Alaska Fly Fish and Kayak Adventure
The remote outer coast of Alaska’s West Chichagof – Yakobi Wilderness is one of the world’s best destinations for sea kayaking, hiking, and stream fishing! In 2011, Spirit Walker Expeditions is teaming up with Whisper Marine for this multi-adventure wilderness expedition.
This 7-day boat-supported trip has been designed to offer you access to the best (and little-known) locations for steelhead fishing, sea kayaking, hiking, and wilderness camping with the most experienced guides in the industry. Doug Ogilvy of Whisper Marine has been fishing, hiking, boating, and exploring this remote wilderness for over 3 decades.
Spirit Walker Expeditions has been leading sea kayaking and hiking trips throughout the area for over 20 years. Together, we’re offering adventurers a chance to camp, paddle, fish, and hike your way through some of the most stunningly beautiful and remote wilderness in Alaska.
Steelhead Trout
Steelhead are anadromous (ocean going) rainbow trout, and May through June is when the majority return to Southeast Alaska streams to spawn. A challenge to catch and considered one of the ultimate fighting fish in the world, they can be over 20 pounds and often go impressively aerial when the hook is set. A surprising amount of our coastal streams support small runs of these large and beautiful fish, which can be found from the estuarine mouths to miles up river.
Spring is a time of year before returning mature salmon are expected in these streams, but the presence of Steelhead, resident Rainbow, Cutthroat Trout, and Dolly Varden makes for exciting fishing.
Adventure Fishing and Kayaking Trip
Trip Dates: Custom
Price: $3,800 per person
Location: Outer Coast, Chichagof Island
Duration: This expedition is seven days and six nights. Custom trip dates by arrangement.
Paddle Distance: 40-60 miles.
Activities: Stream fishing, sport fishing, kayaking, photography, wildlife viewing, hiking, swimming, camping, boating.
Highlights: Paddling among rolling swells; stream fishing; fly-fishing and spin-casting; sport fishing; wilderness solitude hot springs; immense waterfalls; camping on the beach.
Book Your Trip: go to Trip Reservations to book your trip today, or call 1-800-KAYAKER!
Fishing Opportunities
The fishing opportunities will change in our streams as the spring and summer progress.
From May through mid-June, we often find steelhead in the upper stretches of the rivers. One of the ultimate fresh water fighting fish in the world, steelhead can be a challenge to hook. But imagine a 20-pound fish leaping four feet out of the water, and streaking away on a powerful run — putting you in hot pursuit to keep the line from being “stripped”!
Cut-throat trout and Dolly Varden can also provide good fun during this period. During May, most of the Dolly Varden move out of the upper reaches of the rivers, into salt water and near the river mouths.
There they feed on small ocean fishes and invertebrates. We often find concentrations in the lower tidal areas of streams, where the main food source is out-migrating salmon fry. Get on to the right presentation, and you may experience the best “catching” of your life.
Salmon start moving into the streams on their spawning cycle in early July. By mid-July, Pink Salmon offer abundant opportunities to catch four to seven pound fighte. Mix in a few Sockeye and Chum Salmon, and add the Dolly Vardens which have followed the salmon up the rivers, and the streams can be “alive” with thousands of fish.
Late August and September is when Silver Salmon move into the rivers. You will get a hit, followed by a seven to fifteen pound Silver clearing the water several times before settling into strong combat. Keep the drag loose! They will easily break 10-lb line.
Itinerary
Day 1: Our 10:00 AM departure from Gustavus will take us to our first campsite on Yakobi Island. We will set up camp and then paddle and hike, exploring the waters, and island shorelines of the Surge Bay area. Those more interested in fishing can paddle to Surge Lake and try their luck in the short outlet stream, or fish salt water species in the surrounding kelp beds.
Day 2: Surge Lake's outlet stream into the ocean is very short, but includes narrow, fast water that can not be paddled up with a sea kayak. Conditions permitting we will portage or "line" kayaks up stream and into the lake. The lake holds cut throat, rainbows, and dolly varden, and we may find steelhead in the outlet stream or one of several of the inlet streams. It is a beautiful and calm paddle regardless, and a wonderful place to spend part of a day and relax.
Day 3: We'll break camp in the morning, and motor to Takanis Bay. After our arrival, we can paddle into a narrow estuarine entrance, and then hike through the muskegs up to Takanis Lake. This pristine wilderness lake has a waterfall on the outlet that blocks passage of fish from the ocean, but the surrounding area is rich salmon habitat and evidence of past human habitation is confirmed by a very old rock cairn marking a small island in this secluded bay. In the afternoon, we will load the kayaks and motor down the coast across the mouth of Lisianski Strait into the protected waters of the outside coast of Chichagof Island. Enroute (if conditions allow), we may stop for a soak at White Sulfur Hot Springs. We'll also pass through an area where grey whales are often seen feeding.
Days 4-6: Every day of this trip will be exploration with paddling, fishing, and hiking opportunities. The group may split with different guides for activities, depending upon individuals stronger preference. We will be in an area of relatively protected paddling waters with hundreds of coastal islands to explore, an old mining "ghost town", and several good river systems. One great example is the Goulding Lakes and River system. It is one of the largest drainages on Chichagof Island and an impressive waterfall is accessible by hiking a trail that begins by following the remains of an old mule drawn mining cart rail line. The trail continues into more open muskegs to the shore of the first lake. The waterfall blocks passage of salmon runs into the lakes, but there is over a mile of challenging stream below the falls that does support a summer salmon run, and steelhead, cut throat, and dolly varden can be found here in May and June.
Day 7: We will pack up and head back on this day. It will be at least a 3 hour ride back to Gustavus. An early start gives us time for a short stop at White Sulfur, and a "walk around" in the quaint board walk village of Elfin Cove. Arrival time at the Gustavus Dock will be about 3:00 pm.
What We Provide
In addition to our standard checklist for sea kayaking and camping expeditions, we offer a great bundle of services, to maximize your experience on the rivers you’ll fish.
We'll provide boat or sea kayak transportation to several different streams within the wilderness we’ll be traveling. If you have your own favorite equipment and waders, by all means bring them: if you're staying in Gustavus before or after the trip, there are places you can fish that are accessible by road or hiking.
We can supply waders, and fly-fishing or spin-cast gear for our clients. Anyone over the age of 12 will need an Alaska fishing license. The same license applies for salt water fishing.
What You Need to Bring
Between the sunny days in Southeast Alaska, it can be cool and damp. We recommend you bring your own raingear, but we can provide it if need be. We also have rubber boots for everyone to use.
You'll need to bring warm clothing. The stream waters are always chilly. We will be wearing waders when fishing, but long pants or long underwear bottoms under them can be a nice thing - especially if you choose to stand in water much of the day.
A small day pack is handy for your binoculars, camera (be sure to store it in a zip-lock bag) and some extra clothing. See our complete checklist for a guideline of what to bring with you.
