REEL ACTION ALASKA LODGE
SPECIAL RATE FOR 2013 - 2016 TRIPS

Thank you for being a loyal client of Reel Action Fly Fishing. We appreciate your support and have enjoyed seeing many of you at the Fly Fishing Shows last winter. To show our appreciation we are offering a special rate to our new Alaska Lodge along the banks of the Kanektok River (aka Chosen River). We are offering you and your close friends a special rate of $3650 (the listed 2014 price will be $4500) for a 6 day / 7 night trip to our Alaska fly fishing lodge. All lodging, meals, rods & reels, tackle, equipment are included!

If you are looking to lock in this special introductory rate (which can be used from 2013 through 2016) please have full payment to us by July 1st, 2013. If you are looking to come out this summer we will be up operating from June 15th till September 1st, 2013.

We have only three weeks that are available. Here are the dates:

July 6th - 13th - 1 to 2 spots
Excellent King salmon and Chum salmon week. Rick Whorwood (FFF certified master caster) our friend from Toronto Canada will be out giving instructions on Spey casting this week also!

July 20th - 27th - 3 to 4 spots
This is a GRAND SLAM week that includes a mix of everything! This is the best week to catch a king salmon, silver salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon, leopard rainbow, dolly varden, arctic char, and grayling.

August 10th - 17th - 5 to 6 spots
This week is an EXCELLENT silver salmon week combined with great fishing for leopard rainbows, dolly varden, arctic char, and grayling.

Please contact us for more details contact Paul (585-469-9872) or Steve (585-415-9970) or email us at info@reelactionfly.com

Below is some more information on the lodge. We hope to see everyone in Alaska for this trip of a lifetime!

Service at Reel Action Alaska Lodge

At Reel Action Alaska we realize your Alaskan fishing experience is extremely important to you. The amount of time and effort you put into the planning and preparation, the cost of the trip and air fares, the time you take off from your job in the real world - all weigh heavily on your decision. You want this trip to be special, you want it to be spectacular, you want the best possible experience for you and your friends or family. We understand this and will flat out work our hardest to outperform your expectations. We have taken the time to pay attention to every detail of your stay with us, starting with your accommodations, service, meals, guiding, photography and video of your trip. Combine this attention to detail with the hottest fly fishing action in Alaska and you have what we are all about at Reel Action Alaska!

The Equipment at our Lodge

The lodge has five boats to transport you to the hottest fishing action on the river. Our lodge takes eight anglers most weeks with a maximum of ten. The Kanektok is easily wadeable so we use the boats to get to a prime fishing location, jump out and start fishing! Our guide to client ratio is two clients per one guide assuring you the highest level of service on your trip. We also have many high quality rods and reels for your use while at our lodge. We have spey rods, switch rods, 9wt's, 8wt's, 7wt's, and 6wt's available. We carry Winston, Sage, and G-Loomis rods. All the terminal tackle, leaders, and flies will be provided for you by your guide. Each of our guides tie their own specialty fly patterns for your trip. You are always welcome to bring your own rods and equipment as well, but if you want to travel light - feel free to use ours.

Spey fishing on the Kanektok

Spey fishing for fresh run king salmon on the Kanektok is one of the greatest feelings a fly fisherman may have. Skagit-style spey casting with a 9 weight rod, (loaded with an interchangeable shooting head), gives you the greatest sense of freedom to cover water. Punching out 60 to 80 foot casts with ease to king infested water is the ultimate adrenaline rush. The take is mind blowing, the excitement is overwhelming, the experience is priceless. Millions of years of evolution now pulls at the end of your line with the ferocity of a lion. As 100 yards of backing peels out, you have a second to realize you're not in control. Your 9 weight spey rod, bending at a full “C” shape does nothing to slow the king down on its first run. You now understand what this river is all about, why it is unlike any you have fished before, and why it is called the "Chosen River".

We recommend using a 9 weight, skagit-style spey set up - equipped with interchangeable sink tips and at least 200 yards of backing. A large arbor reel with a strong disc drag works best. Your leaders should be 15 pound maxima ultra/green - enough to handle a 45 plus pound king and abrasion resistant for any rocks or snags that get in your way. The Kanektok is a fly fishermans paradise with an abundance of gravel bars and shallow enough areas to effectively swing flies to monster kings. We have carefully chosen our lodge location to be only 1 mile up from tide water giving us excellent access to the king salmon fishery. We use both spey and switch rods to target most species on the river including rainbows, dollys, silvers, and chum salmon.

Single Handed Rods

We use single handed to fish for everything from the chrome bright salmon to the beautiful leopard rainbows, dolly varden, and grayling. We recommend using a 9 or 10 weight for the kings, 8 weights for silvers, 6 or 7 weights for rainbows and dollies, and 5 weights for pink salmon and grayling. The Kanektok river has many small tributaries and branches in the upper sections that we travel up and fish for rainbows, dolly varden, and grayling. The diversity of the Kanektok keeps your week interesting as you can catch multiple species at any given time during the summer.

Staff and Guides at our Lodge

Our staff and guides pay close attention to detail in making every day, every hour, every fish count. We work hard for you and our guests notice the difference - just ask some of our past clients. A little over 10 years ago we started a business called Reel Action Fly Fishing in Western NY state. A decade later we have expanded bringing Reel Action to Alaska. Dedication and hard work day in and out is what we are all about. There are no egos - we are a focused team of hard working individuals working to make your Alaskan experience the best. We look forward to seeing you in Alaska!

Management at our Lodge

Paul Jacob is our head guide and co-owner of Reel Action Fly Fishing. Paul is a full time fly fishing guide spending more then 300 days a year on the streams, rivers, and lakes. Paul is a certified casting instructor with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) with 9 years of fly fishing guiding experience in Alaska and 15 years of fly fishing guiding experience in New York State. Paul leads our team of guides and has hired each one, and trained them on the principals we hold dear to our service and our commitment to excellence. Steve Olufsen is also a guide in New York and co-owner of the business. Steve is in charge of sales and marketing with 15 years of experience in the fly fishing industry. Steve manages the website along with booking trips for both services in New York and Alaska.

The Spectacular Kanektok Fishery

The Kanektok (aka the Chosen River) is a fly fisherman’s dream. The river is the perfect size and provides outstanding spawning grounds for all five species of Alaskan Pacific salmon. Located in southwestern Alaska near the village of Quinhagak, our camp is perfectly situated within the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.  Encompassing over 4 million acres, it is home to some of the most prolific salmon runs in the world and hosts a wide variety of fish, bird and mammal species.  From rolling tundra to the highest mountain peaks, and from the rugged coastlines to crystal clear rivers, the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for all things wild.  A magical place by any account, its ability to support wildlife and sustain natural populations of WILD fish truly set it apart.  In the clear waters of the Kanektok, anglers will find king, coho, sockeye, chum and pink salmon, as well as trophy-sized native rainbow trout, arctic char, grayling, and dolly varden. The Kanektok and its tributaries and braids give anglers access to some of the best sport fishing in the world. We are extremely lucky to be here on this river and are excited to share this very special area with you. 

The Kanektok river fishing season is dictated by the king and silver salmon fishery and has excellent trout fishing. The kings run June 15th – July 25th while the silver salmon run July 23rd until Sept 10th. The king salmon escapement goal is 3,500 - 8,000 per season. The silver salmon escapement goal is 50,000 per season. During the month of July the Kanektok receives a run of 50,000 – 200,000 chum salmon and on even years receives a run of over 100,000 pink salmon. The river also has a run of 50,000 - 200,000 sockeye salmon in mid July. The rivers’ rainbow trout are most prevalent in the braided section of the river. There are trophy rainbows available with some close to 30 inches. The dolly vardens are sea run with over 20,000 - 35,000 passing the fish weir last year. The river also has a good grayling population.

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Links

Togiak Homepage: http://togiak.fws.gov/
Togiak Conservation Page: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/pdf/togiak/Togiak_Decision_Summary.pdf
Togiak Fish Page: http://togiak.fws.gov/fishspp.htm
Togiak Mammal Page: http://togiak.fws.gov/mammals_spp.htm
Togiak Bird Page: http://togiak.fws.gov/birds_spp.htm

King Salmon

The Kanektok is a very special river in terms of king fishing.  It is unique amongst other Alaskan rivers in that not only does it provide the opportunity to catch chrome bright fish close to the ocean, but they are in water that makes them very accessible with a fly rod, (swinging technique in particular).  In other drainages, the size of the river is usually too big or too muddy to effectively pursue king fishing and the fish themselves tend to turn red faster.

King salmon are an incredibly powerful and impressive fish.  When you land one of these beauties, it is truly a magical moment – so much so, that despite your burning arms, you’ll want to get right back out there and try for another!

We are strictly catch and release for all adult king salmon, however you may keep some of the jack king salmon ( 20inches or less) to take home. The gene pool for the adult king salmon is extremely precious and we want to protect future generations any way we can!

 

Silver Salmon

What a blast silvers are!  Ranging in average weight from 8-12 pounds, they also come in huge numbers.  Unique to this river too, there are SO MANY of them that you can catch chrome bright fish for the entire 5-week season – they just keep coming and coming… 

Incredible fighters, silvers, like chum salmon are also very top water oriented.  They are aggressive, strong and acrobatic fish.  They can be caught from shore or from a boat, in sloughs and off gravel bars.  You can catch them by stripping weighted flies, or by using poppers, wogs, gurglers and even dead drifting into the swing.  There is excellent sight casting opportunities, and they will often take the fly just at rod’s length after having chased it for 20-30 feet.  When they want it, they want it! 

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon are AWESOME and there is certainly no shortage of them in this river. Available for most of the season, they can be caught anywhere from tidewater to 15 miles up river and still be very fresh and chrome bright.  They are an excellent game fish and are fantastic fighters, often making long runs and contorting themselves into master aerial acrobats.  And one thing is certain - once these fish are hooked they do not give up!  For their size, they are very strong. 

Averaging 10-14 pounds, chum are perfect for both single-hand and spey-rod techniques.  As with king salmon, they will take flies on the swing, but they are also VERY top water oriented.  This can be a blast using pink wogs, poppers and even mouse patterns.  They will also take flies being stripped through the water such as streamers and leeches.      

In August, the spawning chum provide a feast of eggs for the ever hungry dollies, grayling and rainbow trout.

Rainbow Trout

The rainbow trout in this river are beautiful and a real pleasure to fish for.  With true ‘leopard’ genetics, they are the MOST stunning rainbows in Alaska – bright red lateral stripes and large, prominent spots across their entire body, even their eyes! 

These rainbows average 18-24” and can be caught in the main river as well as in the plethora of smaller side channels.  You can sight cast for a lot of these fish and they can be caught using a variety of flies and techniques including mouse patterns, leach patterns, egg flies, flesh flies, dry flies and nymphs.   

Dolly Varden & Arctic Char

The Kanektok has no shortage of these eager fish.  Entering the river as a bright silver army, the fish gradually change color as they get closer to spawning.  Now, saying these fish change color is a bit of an understatement.  At first they change just a little – they still have very silvery sides, but develop light pink spots and have a generalized blue sheen.  By the time spawning is at its peak however, the dollies become some of the most beautiful fish on earth.  They have neon bright orange/red bellies that almost seem to glow and sport a fantastic green and blue, sometimes almost turquoise upper body.  This coloration is made even more vivid by the many vibrant orange spots that dapple their body.  In a nutshell, dollies are the ‘tropical fish’ of Alaska.  It is not uncommon for people who catch these magnificent fish to say that they are the most beautiful fish they have ever seen or caught. 

Fishing for dollies is a lot of fun.  They are aggressive, come in huge numbers and can be easily sight casted to.  Averaging 18-24,” larger fish range up to 28.” They can be caught on leaches, dry flies, mice and egg patterns. 

Grayling

Grayling are year-round residents of the Kanektok and will eagerly take flies all season long.  They might be a smaller fish, but they are beautiful and will aggressively take a variety of flies, especially dries.  Known for their fantastic, fan like dorsal fins, they are a great fish to watch coming up for your fly on the surface.  They can be a lot of fun with a fly rod, particularly a 3-5-weight rod. 

Pink Salmon

Like an army of chrome footballs, pink salmon run up river to spawn every other year – as it so happens, on even years.  Averaging 2-4 pounds, they are a great fish to catch on the 5-weight and you can catch them in unbelievable numbers.  Entering the river shiny as can be, their bodies gradually morph into something akin to an upright pancake with one heck of a hump – hence their nickname, “humpies.”  Physical appearances aside, they will aggressively take flies in much of the same water and techniques as silver salmon – stripping streamers, flies on the swing, in side channels, along gravel bars and in sloughs.  One of the most productive and perhaps the most fun means of catching these guys however, is on the surface using wogs, gurglers, poppers, and even mouse patterns.   Like many of the other species, they are very top water oriented and will aggressively destroy any prey (real or perceived) on the surface.   

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye are the lifeblood of Alaska.  In every drainage they flourish and spawn, their eggs provide many other fish species with food and their bodies provide flesh for some of Alaska’s top predators and scavengers.  Entering the river a bright silver color in June and early July, as August approaches they turn a vivid red with a huge hump and crazy snaggly teeth.  Most of these fish spawn far up river in the upper tributaries. 

Run Timing Of The Fishery

June 15th – July 15th – PEAK time for King Salmon (Kings available until July 25th)

June 20th – Sept 5th - Rainbow Trout

June 20th – July 31st – Chum Salmon

June 25th – July 25th – Sockeye Salmon

July 15th – August 5th – Pink Salmon

July 10th – September 5th – Dolly Varden/Arctic Char

July 24th – September 5th – Silver Salmon

Grayling are available all season long 

Comfortable Accommodations at our Alaska Lodge

Reel Action Alaska operates as a full service tent lodge that has been designed to provide our guests with all the comforts needed for living in the bush. The location of our lodge (1 mile from tide water) was carefully chosen to provide our guests a front row seat to the freshest chrome bright fly fishing action in Alaska. The best water for fly fishing to fresh run kings, silvers, chums, and pinks are only a stones throw away from our facility. You will be staying in new customized wall tents equipped with all the amenities to be comfortable in the Alaskan bush. The interior of the tents were specifically designed by our owners and staff that have over 30 years of combined guiding and work experience in Alaska.

Dining Tent
Our dining tent (22 x 40ft) is specifically made for you and your friends to enjoy meals cooked by our head Chef John Schumacher. The dining tent is heated with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy Chef John's delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All of our clients rave about John's meals including his special salmon gravlax that are always a huge hit!

Lounge Tent
The lounge tent (18 x 24ft) has been specifically designed for you to relax and enjoy the company of your friends and family. This heated tent is very comfortable with chairs, a poker table, and refrigerator with soda and juices. We have a fly tying bench set up with some materials for you to tie up any patterns that may be working well during your week. Our lounge tent has a large flat screen tv with blue ray player to watch our favorite collection of fly fishing videos.

Drying Tent
Our custom designed drying tent is used to dry any of your wet clothes, waders, boots, or raingear. The drying tent has been designed with the goal of completely drying any of your wet gear quickly. We have lots of space for hanging your equipment assuring the heat drys all surfaces of your apparel.

Shower Tent and Restrooms
The shower tent has an on demand water heater with hot and cold running water. The tent also has a sink with vanity and mirror. The restroom is an outhouse that is cleaned and maintained daily. We have multiple restrooms conveniently located on paths central to your tents for ease of use.

Individual Wall Tent Cabins

We have customized spacious (10 x 12ft) heated "Weatherport" style tent cabins with wooden floors and carpeting. These wall tents are super strong, waterproof and can withstand the weather conditions in Alaska. For your comfort we sleep single occupancy, one client per tent cabin. Our staff cleans and provides turndown service daily. The tent cabins are furnished with a padded cot with quilt and high quality sleeping bag, soft pillows, dresser, lantern, mosquito coil, clean linens for showering, clothes hangers, windows with screening, and plenty of storage room for your luggage and gear. If you need generator power for a C-Pap machine we have transportable 2000 watt Honda generators that are super quiet to meet all of your sleeping needs. We also provide you with reading materials that contain history and information on the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and the native Yupik culture that has been dated back to 1000AD. Guests find this a fascinating read and we feel it's important to educate everyone on the native culture and history of this tremendous fishery.

The Lodge Cuisine

You will eat three meals per day and can choose to eat in the dining tent or a shore lunch to maximize your fishing time. Enjoy delicious meals cooked by our master Chef John Schumacher with amazing recipies for steak, salmon, and wild game. John is a world renown chef and has published cookbooks on wild game. Some of his books are titled; “John Schumacher’s New Prague Cookbook,” "Wild game Cooking Made Easy,” and "Fish Cooking Made Easy.” He is an expert in his field with over 45 years of cooking experience and operated several restaurants. Chef John will make your dining experience the best Alaska has to offer!