Our View Traveling Down HWY 1

I have essentially taken this same route to work for more than a decade. But in that time I have failed to notice how quickly it has grown. The commercialism is staggering. Many areas that were vacant fields less than 20 years ago are now parking lots, gas stations, convenience stores, shopping centers and fast food restaurants. Our world has become a crowded place, more complicated and stressful than ever before. As I made my regular turn onto Veterans Boulevard, a woman in a stylish convertible cut me off without a moment’s hesitation. I found this to be quite an accomplishment considering that a cell phone was attached to her ear, and an Egg McMuffin to her mouth.

The early 1980s Eagles hit “Life in the Fast Lane” was playing on the radio, and it somehow seemed appropriate. The combination of the intense July heat, the humidity and stupidity we have all experienced on these morning commutes can be a hellish experience.

Thankfully most humans are equipped with mental and physiological abilities so that we can acclimate ourselves stressful situations such as these. Of course some of us deal with life’s problems better than others. But I believe that those of us who live in urban areas have developed more sophisticated defense mechanisms to handle stress because we experience so much more of it. These abilities enable us to adapt, persevere, and make it through another day of life in the city.

It was an unusually good morning. It was even better knowing that my stop to the RodnReel.com office would be brief. I was here to pick up a few company shirts, outdoor wear, some camera equipment and battery chargers and assorted media gear for a flight. I was finally getting the chance to actually visit a place I had only seen in photos and read about in magazines such as National Geographic. I was leaving for Alaska. And while this vast rugged territory is within the territory of the United States, I felt as if I was headed to another world.

With my partner Helmut Ermlich and local outdoors television and radio personality Don Dubuc, and 11 other excited adventures we boarded a commercial flight to Houston. After a brief layover we boarded a seven-hour flight to Anchorage, Alaska. As I stepped off the plane, the oxygen rich air gave some of us a light-headed feeling. But it quickly subsided as our adrenaline began pumping. We were primed for our mission of “field research” that would include fishing the great rivers and open sea, and exploring the undeveloped territory that was so different from our suburban neighborhoods in southeast Louisiana.

Mountains on side of Hwy 1

Our destination was a three-hour drive to the city of Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula. Here we had booked a trip with the Gone Fishin' Lodge to experience the fishing that we had heard about for years. Fish such as 60-pound King Salmon, or halibut well over 100 pounds.

“Kings” are considered by most natives to be the ultimate catch in Alaska. They range from 20 to 90 pounds. The veteran fishing guides, many who make $80,000 during the fishing season, say the fighting power of this fish is unlike any other species they have ever encountered. King salmon is a force to be reckoned with. And the fight only intensifies within the swift currents of the Kenai River. We were excited to hear that the world record, 97.4-pound king salmon was caught in the Kenai River in 1985

Our visit to the south-central region of Alaska could not have been better timed. Mild temperatures usually prevail from May through September. And the big king salmon make their annual run up Kenai River from May through July. And the operators of the Gone Fishin’ Lodge in Soldotna said they would literally pass in front of lodge on the river.

My only knowledge of Alaska has been from outdoors and nature magazines and photography, depicting the isolated rugged beauty and wildlife. I was surprised to learn of the diversity of this massive state. The city of Anchorage has a population of 260,283. There are cities and towns of all sizes, rural hamlets, and fishing villages scattered across the state. Our destination, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has a population totaling 51,200 people.

Alaska is larger, much larger than one can imagine, with 584,400 square miles of land and more than 86,000 square miles of water. It’s shoreline runs for 6,640 miles - larger than the entire Gulf of Mexico.

The three-hour drive from Anchorage to Soldotna was an experience in itself. I thought for a brief moment of the heat and humidity back home and smiled. The temperatures were a comfortable 66 degrees. From the window of our rented van I saw moose, goats and bear. I could only imagine what the rest of the week had in store.

Train from Soldotna to Anchorage

We had also hoped to target silver salmon, which are considered by many resident anglers to be even better than king salmon. Silver kings are somewhat smaller, ranging between seven and 15 pounds, but are extremely aggressive. The much-anticipated run of silver kings is usually from mid-July through late September or early October. Alaskan veterans say the silver salmon run peaks in August.

 

The city of Soldotna is an ideal location for the fishing and other activities we had planned. While it is on the Kenai River, it is also near the Cook Inlet. In these deep offshore waters, volcanoes and rock monoliths the size of the Louisiana Superdome rise from the sea like alien structures. Some have entrances and exits large enough for vessels to pass through. The Cook Inlet is where we hoped to target monster Alaskan flounder known as halibut.

 

One of the towns we later visited was Homer, home of Alaska’s largest charter fishing fleet. The commercial and charter fishing boats bring in some of the largest halibut ever seen. Halibut, they say, is among the best tasting fish in the world. Most halibut caught in this region are in the 20- to 50-pound range, with many weighing more than 100 pounds.  

The world record halibut of 459 pounds was caught in Dutch Harbor, Alaska in 1996. Halibut fishing here peaks between May and September.

 

Beautiful Old Buildings Along the Way

As we anxiously discussed the much-anticipated week ahead, I began to realize the rugged beauty and allure that is Alaska. There would be incredible opportunities for photos like the ones I had seen earlier in National Geographic. Huge grizzly bears with cubs in tow. I hope to fly over glaciers, see the fjords and calm, mist-covered waters explode with the crashes of giant pods of humpback whales in the coming days.

After a lengthy ride across some of the most diverse territory I have ever seen, we arrived in Soldotna. And the Gone Fishin’ Lodge was everything I expected. We unloaded our gear and prepared for the adventure of a lifetime. But then again, this was Alaska.

It was beyond my wildest dreams – but surprisingly within my reach.

RodnReel.com will be publishing a series of stories on the Alaskan adventures of myself and Helmut Ermlich on the website. This is just the beginning. Keep reading to learn about the exciting state, the fishing, and the sights …..