Alaska Lodge Provides Great Fishing.....and a Treasure Hunt! by Hobart Manns, Freshwater News

This past month, Alaska’s “Call of the Wild” gained the upper hand and this angler returned to his favorite Alaska location, Fireweed Lodge, on Prince of Whale’s Island. Still the best ever location for comfort, food, and access to the fishing grounds one could expect to find. Hosts Bob and Jennie Anderson continue to out-do each previous visit by enlarging the amenities that the lodge offers.

The adventure this year is one I’m likely to remember for a long time, but perhaps not for the right reasons. Upon my arrival the first afternoon, those anglers who had fished that day were checking in their catches and guide Peter Buchanan pulled the fish of a lifetime out of his fish box. His fish that brought all the “oohs” and “aahs” tugged the scales to the 55 pound mark--the biggest catch of the season so far. If he had entered the local Derby the fish would have been worth about half a summer’s wages!

Fifty-five pounds may be common on the Kenai but in Southeast Alaska it is seldom seen. While fish run large in this region most run in the 20 to 40 pound range. The Coho in the catch this day also were very large for this early in the summer, several were about 12 pounds. Normally, these fish average about 8 pounds. Seeing fish running this large, bids well for the fall salmon season here on the Columbia River as some of the fish in this region return here.

The trip was even a greater joy than anticipated by the fact that we were there during the Fourth of July. One generally expects a small town to put on a Fourth display of fireworks. Well Klowack, a village of about 600 folks, had a show that lasted an hour and was as good as any I’ve seen any where in the lower 48. It would rival any seen in the Portland metro area except the Vancouver display. This village plans a whole year for this event and it is truly outstanding. You might want to plan your fishing to coincide with this event. Think of getting a big bang with your hook ups.

Early in this article, I stated that I would long remember this trip but not for all the right reasons. Well, the morning of the third day found me looking for my wallet and MY ENTIRE ID included. I spent the whole day on the beach trying to retrace my steps, looking under every chair in all the places I had visited, on the boat, in my room, luggage, all to no avail. Well after continued futile attempts to find it one gives into the next step, that of figuring out how to get home by air without ID. Well here Bob Anderson placed some calls and the airlines have a solution for lost ID. With Bob’s help we arranged a way to get me home. In some cases a photo copy of the fishing license will act as temporary ID as it contains a physical description and drivers license information.

At 3:30 AM of the last night there, I woke up from a fretful sleep and had a vision of the only location that I had not looked for the wallet. Way back under the dresser chest beside the bed. Out of bed in a flash and laying on the floor I reached under the dresser and waaay back I found this soft leather packet, gave a huge sigh of relief and went back to a real sleep. Lesson learned: carry some back-up ID in a second location if traveling by air. You may not be a s lucky as I was this time. Fishing took second seat to finding the wallet and I hope to return someday and catch the big one of a lifetime.

Bob had me stay in one of the new suites that have a separate sitting room with a porch and deck. Also a bedroom all wired for TV and the connections to the Internet. These ideally-designed accommodations fill the needs of a person who wants daily updates for business and enjoys comfort and pleasure after fishing. They are first-class cabins.

As always, food here remains the highest quality with the all-you-can-eat table of fresh whole, cracked Dungeness crab the daily appetizer. The afternoon snack the second day was just the finest crab bisque one could ever hope for-- rich and creamy, lots of crab and flavors hard to put into words. The presentations of fish were splendid and the daily cuts of steaks cooked to one’s taste equal any 4 star restaurant.

By now you know I really like Fireweed Lodge, which is true, and I wish that each of you might some day have the opportunity to fish from this location. August is the prime month for lots of fish as the Coho returns up there allow one to keep more fish in a day than we can keep in a week on the Columbia.

Thanks again to Bob and Jennie Anderson for sharing their hospitality and to Tim Marshall, lodge manager for his counsel during the wallet episode.