frame.

IMO, too early in the season to rent a skiff unless you like to monkey with small bottomfish.

We did get the steelhead package which includes a day on the salt for butts and bottomfish.

I would love to tell ya but BFD and I will be there a week or so after you and I don't want you soremouthing all the fish.

Seriously, here are a few things I have learned from a few trips there.

The river is chock full of sunken wood. You will lose gear - lots of it. Floats help. Go with heavy leaders. They are not leader shy and that heavy leader will save you some retying. If its low, think floats and jigs 1/16 ounce. I make my own Situk specials. Not fancy ties but they work.
Note the colors. Nuff said.



Also it's a VERY long float. Do not fish marginal water. Do not waste time. In May the days are long, but you will still be taking out in the dark if you are not careful. I always find more and better fish in bottom end. Some days i have just rowed thru the first six miles.

We busted a$$ all day looking for butts and finally found them on a hump in 78 feet of water.
I got a 121# and a 110#
Beautiful, deep bodied fish.

If you know how to backbounce you'll have an advantage. Similar to sturgeon fishing, if you've ever done that. I think that the butts are easier to get hooked up.
Although your guide will want you to get that precious lead off the bottom.
With lead laying on the bottom, the boat swings and the lead hangs up.

I disobeyed my guide and bounced and caught.
We had two whiners on the other side of the boat complain to the captain and he asked me to switch sides with the whiners !
One was a salmon guide from Craig and one was a n00b (puker) from Canby, OR.

Neither one of them knew how to backbounce.

Switch sides

Last year we fished nothing but trout beads and whcked the crap out of them at every bend.
The year before that, floats and jigs seemed best. Both years were low clear water but it seems that the lower in the river the small trout bead type lures work good.
There are quite a few clients that will fish nothing but aeropuffs in any type water and they catch the crap out of them so size does not seem to matter as much as finding the packs of newer fish moving, they will hit anything that looks good.
Stay on the move and fish as you drift, we catch as many on the move as anchored up. Feeding a trout bead or small drift rig under the pog jambs is a gas, getting them out once you hook up is another story, but why not!

I will be there May 12th through the 20th, I think Mr. Vedder will be there about the same time.

Dub--When is your trip? If we are there at the same time, we will tip a few together,,,on me of course!

May 3rd thru the 8th.

Is a pog jamb similar to a lof jag?

Haven't been down to check the situk out yet. Tough time of year for me as the first half of my busy season is well underway at that point. Couple of pals locally make the trip just about every year and do well with beads and glo bugs...imagine that! If they are anything like the peninsula steelhead up here, most colors work, some work really well.


Sounds like a fun time down there. Might have to sneak out for a long weekend one year when the boss isn't looking.

I'll be up there that first week as well. Planning on lots of beads, yarnies, and I'll have to get some smaller jigs tied up. I've got quite the selection of midwest-sized floats, which are gonna run great with the pin

All will work great, just keep an eye for the moving packs of fresh spring fish, they are real aggresive!
The bigger winter fish (not that there are not big spring fish!, there are plenty of big ones) will be there as well in full color and look real nice, just stay off the spawning beds and fish, there are plenty of fish without disturbing them.

Dub-I will try to get up early to meet up for a day or so if I can pull it off.

And just for information--
We now have a full tackle shop at the lodge and will be stocking more as the season gets going!
Thanks David Lee and Three Rivers for the advise in getting set up!

Just to get you a bit more excited - a few Situk photos.

I have no advice on the Situk steelhead fishing as I have never done that (something I hope to change this year).

However, this spring we are sending up two of our personal pontoons boats for Glacier Bear Lodge to use as part of their boat fleet. If anybody gets a chance to use them while floating the Situk, I'd love some good feedback on their performance.

Dub,

Good luck, your timing sounds pretty spot on.

I can't take it anymore! Is it May yet?

All those pics are awesome especially the dreamy trough looking water under the overhanging tree!

Thanks Dave! I am excited as it is! I have dreamed of Alaska for decades. Your reccomendations are partially why we are going. Robbo spoke highly of GBL also when my parents fished with him last summer.

GBl, will do.

We are fishing the first day guided so I am sure we will be set straight. I just wanted to make sure we had the right tackle for the rest of the trip.

You will all notice Dave with two rods, both with fish on!
He needed a picture, one of them had to do the duty so the other could snap a photo!

Cobble--There are so many of those type spots that if you stopped to fish each one you would be on the river for about 3 days!
But you do get to fish each one as you go by and pull whatever out of there!

Me likey whatever!

We will be up there that same week this year. Pink/White & Orange/White Jigs

As alluded to earlier bring the good sunglasses. You will see pods of moving fish if you are looking for them. If they are not disturbed they will bite. But as Stam once said. "It's hard to hook a fish that is fleeing in terror."

Can't wait for my trip up that way this year,it will be my first time on the Situk river....Spend 2 day's self guided then a day out on the ocean for some fish-n-chips on the Aero.Looking forward to it.Stam & I will be up there from 4/26 thur 4/29.Good luck,
SZ

I have always thought in most situations i I can see the fish it can see. And that usually is a bad thing.

Right on Craig! That is super exciting. Gonna be a blast up there!

I guess paybacks suck as usually I'm sore mouthin' the fish before Stam gets to his destination. Be gentle guys!

Definately not so on the Situk. Several times we have spotted packs of fish and hooked three or more from the pack.

I do want to upgrade my sunglasses. I want to get lenses to cover the different lighting during the day. What I use currently are too dark for overcast and morning. They are also worn out a bit.

I was up there 3 years ago may 11-17 and it was lights out on jigs even left a few at the lodge for some of the guides. We found that the spring fish would crush just about anything in front of them. It was the big brutes that had been in the river for awhile that were gear shy. We found the greens and blues in the egg sucking leech patterns worked for the shy fish. Also fished the salt water for salmon on our charter day with a hog over 40lbs.

Check out something with photochromic/photochromatic lenses.

I really like the Tifosi Dolomites as fishing glasses. I think Doc had a pair that he recommended as well.

Dave is right, nothing better than seeing a dozen fish, casting close and seeing a chromer turn and smoke your lure!

Not much beats that..sounds like good times

So I finally figured out why I fare so poorly chasing Salmon an Steelhead on the rivers..........they are all trembleing in fear of me and flee at my approach.

I did get a pair of the Tifosi Ventoux with their Fototec lenses. They are nice. They would work for mornings-overcast on through full sun without having to change lenses.

My only problem is they give me a headache. Its not the glasses. I have had the problem with others. Even some clear safety glasses will do it.

Photochromatic lenses do seem to be the way to go. I will be looking at other brands. I did try on some Smiths this afternoon but think I will have the same problem.

Ya'll ya'll are a bit late, April 25 through 30 for me. Anything worked and worked well for us, jigs under a bobber out front of the boat when floating was best (jigs in shades of orange were hot), walking down to a few runs and driftfishing corkies and wool before we ran over it with the boat was very good, spoons were no problem, I think KK may have even gotten one fly fishing up on the reds.

Here's a pair of boots.



Be prepared for some snow...though it should be going by the time you get there.













It's been a few years for me, but am looking forward to getting back up there.

WTF is that on KKs knee?

I Advise following Bob's updates on the road progress on his situk river website, my buddy on the road clearing crew says its ugly, they switched to clearing the lower landing road because efforts on 9 mile were slow and hampered by more snow, the goal was by april 15th, rumors milling about that it may be last week of april now. So I would stay in tune.
See you on the river.

Seal Humper

We are opening on time and have a plan to move the drift boats with Snow sleds. We will get the fishermen to the river no matter what the conditions!
It will probably be a pretty nice drift with all those snow banks! Will have to stay in the boat most of the time though!

I'll take GBL's word and looking forward to the adventure that waits ahead of me.Can't wait to wet a line up north.Good luck,

SZ

The photographer in me is eager to see some big snowbanks behind anglers with big steelhead.

Not saying it is going to be easy, but we will figure it out! It will deffinately be an adventure for all!
Pictures should be great with all that snow. There will be nice colored carryover fish as well as those chrome fresh fish to take pictures of!

I think I remember a bunch of years ago KK standing on the bank with dollor bill size snow flakes falling on his head,,,and of course catching lot's of fresh Steelhead in the lower holes!

If you're looking for an "all purpose" lens, I would recommend copper. Sometimes mine are not quite dark enough in very bright sunlight, but for overcast or low light they are great. I had Smith's which are photochromic but then got some Costa's with the 580 glass lenses and I will say that even though they are not photochromic, the quality of the lens is superior.

Any word on the road getting plowed or opened???????.Any reports?????.Good luck,
SZ

Saw a report yesterday that they are gaining about 1/2 mile a day. Should be there within a week.

Google Situk reports. It was in one of the hits that came up from that search.

THe fly shop blog says DOT says should be done by the end of the weekend. That includes the turn around and parking at 9 mile bridge.

Thanks.Good luck,
SZ

Cool, looks like we get 1st water..

When are you there Stamley? We arrive May 14.

Sore mouth all ya want. there are always more coming.

I'll but up there from the 25th thru 30th of this month....a coupla' days with J'Opfisher and 3 with GaryBernieStrikeZone..

...who's your "we"?

let vedder follow our path
Looking forward to a little vAcA steelheading!

Jeesh. With so few steelhead and so many anglers, I hope we get a shot at a few!! Tell ya what. You guys stay on the top half and we will stay on the bottom.

I heard that they are flooding into the lower river as I type.

I alway's have liked it on bottom so I'm gonna stay the course.Just sayin...........Good luck,
SZ

What is this, one of those kinky, Bangkok-type sex junkets ?

The best advice is to book the same week Vedder is going. He has a knack
for knowing.

Here is a pic of a Glacier Bear from our trip.
I will post a few more pics later. We didn't catch much.

Dub-
I hope you had a good time and hooked some fish?
I heard the water has been cold with all the snow run off and there is a crap load of fish staging to come in as soon as they get a temperature that they like. Should be soon as the snow is not melting as fast now.

The early April guys did pretty good, but the river did not have all the snow melt then either.

We did have a good time the lodge is nice and people are friendly. We had trouble with the steelhead but it sounds like we weren't the only ones by a long shot. There were people catchin fish though. I did meet CraigO the night before his last day. I am waiting for his report.

I've never been to the Situk, but every pic I've ever seen of that river reminds me of the steelhead rivers I used to fish back in Michigan - a small, slow meandering river, lots of woody debris, and snow everywhere. And lots of steelhead.

But the Situk doesn't have hatchery steelhead and Michigan doesn't have grizzly bears....

Pictures from my trip Base camp at the bridge one of the drier days Gearing up for the float

more fish porn tough to take pics when by yourself

Water conditions came up as you u know decided to go bear hunting and fish the salt 1 small white king

Passed up several smaller brown bears, and had a few blown stalks on the blacks cruising trolling with Bobby emergency repairs glassing the boat before the trip Hubbard Glacier
Gary glassin for Seals to shoot on the ice

We went out in the salt the first day because a storm was coming.
Dad got a 80 and 64. I caught two 35's.


Dad's 64. Don't think he wanted to hold up the 80.


The next day we went down the river guided. It was a cold and rainy day. 2 fish landed.

I have never stuck my hands in 35 degree water before. COLD!



Blanked the 3rd day. Rained all day. Never let up. It was also my first time rowing a drift boat. An interesting experience to say the least. I imagine it is a lot easier than our rivers.


The last day was pretty nice. We were out of our raingear most the day. The river was up over 500cfm though. We did not see many fish and the ones we did see were dark. We each caught one fish but did not get pics.

The first day down the river we did get these pics of a bear I think I posted before.


Overall I enjoyed the trip. It was my first to Alaska. The lodge was great. I hope to make it back soon. You just can't do much about the late winter like we had this year.

Here is the wild and raging Situk Falls.



Don't blink.

There are 3 other videos on the photobucket album. One of the 80lb butt fight. One of the flat straight road to 9 mile and one of random river bank to show some of the logs and shoreline.

Josh- It was great fishing with you and your Dad. Good pic of the Glacier Bear. A couple of the locals got it the next day. The rug should have a value in excess of $10,000. Just beautiful!
Thanks Again
Erik

Thanks Erik. I did hear a rumor a hunter got it as we left. Glad I got to see it. I wish I had the time and money, I would be headed right back up. Alaska gets in the blood.

Dub--
We will get you back up there, anyone with that much desire to fish Steelhead when that sick, needs another shot at them with a clear head!

I wasn't sick. That was Mr. Vedders trip. Thank you tho.

Nice photos by all, but I really like that particular jig...how did it fare overall?

Ike

Ike,

You know it always kills. Wanna tie me up a few dozen more?

Did you buckle up for that wild ride?

That was an awesome color but I would say no jig was safe in that river. If the fish didn't appreciate them, the lumber surely would.

Oh ya. That was a wild ride. It was at 380 cfm that day.


we lost a ton of jigs also. I fished Coleys yarn balls a bunch as they did not hang up as much as jigs.

How'd the yarnies work for you up there Dub?

Coley, we did not catch anything on them. But then again we didn't catch them on anything else either.

We caught 2 on our own with jigs, one tipped with a pink worm on CraigO's advice.

We did not hear or see of many being caught when we were there so I feel we did ok. Even the guides were saying slow. The water went from 380cfm to 540cfm the 3 days we fished and stayed about 35f.

I am hoping CraigO gets his camera issues fixed as I saw them fighting fish before I knew who he was.

Coley,

I ended up getting two on your Jerry Garcia's the first day.After that it was jigs.Thanks for hooking a guy up and I will use the care package next year when I head back up.Good luck,

SZ

how many times did you go "man look at that slot next to the wood; Oh it went down right where it should! reel reel reel...branch?!?!?"
Found one spot where I went 3 cast 3 fish and on #4 exact same line found my way right into a branch?!?

That totally happened! I have never witnesses so many "sure" looking holes on one drift. I also have never witnesses so many wooden take downs. You definitely have to pay to play on that little river.

Wanted to shout out to Coley as well as the minimal time we did stop and get out of the boat to take a cast (drifted about the whole time), we tried his ultra-easy slip on yarnies. They were not only easy to use but also deadly and I can't wait to try them for summer runs this year as well. Thanks Coley!

I bought a package of holey worms from the lodge tackle shop to try. Those are slick!