With the price of plane tickets so low I just had to make a second visit to the Last Frontier. Since Brent was going to be hunting I figured I would do something different and check to see if a couple of friends would like to make the trip. Sure enough Bruce and Basil both thought it was a grand idea!
Psalm 37:1-6 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
The weather forecast said it was going to be cloudy and raining for most of the trip. Upon arrival they seemed to be right on. Anchorage is down there somewhere.
Bruce and I spent Monday night camped out in Brent and Bregitte’s driveway. We got up “early” Tuesday and headed for Paxson where we would be fishing for Grayling and Brent and company would be “bou” hunting.
Paxson is a very beautiful place as is most of AK.
Genesis 9:12-17 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
We saw four different rainbows in one day!!!
They say there are no sure things when it comes to fishing. My tendency is to agree. (Notice it’s raining Basil.) Grayling on the Gulkana River seem to be an exception to that rule. I will have to say it was a bit slow Tuesday afternoon but that did not hold up. Bruce with a nice one.
Brent also invited his friend Chris up to help in the caribou hunt. But first he wanted to try his hand at fly fishing. He was a quick study and had his first Grayling in no time. It was his first fish on a flyrod it would not be his last.
Wednesday, Bruce and I were back at it. (Notice the rain Basil.) It was a stellar day. Bruce caught a ton of fish. If you are familiar with Grayling then you know these are quality fish. We packed up about noon and headed back to camp.
One of the “goals” of this trip, a big one, was to get Nixon to catch his first fish. So we loaded him and Bregitte up and headed for Tangle Lakes about 15 miles down the Denali Highway. As much of a sure thing as grayling are on the Gulkana the terrain is not conducive to “hiking” for a four year old. Tangle Lakes/River is the next best thing. Wouldn’t you know it the water was high making it difficult to get to where we wanted to fish. There was one more place. Bingo! The fish were coming up everywhere. A young man and his “girl” friend had beat us to the spot but were more than willing to share. To tell the truth I have never seen anyone cast better than this young lady. Perfect loops and and a ton of distance it was a delight to watch.
Nixon’s first fish! The nobel Grayling.
Thursday it was time for Bruce and I to move on. We had to be at the airport in Anchorage to pick up Basil at about 8 pm. We stopped over in Eagle River did our laundry, rested up a bit, got some groceries and headed out to the airport. The weather continued to be “rainy” but not too bad. Actually we saw some lightning which is unusual for ANC.
Basil was right on time we picked him up headed back to Eagle River and got on the Parks Highway to Montana Creek. Made reservations for the night online and camped in our “favorite” spot. We were up “early” Friday morning and in search of the elusive rainbow! We started at the RR bridge and fished down to the confluence of the SU. No action. Fished for an hour or so with no “luck.” Just before leaving the area I decided we should try one more spot. The main stem of Montana was flowing in a different direction that “normal.” The water was high but not exceedingly so. It was paydirt right of the bat.
A big fat Dolly. We have not caught a lot of dollies at Montana but it’s not unusual either. We landed a few more before we were done. But we were after bows. We were not disappointed.
The action was not fast and furious but steady we probably ended up with a dozen or so. But they were all good fish. Friday was about the same. The bite was early and then pretty much shut off. Bruce decided he should get a bigger net!!!
Basil was not going to be denied!
We stopped fishing about noon and headed for Talkeetna. Very disappointing that the Roadhouse was still closed but a nice drive nonetheless. Any drive with this in it has to be a good one.
Saturday found us on our way to Willow Creek. This being Labor Day weekend it was crowded so we did not fish. Bruce did some more wash and that is a story for another day in itself. Sunday we got up early enough to make it to Anchorage to attend Awaken Church. Always good to be in church with friends. We headed to the Kenai Peninsula and the Russian River after church. Had to take a spot in overflow camping for the night but had reservations for the next three (sort of). Monday it was about as crowded as I have seen it. Needless to say the fishing was slow.
The bears however were plentiful. Got four in one picture I hope (It’s pretty dark).
Tuesday found us on a float trip on the world famous Kenai River. The trip is worth the effort even if you don’t catch any fish. We did however catch some fish quite a few as it turned out.
I forgot to mention Chris met up with us again for a couple of nights on the Russian and made the float.
Wednesday was our last day of fishing. It was the best day on the Russian for sure.
Chris had to go back to ANC as his plane was leaving that evening. Everybody caught fish but Basil had the hot hand
One thing for sure we ate good. We tried to hold down eating out to one meal a day. Started with Thai food in Glennallen, in ANC hamburgers at Kriner’s, breakfast at Gwennies, in Cooper Landing – cinnamon rolls (twice) at Wildman’s, Bar-B-Q at Two Brothers and more burgers at Gwinn’s Roadhouse. I know I left some out.
We headed back to ER to winterize the Old RV, clean up and get ready for our flights out.
Now for the rest of the story. Back to Paxson. While we were traveling around Brent and family were hunkered down on the Denali Highway caribou hunting, Most reports were the bou were not in, in great numbers. But, as with fishing, persistence pays off.
Brent was about to call off the hunt when headed back to camp they came across this fine specimen. And not only that his friend that was with him killed one too. They have to butcher the animals and pack them out. After packing his friends animal out and going back for Brent’s he (Brent) killed another one! So it turned out pretty good after all. I know Brent wants to thank Tony and Gigi for all their help.
Day After the Kill Somewhere over the Rockies.
It was a great trip. Just about everything we could have hoped for. Fishing was “great”, weather was great, friends were great, meeting new people was great, lots of chances to witness for Jesus.
Want to especially thank Brent and Bregitte for their hospitality. Bregitte is so good on giving direction and keeping the insurance and tags on all the vehicles up to date (knowing how paranoid I am.) And she is always ready to help with transportation all while taking care of our four beautiful grandchildren. Want to thank Tony and Gigi for allowing us to store our RV’s at their home. It is a blessing.
Lord willing we will be back in 2021!!!
Ephesians 3:14 – 21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
AAA Trout 