2017 Hunts

[salmonchaser]

I know next to nothing about that area, been there twice.
Your outfitter is highly regarded so your off to a good start. I find it hard to imagine he will not have a good gear list, contingency plan for you.
A good map and GPS and plenty of batteries are essential.
Make certain you're clear on your pick up location and what it takes to get there the night before. The degree of difficulty negotiating low flow fall streams increases exponentially, sort of, with each tag you fill. If he points to a map and tells you you must be here by a certain day to make it out in time, believe him. It may seem like a short distance, he is accounting for the things you couldn't know about, slow water, prevailing wind on the water, shallow water that may force you to drag or even unload half your gear to negotiate. All those fun things. September can be beautiful but it will be cold in the morning.
If it's not beautiful it will be worse than ugly. With that in mind I would want to know what happens to the river with an inch of rain.
Good fishing and bears are a given generally speaking but will depend where on the system you are. The salmon are migrating as high as they can get. The char, rainbows and grayling follow. I can only guess on run timing on those rivers but if they still expect Fresh Silvers I'd plan accordingly.
For sure I'd take a 5wt. Fly rod or trout class spinning rod. If good silvers are available ad or high grade to an 8Wt. Or steelhead class spinning rod.
I'd be happy to assist with setting up your tackle box once you know what's available.
Should be a great adventure.


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[salmonchaser]

Don't shoot moose in the water, don't shoot moose very far from the water.


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[SJB358]

Don't shoot moose in the water, don't shoot moose very far from the water.


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That sounds like the voice of experience! :lol:

 

[salmonchaser]

Been there done that. I'm so over float trips.
Great fun, every one should do a couple but I'll probably never do another. I'd need some guarantees. One day of rain for two of sun or better; river level sufficiently high to avoid portaging more than one short one. Water not so high to create new sweepers or flood the good campsights. The float fishermen have cleared the spring sweepers.
No dumb bunny shoots a moose a mile from the river like my brother.
On another trip a buddy shot one on the gravel bar. It jumped into the river, wading strong for the next gravel bar. Didn't wait shot him again in the deepest spot. On the last day the weather must be mild with a high ceiling. Nothing like getting everything ready to go and the biggest storm since last winter rolls in. Nothing like spending a couple of extra days in the bush. Yep I'm pretty well done with float trips.
Moose can be a fun hunt. Me I want to do it again but a wall tent and a wood stove would be nice.


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[DrMike]

Excellent reminders on moose hunting. Oh, yeah, there is a lot to be said for a warm wall tent and a cot at night.

 

[salmonchaser]

It's having survived and thrived during float trips that I set up two wall tents elkhunting. We often recount those memories sitting between the two wood stoves as the wind blows and the snow falls. And truth be told I think I'd rather pack one 1/2 mile or so before I ever quarter another in the river. Never been cold like that.


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[SJB358]

Man, you painted a great picture Don! Ha

 

[salmonchaser]

Adventure Scotty, keeps us young at heart. Those adventures burn deep, first deer, elk, bear, kiss; pursuit, stabbed, gunfight, divorce. The only sleepless nights I've ever suffered came from the divorce and quartering that bull in waist deep water.
But all adventure you learn from is good adventure. I'll never marry a girl again my siblings nickname the Evil one, I'll never shoot a bull in water, at least not deep fast water.


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[DrMike]

Adventure Scotty, keeps us young at heart. Those adventures burn deep, first deer, elk, bear, kiss; pursuit, stabbed, gunfight, divorce. The only sleepless nights I've ever suffered came from the divorce and quartering that bull in waist deep water.
But all adventure you learn from is good adventure. I'll never marry a girl again my siblings nickname the Evil one, I'll never shoot a bull in water, at least not deep fast water.


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I don't know which would be more worrisome! Neat post, to be sure. People haven't lived until they gut and clean a bull that ran into the middle of a beaver pond while snow is falling. Makes life fascinating. Swift water? Haven't had the pleasure of that adventure. Can't say that I want to have it, either. Cold water and snow falling is enough.

 

[SJB358]

Adventure Scotty, keeps us young at heart. Those adventures burn deep, first deer, elk, bear, kiss; pursuit, stabbed, gunfight, divorce. The only sleepless nights I've ever suffered came from the divorce and quartering that bull in waist deep water.
But all adventure you learn from is good adventure. I'll never marry a girl again my siblings nickname the Evil one, I'll never shoot a bull in water, at least not deep fast water.


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I hear you buddy. Well spoken!