Day 4 on Tsiu River

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Recap of last night first:



We ate a delicious dinner and got stuff put away for the night. We were just finishing dinner and one of the other people in camp came running in scared because there was a bear taking a leisurely stroll right through camp. So we all stepped out and watched him for a while, but I didn’t have my camera with me.





After dinner, I went out with our guide and another worker here at camp and we were able to land a few fish each. The other worker has an unbelievable cast and he was able to look at my fly casting and gave me two tips and within a cast I was able to really start throwing the fly out there a long ways (for a rookie). We came back around 10pm and headed to bed. Supposedly another bear was in camp around 11pm. But it really sounds worse then it actually is. I have never once felt nervous or scared up here (maybe I’m an idiot though).



This Morning:



This morning was a little slower fishing. We weren’t sure exactly why but there are always a million variables with fishing (light, time, current, tide, wind, lack of talent).

But we were able to still land quite a few and I included some pictures of Grandpa and my big Silvers.



When we got out to the spot, we realized that we were going to have to share our part of the river for a little while. There was a monster grizzly bear about 150 yds that was wading back and forth looking for salmon. We were able to get some good video and pictures (I included a few pictures). On our drive back Jason spotted some Wolf tracks, so we hopped out to take a look and I snapped a picture of both the wolf and bear tracks right next to it (pictures below). There are bear tracks everywhere u look and it’s rare to be fishing on the bank and not stepping all over the tracks in the process. It is kind of freaky to think about, but they are there for the salmon not us (well maybe Jim, he has eaten enough fish up here that they might think he is a salmon).



The afternoon fishing was much the same as the morning. It was very slow compared to yesterday (which was out of control, but normal here I guess). The low tide was affecting us and the sun came out. The sun allows the fish to see us and it is a survival instinct to get away, especially because their main predator is a bear that comes from the bank looking like us.

We decided to go to the actual mouth of the river and try it out there. We were able to catch 6-7 nice ones up there but it was relatively slow up there too (once again, we were spoiled the rest of the week). But since today was all catch and release day, it made no difference. There was a seal at the mouth of the river feasting on the salmon coming from the ocean. Didn’t get a picture though. Once again we saw a few more bears on the drive back to camp.

Tonight’s plan is dinner and then either watching a movie on the computer or going night fishing. No clue what our plan is tomorrow with regards to fishing or flying back to Yakutat, but I do know that we leave Yakutat to fly to Seattle for the night around 630 pm Alaska time.

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Comments

[Kathy Eichner]

I have enjoyed your posts!
Mike, I have really enjoyed all your posts. I have been up to Alaska twice and your pictures and stories sound so familiar. My last visit was to Dillingham off Bristal Bay. That is another really awesome fishing area each summer. If you have a few extra fillets Sue and I would be happy to take them off your hands! Thanks again for sharing your stories and pictures! Safe travels home... Love, Aunt Kathy