This week's fishing report from Capt. John Kumiski 8/31/08
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Thank you for your patience over the past two months. I haven't written a report because I've been in Alaska, again working as a guide at the Goodnews River Lodge. At the lodge we've been fishing for five species of Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, dolly varden, and grayling. The fishing was once again fantastic, truly fantasy fishing. Many days you get tired of catching fish. The last salmon to come in are the silver (coho) salmon, which average 10 to 12 pounds. A decent fly caster can catch 40 or 50 a day.
The Goodnews River is over 80 miles long, starting at Goodnews Lake, flowing through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and emptying into Goodnews Bay. The river has two fishable tributaries, giving it over 150 miles of fishable water. The lodge is the only one on the river, so visitors essentially have all this water to themselves. The valley is spectacular, surrounded by mountains that still had some snow on August 27th, the day I left.
Visitors to the lodge who have the financial resources to fish around return to fish the Goodnews year after year. They tell me that the Goodnews is simply the best cold water river on the planet. I can't speak about the merits of any other rivers but I don't see how any river could be better.
Some of the photos from this summer will be posted at http://www.spottedtail.com/ThisWeeksFishingReport.htm. The majority of them will be posted at www.johnkumiski.com. If you'd like to see these great photos, please visit these links. If you want more information about the Goodnews River, or the Goodnews River Lodge, please feel free to contact me at john@spottedtail.com.
While I was gone son Maxx appropriated my truck. I've inherited my bride's 1999 Toyota Sienna. I need to carry canoes and kayaks with this vehicle, which does not have a factory installed roof rack. If anyone out there has information about aftermarket roof racks for this vehicle I would love to hear from you. Email me at john@spottedtail.com. A Spotted Tail prize pack will go out to the person who provides the best information. Decisions of the judges are final!
Evidently lots of rain fell here in central Florida when Faye blew through. The rivers are real high, as is the lagoon system. The Sienna does not yet have a trailer hitch so I don't know how soon I'll get out. But I'm sure I'll figure a way to get a boat to the coast some time this week.
And as we all know, life is short- enjoy it!
Life is great and I love my work!
John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
www.johnkumiski.com
