Ed Blank's Adventures Main Page
The Fishing
When a television camera crew decides to put down their cameras and grab fly rods after lunch because they already have enough great footage, you know the fishing is good. Such was the case as the 2007 season opened and the crew from L.L. Bean’s Guide to the Outdoors visited to film an episode titled “Alaskan Rainbows.” With fish caught on fry, leech patterns, dries, nymphs, mice and even poppers, both film crew and guide staff knew Enchanted Lake Lodge’s 46th year of operation was going to be special.
The Fishing...
The annual fry migration was underway by the season opener, with rivers like the Kulik, American and Brooks producing huge rainbows on both surface and sub-surface patterns. American Creek proved to be a hotspot with dry fly fishing on both the upper and lower sections during June and July that one guide described as “Unreal!” Whether you love the solitude and spectacular scenery of the Upper American, or exploring the numerous side channels of the lower section casting to rising fish, the American provides an unrivaled experience with some of the best sight fishing for trout in the world.
Very little runoff in the rivers left water levels and clarity perfect all season. Anglers during the first half of August were lucky enough to have both great dry fly action and bead fishing. Salmon entered the Brooks later than usual giving guests’ dry fly fishing the first two weeks of August. Once the sockeye arrived they entered the rivers steadily and spawned all the way through the end of September giving anglers great sight fishing in streams like Funnel Creek, Little Ku, Battle and the Moraine. While some years in these smaller streams the salmon will die out before the season ends, and other years they might be completely full and choked with sockeyes, this summer the number of salmon was perfect. The September fishing on Battle Creek was the best the staff had seen in years. The always spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing on Battle was accompanied this summer with a greater number of trout than usual and solid action clear through the seasons end.
A large run of sockeye on the Kvichak had the big river that drains out of Lake Illiamna fishing better than it has in years. With fast paced action and the always present chance of an enormous rainbow, fishing the Kvichak was the highlight of the week for many anglers. Guests late in the season consistently saw trout over 30 inches, with one group landing a rainbow that measured 31x19 inches one day and another 32x19 inch fish the next!
Effective conservation methods and healthy sockeye runs are contributing to a noticeable upswing in the rainbow trout fishing in the Katmai region. Both total numbers and numbers of large trout have improved in recent years with the past summer exceeding anything the guide staff had seen before. ELL’s ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the natural resources of the region are continuing to provide a truly one-of-a-kind wilderness experience while helping to improve the world-class angling.
Conservation...
Enchanted Lake Lodge continues to work with The Conservation Fund protecting strategically located tracts of private land along Southwest Alaska’s many great rivers and lakes. The sale of these lands remains a constant threat to important habitat for fish and wildlife.
The Conservation Fund, working with lodge owners to identify properties that are the most important for habitat and access, is compiling an impressive list of acquisitions in the region. The Fund is continuing to work on acquiring the private property at the outlet of Kukaklek Lake, a spot particularly important to Enchanted Lake Lodge.
The Fund, along with a major grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and financing from various federal grant programs and appropriations, has been able to raise substantial funds. Private dollars are needed though to provide the match that federal and private foundations require. This private participation also provides important political leverage when Congress is making appropriations decisions. Donor funds are leveraged at the rate of 10:1, historically.
You can get involved in a few ways beyond the obvious role of a donor. If you are interested contact Glenn Elison, The Conservation Fund’s Alaska State Director, at (907) 868-7974 or glennelison@alaska.com or me. More information about this project is available at www.swakcc.org
Looking Ahead to 2008...
We are excited to announce that the beautiful fall weather the last few years is allowing us to add an additional week to the end of the season. The fishing this time of year is unbelievable, with enormous rainbow trout that have spent the summer in the lake systems entering the rivers to join the feeding frenzy before winter sets in. For anglers wanting a shot at a truly giant rainbow, this new week of September 21-28 will be a highly coveted slot.
We look forward to sharing another fantastic season at ELL with all of you. We will continue the tradition of providing experienced pilots, the best aircraft in the business, exceptional cuisine, unmatched service and accommodations, and professional guides that are the best in the business. For the discriminating angler looking for the best, this is the ultimate Alaskan experience.
If you have not confirmed your reservation for 2008, please do so soon. We want to thank everyone who visited us last season and say we are looking forward to seeing you again this summer.
Ed Blank's Adventures Main Page
PO BOX 180446 BOSTON MA 02118
Phone: 888-857-6700
Fax: 617-427-7890
ed@flyfishingheaven.com