Sockeye Salmon Have Arrived!

Chrome Sockeye harvested from the Kvichak River

Around the 1st of July the world's largest run of sockeye salmon begin their migration from Bristol Bay into the Kvichak River. After exiting the Kvichak River they enter into Lake Iliamna and follow the shore lines to their home rivers.  Sockeye salmon enter freshwater chrome bright and within a couple of weeks they transform into their spawning colors. Its tough to explain to someone the numbers of fish that flood these rivers until you see it with your own eyes.  Click on the link below to see this years fish counts on the Kvichak river.
Fish Counts
  

Young Brown Bear having a midday snack

 

Sockeye eggs in the river

Brown bear on the Kulik river enjoying a sockeye

   Towards the end of July sockeye salmon will move out of the deep pools and onto the gravel to begin spawning.  This is when the rainbow trout slide into position and start gorging on the thousands of eggs being laid into the river.  During the first week or two of the spawn the fishing can be spectacular.  Sight fishing for big rainbows behind paired up sockeye is something we all look forward to.  We fool these big trout by using 6mm and 8mm beads in various colors.  Our guides hand pick fingernail polish and paint these beads to create different shades and tones.     

Jess Furo landed this nice rainbow on a dead egg!

Ben Todd fooled this hog bow with a bead

If you get a chance please click the link below and spend a little time reading about the proposed Pebble Mine that is threatening this magical area and its fish.  We are all very scared this mine will go through and in time will devastate our fisheries and lands.  Without the sockeye runs this entire area will fall apart.   

Renewable Resources Coalition

Underwater video of sockeye salmon staging in a deep pool