With an annual return of 4,500-8,000 fish, the Situk hosts the largest steelhead run in the state. : coho and pink salmon, and rainbow trout; Oct.: coho salmon, rainbow trout, and steelhead; Nov.-March: steelhead. With daily housekeeping service, in-house laundry facilities, you'll enjoy the comforts of home with the exhilarating thrill of America's last frontier. ) or https:// means you've safely The trail also fords the Old Situk River, but it does not follow the banks of Situk River. 0011 800 4 782 3822. If you only know the names of two fish in the world, they'll probably be Salmon and Trout. The Yakutat Fish Factory - Fish Alaska Magazine During peak migrations the catch rates of steelhead on the Situk River are often in excess of 10 fish per day, per angler, especially on guided trips. He got it. The Situk River in Southeast Alaska has the longest running set of biological data and scale samples for steelhead in the state and is of particular interest because it supports the largest known . Rube & Mary are the greatest hosts! Over the years I have fine-tuned my technique and maximized my efficiency at hooking steelhead in this river; now a dozen hookups per day is not uncommon. UIFN Toll Free (1) Toll Free. Do the different thing to achieve different results. Miller has big dreams of some day tapping into that traffic and taking . We might be in competition for the biters, but keep in mind Situk steelheaders depend on each other. Because fall steelhead are not preoccupied with spawning rituals and are coming into the river to overwinter and spawn the following spring, they are active feeders and can be very aggressive. But intermittent meadows and alder thickets made life miserable with chest-high snow and a completely obscured path. The first day would be cloudy, after days of rain. My brother-in-law caught one that day and lost a couple of others. Email Us, Board of Fisheries and Game: Actions & Activities, Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity Program, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), About the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program (WASSIP), Online General Season & Registration Permits, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Permits, CSIS Community Subsistence Information System, The Technical Papers and Special Publications Series. This area includes numerous streams and rivers that have similar characteristics as the Situk: clean water, a meandering channel, perfect spawning gravel and slow tributaries. (0011 800 4 RVBD TAC) 1300 007 823 (RVBD) (3) There is no road that follows the water. Information, Mailing Sixteen miles long, the Situk River is unlike any other steelhead river Ive fished. Steelhead fishing on the Situk River Cheers, Courtney. There were a lot of fish compared to what Ive grown accustomed to in the Lower 48, but there were a lot more people than I am accustomed to. 7 Days, 6 Nights: $3,500/person5 Days, 4 Nights: $2,500/person, Minimum 2 peopleDepart from from Yakutat, AlaskaIncludes lodging, (907) 488-7517 - An official website of the Documentation, Network Accelerator, Bulk Token The lodges depend on happy customers. This is comprised of both winter and spring-run fish with their spawn occurring in April and May. The average length of a Situk River steelhead is approximately 30 inches, and in some years as many as 5% of the population is estimated to be of 'trophy' size (greater than 36 inches). Steelhead runs are categorized as spring, summer, fall, or winter and in southeast Alaska only fall and spring runs occur. The Situk is accessed at the top end via a nine-mile bridge and the float to the bottom takeout is 14 miles. Fortunately, the Forest Service is now listening to Alaskans and is moving to restore roadless-area protections for the Tongass. The bead has got to hunt, Wyatt said. Finally I reached my destination just as a few flakes of snow started to fall and light in the sky began to gather. Contact Cambium for assistance. When steelhead are in the best lies, dollies tend to bunch up in soft water adjacent to current seams. One trip for me and I have life-long friends. Fax:907-228-6215, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tongass/recarea/?recid=79172, Intentionally snagging and/or retaining a snagged fish is illegal. The primary fishery takes place from April to June, with peak effort occurring in May. Map created by Mark Hieronymus. Pull over and get out! The more access is restricted, the more fish populations will suffer. And we can arrange the shuttles. That was good enough for us. This river, defined as it is by wood which can move around from day to day or week to week, changes so much that good holes come and go faster than any river I have ever seen. Photos by Gary Lewis & Trey Scharp. in-house laundry facilities, you'll enjoy the comforts of home with the exhilarating thrill of America's last frontier. The Situk cuts its magical swath through pristine Southeast Alaska rainforest and its unique substrate, flow, mineral content all combine to create the most ideal steelhead stream imaginable. Vernon Scharp with a bead-caught steelhead. On our first day I hooked five steelhead with the river green and dropping. Unlike Pacific salmon, however, steelhead do not always die after spawning and can repeat the cycle several times over. On your own time, or accompanied by one of our experienced Yakutat fishing guide partners, you'll have absolutely the best time of your life. Also: The best gear for anglers camping in Alaska. In Yakutat, from March through April, the buzz is about chrome bullets fresh from the salt and rainbow-splashed, deep-bodied wild fish, some of the biggest in the world. The Situk cuts its magical swath through pristine Southeast Alaska rainforest and its unique substrate, flow, mineral content all combine to create the most ideal steelhead stream imaginable. 5928 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Large Edward, . About 2 miles down the trail, there is a side trail that provides access to the confluence of the Old Situk and Situk Rivers, a popular site for steelhead, sockeye and dolly varden fishing. Please be respectful towards wildlife and other anglers. Most meals were cooked on gravel bars or in parking lots. None of us would have met each other except for steelhead. KastKing is a relatively new player in the market which some of you might not have heard about. The average cost for a four hour trip in Situk River is N/A, while the average cost for an 8 hour trip is $1889. On your own time, or accompanied by one of our experienced Yakutat fishing guide partners, you'll have absolutely the best time of your life. Accelerator Controller, Certify The Roadless Rule, which the Forest Service originally passed in 2001, prohibits commercial logging and new logging roads in 9.4 million acres of roadless areas in the Tongass. The Situk River has two steelhead runs: one in the spring and one in the fall. Situk River is the most famous of Yakutat's rivers. Tracking fifth-year options for 2020 first-rounders: Which were picked up, and which were declined? The Situk River boasts runs of both. Toll. With polarized glasses, we stood at the oars and peered along current seam lines and beneath cut banks. Most anglers have a pretty good idea of what it takes to catch a steelhead on a bead, but there are intricacies and nuances. Water levels on the Situk River continue to be very low. with their comfortable bedrooms for two or three, fully-equipped private kitchens for each group, spacious dining, lounging & TV areas, & picturesque decks with BBQ grills will immeasurably enhance your Alaskan adventure. A steelhead streaked from the tailout, up under a cutbank. Targeting Situk River steelhead in Alaska 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now'. Great report! Share sensitive information only I suspect our best numbers were put up by the lone angler in our group who stuck with beads. In a constantly changing river, there are good holes people overlook simply because they are heading to a known or a favorite spot. Ocean migration and behavior of steelhead Oncorhynchus - ResearchGate During the past 15 years, the run of metalheads in the Situk River has grown from an estimated low of 338 in 1993 to a high of 15,003 in 2006, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Another large fish, well over 20 pounds followed it up out of the deep water. KastKing Krome Salmon/Steelhead Fishing Rod. The lower 14 miles are floatable from the Nine Mile Bridge down almost to the ocean and while that is not so unremarkable, the river is choked with wood. YAKUTAT, Alaska It was pitch black, freezing and a headlamp was required to follow the snow covered trail. Click "OK" to continue. Fighting through a log jam on the Situk River in southeast Alaska. And research indicates that a lot of Situk fish are caught many times. Situk steelhead are not considered large, robust fish by any means and fish are generally "cookie cutters" between 28 and 33 inches. The spring run typically begins mid March, really picks up speed the last week of April and tapers off by mid . Yakutat's Situk River Water Level Remains Low, Slowing Fishing Options The Rodeo Hole is a pinch point right now and very difficult to jet boat through. Products, Report Tongass National Forest - Situk River Trailhead But good drifting weather is not necessarily good fishing weather. Enterprises, Client The Situk River is one of the most prolific and popular salmon and trout systems in the National Forest System. About a third of the run arrives in late October through November and December. The health of the run is arguably a big factor in my recent success. By late April, it can depend on rain to stay fishable and floatable. Board of Fisheries and Game: Actions & Activities, Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity Program, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), About the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program (WASSIP), Online General Season & Registration Permits, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Permits, CSIS Community Subsistence Information System, The Technical Papers and Special Publications Series. How much does a Situk River fishing charter cost? The downstream trail system is more extensive. Beautiful scenery, wild landscapes, and healthy populations of fish and wildlife are what make places like Yakutat so special. Call usabout family discounts, senior rates, & package fishing trip offers. Closer to the weekend, and with the river low and clear, our hook-up ratios dropped considerably. Each steelhead is like a miracle, a gift out of time, a prehistoric primal beast. In comparison, the all-tackle world record stands at 42 pounds, 2 ounces for a metalhead landed about 300 miles to the south by a boy trolling for king salmon in 1970 near Ketchikan. Its not shaped like a steelhead river.. Blog by Gary Lewis The only consolation was now he could cut 10-pound mono with that tooth. Five minutes later, I cradled it in shallow water. There are multiple bank access fishing spots along the Situk River Trail, beginning at the Nine Mile bridge. Here at the top of the float, the runs were narrow and the water skinny, the aluminum skins of the drift boats scraped gravel as we slid from run to run, getting the feel of the boats. And quiet confidence and swagger for the fishermen who figure it out. Our spacious dry rooms allow you to, , offers the ultimate in reasonably-priced World-Class, The natural-run Yakutat steelhead fishing. Thats quite the accomplishment in a fish-filled state. The Situk River: An Alaska Steelhead Mecca, Alaska Department of Fish There. A steelhead streaked from the tailout, up under a cutbank. These trips are strictly walk and wade excursions and require a certain degree of hiking ability and wading mobility. We saw their shapes at the end of the runs where they staged over gravel spawning beds. The natural-run Yakutat steelhead fishing is considered the best in the world. Sink. Alas, the Situk is not for the faint at heart or easily ruffled as it definitely takes more than it gives but again the reward of an ocean bright wild steelhead on the line is well worth all the efforts. Photo courtesy of Trey Scharp. Support, Solution Shannon and I traded places at the oars, pointing the bow at a new obstacle at every turn, pulling away from it. Map Information. I set the hook into a chrome bright ten-pounder that thrashed three feet above the surface in a horizontal tantrum and crashed back in a spray of foam. Where the river bent hard left, I had Shannon hold back while I fired a spinner into deep water along a log. Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, Phone:907-225-3101 Heading downriver it wasn't long before I encountered some promising shadows along a deep cutbank. A small number steelhead also enter the Situk in the fall to overwinter in the drainage. The fall flood significantly changed the Upper Situk, and . is considered the best in the world. Riverbed Global Support Email: support@riverbed.com. Our drift boats were staged at the bridge, waiting. Fishing Opportunities, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Anyone have recommendations on specific gear to use? From swinging flies like the Dirty Hoh and Mini Intruder, to smaller offerings like our custom Liquid Wrench and of course the crazy but effective Garcia Glo Bug. Prior to our trip we watched the temperatures in Yakutat and inside the 10-day forecast, we began to anticipate each days float. Drifting down this clear water river with is pools and runs provide the perfect arena for catching one of the hardest fighting, fast action fish there is to catch. Appreciate any insight people might have. Fish that spot till dark, make a warm dinner, watch the embers burn down and the stars turn around the sky. Situk Steelhead Fly and Bead List connected to the .gov website. Lesser fish darted to the sides while the fish, which I estimated at 28 pounds, assumed the best holding lie. One of three steelhead hooked in front of a root wad, this 8-pounder went airborne time and again to throw the hook. LockA locked padlock Our famous saltwater halibut, lingcod, & black bass fishing is second to none. We teamed up with Legend guide Danny Stonedahl for an 18 mile each day float down t. Check out our favorite flies for fishing the legendary Situk River in Yakutat for steelhead. On crowded rivers, steelheading is competition for the biters. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from around the world come to the Glacier Bear Lodge each. This trail joins up with the 10 mile ATV Trail and continues on to the Middle Situk Cabins. Eagle Cabin, Tongass National Forest - Recreation.gov The world renowned Situk River is home to the largest steelhead run in Alaska. It might be the land of giants but a person should keep expectations in check. The Forest Services new Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy will realign the agency away from outdated and costly practices that damage the forest and important fish and wildlife habitat, towards management activities that benefit local communities, the southeast Alaska economy, and our fish and wildlifelike hiring local businesses to fix culverts that do not meet fish-passage standards. Along the way a spur trail leads . These fall runs begin in late August and early September and typically peak in the middle of October. We were hungry for steelhead. Fish average 10 12 pounds with fish in the 17 20 pound range not uncommon. Subscriptions, Riverbed Trout Unlimiteds mission is to protect, reconnect and restore North Americas coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Most of these anglers likely know that Yakutat is known as the Yakutat Fish Factory and is one of the best places in Alaska to catch these fish, but how many know why this place is a hotbed for salmon and trout populations? Vernon and I had planned this trip on a whim. Email Us. These prodigious runs of fish, largely a function of the high quality habitat found in the Situk watershed, draw both anglers and wildlife. Both conventional tackle and fly fishing work well. Within the Forelands, there are at least eight instances where roads cross streams and impede fish migration. Join our mailing list and receive exclusive updates! Cooper Landing, AK. The Ahrnklin River, Seal Creek, and the Lost River, along with several small streams, join Situk River waters in the Situk-Ahrnklin Lagoon before emptying into the Gulf of . This section of river extends for two miles and is closed to all fishing for most for the steelhead season. Parts of steelhead resolve into whole fish. Two roads access the river, one at the mouth near the ocean and one about 12 miles upriver. Great report! Raven Cabin, Tongass National Forest - Recreation.gov Performance Management, Digital Steelhead Fishing Packages - Monti Bay Lodge & Resort - Yakutat - AK I slammed into a small rock while the boat was turned and my brother-in-law took a header against the gunwale, breaking a tooth he had had repaired just four days earlier. About a mile before the cabins, there is a side trail that accesses the confluence of the Old Situk and Situk Rivers. Fishing on six fabulous river systems of the Yakutat Alaska area is just a short flight with our air taxi partner. The flick of a fin might reveal a holding lie, a blue-black back, the shine of chrome beneath a lateral line. As soon as it was gone, I fired a cast into the same run, hooked one and lost it. Southeast, Alaska Department of Fish and Game More than 1,000 such instances exist across the Tongass, impeding access to approximately 250 miles of salmon and trout habitat. They can catch big numbers of fish when the conditions are right. Miller, the founder of the non-profit museum and owner of the shop, sells gear and provides fishing reports for thousands of anglers who visit or wish they could visit the Situk River, a 16-mile river famous for its massive production of steelhead trout and salmon. From there transportation is provided and you can get checked into the Glacier Bear Lodge. They moved when the light was low morning and evening and held close to cover during the day. My first cast answered that query by producing a nice, dime-bright steelie. Our famous saltwater halibut, lingcod, & black bass fishing is second to none. Our famous saltwater halibut, lingcod, & black bass fishing is second to none. And I got it. Drifting down this clear water river with is pools and runs provide the perfect arena for catching one of the hardest fighting, fast action fish there is to catch. Australia. The pace was brisk in the areas of trail protected by a dense canopy of Sitka spruce and hemlock forest. The repeal left critical areas like the Yakutat Forelands, and the areas incredible fish runs, at risk. The Situk River: An Alaska Steelhead Mecca, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Skip to Main ContentSkip to Site NavigationSkip to Section Navigation State of Alaska myAlaska Departments State Employees Statewide Links Alaska Department ofFish and Game Search Terms Alaska Department of Fish and Game Situk River Steelhead Fishing, May 2020. Map showing recreational areas. "After Tony hooked his second fish in the first 10 minutes of our float, I started to believe in the magic of metal," author Randall Bonner writes of their experience. Marian Giannulis is the Alaska Communications & Engagement Director for Trout Unlimited. The bulk of the fish are 8-12 lbs. Stream-side cabin accommodations. Steelhead Fishing Alaska | Alaska Steelhead Fishing Trips Upstream habitat is critical for highly migratory fish like salmon. With a Riverbed support plan in place, you can be assured that you will limit expensive downtime while maintaining the high level of performance expected from your Steelhead appliance deployment. What the longest game in MLB history says about baseball today, Fantasy women's basketball: Why to focus on guards early in your draft, Miami Heat celebrate Florida Panthers while trolling Boston Bruins and Milwaukee Bucks, Transfer Talk: Manchester United see Lautaro Martinez as a striker option, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. United States. Yakutat Steelhead Fishing Situation On The Situk Dependent On Water Every one in our group caught steelhead, but the same could not be said for many of the fishermen gathered in the bar on our last evening. And how many know about the work that is being done to ensure these fisheries are around for generations to come? Every year anglers flock to Yakutat to cast their chance at catching a trophy steelhead or to fill their freezer with wild salmon. Situk Steelhead are among the most prestigious anadromous game fish on the planet and they command special respect and lore that only the most disserting and accomplished angler can embrace. Pro-tip:Fish Alaskasfavorite fishing lodges to visit. 2UIFN toll free numbers are not supported on mobile devices in China, Malaysia, and Denmark. 680 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 Global Support Phone: +1.415.247.7381 | Email: support@riverbed.com, Account And with the clear days the fish had pulled tight into the wood of the log jams. Salmon runs fill the river from June through October and steelhead filter in beginning in the fall and in a larger spring run. (Situk River) for mid May, fishing the salt for 1-2 days and the river for 4. Redemption, SteelCentral Still, there are known holes that hold fish 100 percent of the time and those places feel the most pressure. When steelhead are in the river, people seem to forget about the Dolly Varden, but dollies can save a trip when the steelhead are scarce. They were huddled with Ty Wyatt, a conservationist, guide and steelhead junkie who grew up in Lakeview, Oregon. After releasing it I was quickly into another, and after an hour I tallied nine hookups, landing five. day trips to the magnificent Hubbard Glacier by boat or plane provide the one-of-a-kind experience that you will remember for a lifetime. on official, secure websites. I called my friend Gary Davis over to see the fish. Thanks, Matt! Controller for SteelHead, NetIM The next days would be clear and warm. Learn about our work in Alaska at tu.org/project/alaska. The Situk can be crowded in the spring. Cooper Landing Fishing Guide, LLC. Oh yeah, you probably wont be able to see the stars because of the rain, but thats okay. We fish this in one day which means we try to concentrate our efforts on the most fish-laden sections of the river and we fish long 10-12 hour days. Whether you are fly fishing, drift fishing, or spin casting, we will put you on the fish!This unique early season trip puts you on a slow moving wilderness stream, ideal for fly or spin fishing for NativeRainbow and Cutthroat Trout. Visitors can bring inflatable rafts, kayaks and canoes. Together, the waters of the Yakutat Forelands have ideal habitat for incredible fish productivity and species diversity. Some stocks of steelhead can travel hundreds of miles upriver to reach their spawning grounds. This area is natures perfect design for a fish factory.