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WHY
BOOK WITH US?
Here are some reasons clients book with us, in their own
words...
The
Other Alaska
By, Glynn Gantenbein
The
following is a report sent to
the ANGLING REPORT by Glynn Gantenbein,
the lucky the lucky person who
won the trip to Alaska last year.
The ANGLING REPORT is a publication
featuring articles of world-wide
trip information specifically
of interest to the fly fishermen.
Most of detailed reports are submitted
by subscribers. The information
is interesting and informative
for anyone planning a trip outside
of their local area. ANGLING REPORT
is available for $49 per year
at www.anglingreport.com. The
last issue had articles covering
New Zealand, Panama, Chile, Louisiana
and Oregon, among other minor
mentions.
After returning from Alaska last
year, Glynn was so impressed with
the overall experience that he
was compelled to write the following
article for the REPORT. |
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“Float
planes just aren’t very exciting compared
to landing on gravel bars aboard a super cub!”
I’m the fortunate person who did just
that in Alaska after winning last year’s
Stoney River Lodge raffle through our Laguna
Madre Fly Fishing club. This was a trip to
the “Other Alaska,” the title
of a featured article in ALASKA MAGAZINE.
It touted the true remoteness of the lodge
compared to those in other areas, such a Bristol
Bay (there are about 40 lodges there), where
competition for quality water can be a race
between airplanes and boats, sometimes leaving
lodges at very early hours. I have experienced
similar “site competition” in
the Amazon basin.
During my week at Stoney River Lodge, while
flying out each day, usually with more than
one stop, we never saw another fisherman.
We did encounter two German fellows traveling
in a canoe with no protection against mosquitoes
or bears. We fixed them up with deet and a
.338 loaner. Being of Medicare age, having
traveled through 50 states and close to 50
countries (fishing in many of them), I had
decided to settle in and just fish my home
state of Texas. However, this was fortunately
interrupted by this trip to Alaska. My experience
in “fishing the world” is mentioned
to give validity to this report in that I’m
well able to accurately urge the overall value
of a fishing trip.
The true remoteness of the lodge is vividly
apparent shortly after leaving Anchorage for
the 200 mile plus flight in a light plane.
While flying though the magnificent snowcapped
mountain range to the west, the results of
pilot error are strewn over the many glaciers
and valleys below. Quite a number of planes,
caught in fog or hostile wind currents, were
never retrieved. It was good to know that
our pilot, and owner of the lodge, has 30
years practice over these mountains. The scenery
registers at a high level in your memory.
After another 150 miles with no sign of civilization,
we landed at the lodge on a runway carved
into the wilderness. The facilities and service
are typical for a first class operation with
newer cabins, beautiful main lodge, great
food, electricity during awake hours, etc.
This is an ideal situation for bringing a
non-fishing companion.
The fishing is exciting and the key words
in this case are “variety” and
“beautiful rivers.” The names
are salmon, grayling, char, northern pike
and sheefish. All fish are beautiful, but
the grayling with it’s huge fin and
the multicolored char are to fish what a male
wood duck is to ducks - WOW! Landing
a sheefish added a new page to my book.
One afternoon, at the meeting place of two
gorgeous rivers, I cast a purple egg-sucking
leech pattern (the only fly you really need
on this trip) 20 times and landed 18 char
and grayling. (Good memory locked in). All
of these species can well be taken with spinning
gear if a member of your group is not comfortable
with a fly rod.
A week at Stoney River Lodge costs about $5,000.
People always wonder why trips are so costly.
Generally speaking the answer is short seasons,
large investments, cancelled trips, personnel,
etc. In this case the airplane takes first
place. I was interested in details and was
surprised to find that two front tires for
the 1,100 pound super cub cost $2,500, the
small propeller $2,000, fuel is flown in at
$7 to $8 a gallon, and engine over-hauls required
at 1,500 hours are in excess of $20,000. Enlightenment!!!
Oh, and you have to have a pilot and pay for
the plane.
If you’ve always wanted to go to Alaska
on a “once in a lifetime,” or
are a returning angler, I can wholeheartedly
endorse www.stoneyriverlodge.com (DVD is available.)
It’s an excellent value worthy of your
time and money, and a great investment for
many pleasant memories in the future. And
that’s what it’s all about.
The lodge also offers a large variety of big
game hunting with a high success rate and
guides with 15 to 20 years experience. Photos
are posted on the web at www.stoneyriverlodge.com.
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Margy
and I fished four days and spent several
days Bed & Breakfast just relaxing.
Fishing was fantastic; catching pike, char,
grayling and silver salmon.We caught so
many fish, both Margy and I quit counting.
Food was fantastic, happy hours to remember,
Hosts Curly and Betty Warren have a staff
and guides that are superb. We flew out
to a different place to fish every day.
The sights were to be hold, with many different
wildlife to view. Margy and I highly recommend
this lodge. Their accommodations are fabulous
with individual room heaters, showers and
bathroom, fantastic food and happy hours,
super hosts, guides and pilots to take you
to your fishing spot. Fishing is fantastic.
If you are interested in rainbows, let Curly
Warren know when you book and he will arrange
for rainbows fishing also. The Lodge recommends
four fisherman per reservation to ensure
high quality accommadations and fishing.
The lodge has a sauna that is a big hit
after a long day fishing. Check out this
web site www.fishingstoneyriverlodge.com
which should answer most of your questions
on cost, accommodations, typical fishing
schedules etc. address is Stoney River Lodge,
Sleetmute Alaska 99668. Telephone and FAX
number is (907)-526-4211. If you like to
visit and fish in Alaska, I highly reccommend
this lodge. The lodge can also set up various
sightseeing tours while you are in Alaska.
Below are several pictures of our fish.
(See more photos in "What's
Happening Now" page.)
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Great
fishing... |
Lodge
from air |
Main
gathering lodge |
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Curly,
Lesa and I got back safely and with no bad
delays Sunday afternoon. We are just about
recovered. At the Atlanta airport early
Sunday morning who should we bump into but
John Newton. We gave him a full report of
our fishing . He was on his way to Gunnison
Col. for a fishing trip. I want to tell
you again what a really wonderful time we
had. Both of us feel that it was one of
the best vacations ever. We would really
like to come back as soon as possible, and
we hope we can do it next summer.
Tony
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