We didn't catch a lot of monsters on the 'Nush, but this was clearly a beast...that we released.
During the last week of June and into the start of July, it’s hard for my thoughts not to wander up to the incomparable Nushagak River in remote Southwest Alaska. Before I was a papa, I spent 7 seasons guiding on the word’s greatest king salmon stream…which always seemed to peak about this time of year.
The ‘Nush is simply one of those places you must fish before you turn into fertilizer…there’s just no other place like it. You won’t find better king fishing anywhere. Looking back over all those seasons, I can clearly recall my worst-ever day of fishing, which still resulted in 18 kings to the boat! And the best of days were well into the triple digits, though after a dozen or so you kinda lose count. I’d say the average day during the meat of the season saw each of our boats hooking 20-40 per trip.
Most of my photos from those days are all on slide film, but I recently found a few digitals. So, here we go a little walk down memory lane…
Four fish on at a time was pretty common!
A typical Nush king...chrome and fat!
Another day of king salying ready to begin...
I'd sometimes take the dudes to do a little backcountry jet boating for trout. Yeehhhaw!
Once we got where we were going, the trout fishing up the creeks was good!
Midnight sun setting over the Nushagak
Man, who's that young cat on the net??
The VooDoo Lounge..aka the guide tent. Looks like we had a couple ADF&G tickets...
Lots of these guys around...and big brown furry things with big teeth and claws, too!
We caught TONS of Kings off the bank at the lodge, too!
Me & Major General Erbon Wise with a 'slab
We always shot off fireworks on the 4th of July...but we had to wait to nearly 2 AM for it to be dark enough!
Fish on again...notice how nobody's even getting up?
Plenty of wildlife to check out!
The view from the lodge...
I really miss the late evening rides back home...
The backwaters were loaded with pike...and check out the bugs!!
The Goose coming in to take me home for the last time...
The last glimpse of the camp before heading home...haven't been back since
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Ok I need to hurry up and get rich so I can do this everyday!!! Looks like fun.. 8)
Fun indeed! The Nush is an amazing place…though it sounds like it has fallen on some tough times lately…
Wow, looking at these photos on the Nush brought pleasant memories for me of the trip I made there last year. It is an awesome place, so unspoiled.
unfortunately its closed for the season this year but the Kenai got a late push of early run fish and is above average number wise lately maybe there just a little late.
For me it was 30 years ago and ALL bank fishing with massive numbers! I guess that means I’m closer to fertilizer than you. Go back with your kid someday and complete the story, that would be awesome.
Gee Thanks buddy, I was doin’ good NOT thinkin of the TOGIAK,and the best two weeks of my life! I was just sittin here mindin my own business and gettin all excited about Kokes and Coho’s, and ya went and reminded me of how it should be.
Say it aint so about the emergency closure! Just think of how it’ll be after the PEBLE MINE wipes out the rest!!!
Prince of Darkness!!
I did not miss out I just barely got a good taste cant wait tell next season! we had a few 20 fish days!
Man a guy could stay skinny fighting all those fish, who needs a gym membership lets work it out on the Nush. Say out of the 7- years what rod & reel held up the best if you had to fly out with just one combo what would it be?
Glad you got to be there when it was on fire. Just got a first hand report that the Nush got an emergency closure 2 days ago. Hard times.
Rudy
EEEESSSSHHH, That breaks my heart to hear that. Sounds like Turkey missed out on the glory, eh?
It’s time to get back up there. What good camps are left and how much for a week’s vacation now?
I sure do miss that place. Has the fishing stayed the same or dropped like the rest of the west coast?
Happy 4th
Wow! Now I know where my family is going in Alaska! Thanks for the post!