Bear Creek Outfitters – Juneau, Alaska

August 13th, 2008 Buster

Last week I had chance to go on fly out fly-fishing trip in Juneau, Alaska with Bear Creek Outfitters. I was on my honeymoon and I had the trip lined up through the cruise. Prior to the cruise, the owner of one of our local fly shops gave me some flies to try, plus I had done a little research prior to the fishing trip so would be prepared. I tied a few pink clouser minnows, which I heard was “The” fly at the time.

The fishing trip started out with a 20 minute drive to the local airport. The guide service, Bear Creek Outfitters operates out of the hanger for “Ward Air”, which is the float plane service that flew us to the fishing spot. Bear Creek Outfitters provided the waders, boots, jackets, fly rods (Sage), reels (Ross), and most importantly, the flies. The flight from the airport to the fishing spot was about 30 minutes. I was lucky enough to sit in the co-pilot seat, so I had a great view of the wilderness.

After getting off the float plane, the guides strung up the rods and broke us up between beginners, refreshers, and experienced fly fishers. There was eleven of us fishing with three guides, two of which were carrying shotguns and keeping an eye out for bears and other wildlife. Another gentleman and I were the only guys with previous experience, so we were able to start before the others. I tied on one of the pink clouser minnows I had tied the night before we left for Seattle / Alaska. After about the fifth cast, I had a fish on. I have never felt the pull and power of such a fish, which was pink salmon. My first fish was a large hump back male pink salmon. After a few photos and releasing the fish, I was back at casting to pinks. It was not but a few cast later and I was back at it with another fish on the line. I was only there to fish for about 3 to 3 ½ hours, but at this rate, I would have to be carried out of here from exhaustion.

For the next couple of hours I casted to and caught many pink salmon. I would guess that I caught about three dozen pink salmon and one Dolly Varden. While moving up the stream, I notice several areas of bear scat. The guides mentioned that we were fishing an area were bears have been recently seen. About forty-five minutes before trip was over, a mama bear and two cubs came out of the woods. The mama bear was chasing and killing salmon for her cubs and quite successfully too. Bears were not the only wildlife we saw on the trip. We saw several bald eagles, a deer, a few seals, and a few bears.

After the fishing was done, we walked back to the beach area to meet the float plane and have some lunch. We talked about the fishing, the bears, and the eagles. The guides were great and from my understanding, everyone caught fish, which was the purpose of this trip. All of the fishing was catch and release; I wish I could have kept a few fish. There is nothing better that fresh salmon; however, if anyone is planning a trip to Juneau, Alaska and you want to do a little fly fishing, check out the guys at Bear Creek Outfitters.

Entry Filed under: Buster the Fly Fishing Guru, Fishing, Fly Fishing, General