Many factors culminated in making this year’s Kanektok float so special, camaraderie, scenery, camping, bears, fishing, water levels among them. I’d been going annually since 2010, guided at first, but the flexibility of DIY soon made itself apparent, I love the planning and logistics it takes! This year my partner was Eric Ward from Maine, a big game guide, experienced outdoorsman in general, the most important factor in a successful trip. Eric did all the rowing, his use the boga grip and pliers made the release of many fish easy.
The trip began a day early, we were flown into Pegati Lake by Renfro outfitters out of Bethel. One of Paul Hansen’s guides had two tents already set up and very generously offered one for us to use, the clients weren’t due in for a few days. Good thing, as the weather moved in that night, heavy rain and heavier winds proved no match for the ‘bombproof’ shelter. We welcomed the dry and warmth the next day, as soon as we hit the river the next, the wind died significantly.
For the next two weeks camping became more familiar, set up and tear down of the raft, tarp and tents got a lot faster. Shock cord, Loop Aliens and sand bags were sure helped. Little improvements make a huge impact! We saw a dozen or so bear ranging from medium sized to huge. One very close encounter with one bear who was so focused on catching the Pink salmon it was after, I don’t think it even registered us in the raft floating by. The same with all the other bear we saw, I’m convinced they really don’t care about us humans as long as we’re respectful and use common sense. Realize we’re not on top of the food chain, it’s their country!
And now what you’ve all been waiting for, the fishing! Bottom line, the best ever. Especially for Dolly Varden Char and Coho Salmon. The key for the Dolly Varden was to find spawning sockeye, look for the red! The char become laser focused on the ‘egg drop’, a well drifted bead will not be refused. In places the river bottom was black with Coho Salmon. And less numbers of Pink, Chum and Sockeye Salmon, Arctic Grayling and Rainbow Trout were landed. Beads up high, streamers down low, although we found Dollie’s from top to bottom, including a 5 1/2 pound Char down fairly low. For the Coho I used a sink tip line, Eric stuck with a
floater. I used a 7 wt rod, Eric an 8. None of which seemed to matter one bit! The key seemed to be water level, which was high, it afforded us and the fish access to areas not normally fished. This proved to be extremely effective!
Streamer Flies. I used the ‘Double Trouble’ exclusively. Articulated with an Ahrex 2/0 trailer, attached directly to a 30 mm shank from Spawn. Insta Jig tungsten beads for weight, Spawn Polliwog or Leech Leather tails, and Fulling Mill micro flash dubbing in a loop for bodies. Legs versus flash as an accent, a brush collar finishes the fly. Contrasting colors, you couldn’t go wrong with pink. Orange, red and purple too. Eric used a simple ‘Devil Leech’, again it really didn’t seem to matter!
In conclusion, the 2024 Kanektok float was the best of all! The best companion, the ‘chosen’ river, the best fishing. Scenery, wildlife and camping to boot. All wrapped in one big package, to last long enough until the next time…
Guest writer:
Bob Erickson
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