Once you work your way through the labyrinth of airports and layovers, Chena Hot Springs, Alaska is a great place to be in September. 40s to 70s in the daytime with occasional light rain. Beautiful! I was there four days to attend the OWAA conference. Call me stupid, but I didn’t bring my fishing gear.
Even though I’m mostly a fly fisherman and reluctant to use “heathen tackle”, I did manage to borrow a spinning rod and some lures from a friend and spend an hour or so chucking hardware into the clear waters of a nearby lake , catching and releasing a couple of small Arctic grayling, a first of that species for me. I’m no longer an Arctic grayling virgin!
Saw a moose or two but no bears, which was fine with me. I don’t do bears. I did run across a fascinating book that I haven’t been able to put down… Alaska’s Wolfman by Jim Rearden. It chronicles the adventures of Frank Glaser in the Alaska wilderness from 1915 to 1955. Read it if you can find it!
I’m putting the grayling on notice. No more Mister Nice Guy! Next time I’m bringing the nine-foot 5-weight, some leaders, and flies and kicking fish butt!