Our good friend Scott King gave us use of his 18 foot Lund and told us to go see the country. This was quite an adventure for Renee and I. Spending 3 weeks camping alone with your 7 year-old daughter is a blessing I wish that all fathers had the opportunity to experience. No words can express my gratitude towards our friend Scott King.



Our first king of the season.





Renee was all smiles.





This is Renee's first king salmon. Quite the little girl!





Renee's tradition, the "kissing the fish" photo. Is it just me or does the fish look terrified?





Floating the river between rain showers.





This was probably the biggest king salmon of the trip. Renee hooked it but refused to hold it for the photo.





Renee enjoying a peanut butter sandwich during a lunch break.





Fresh from the river: salmon tail over an open fire.





Renee cooking pasta to go with the salmon.





Dinner is ready!





Doesn't get any better!





Bald Eagle near the village of Ekwok.





Renee's first Dolly Varden. All smiles!





Renee's Dolly Varden minutes later.





Renee with another Dolly Varden. She was slaying them!





This is why I carry a gun AND bear spray.





This is a poor picture of one of our fish but it is the only photo of Renee and I with a king. This was taken in front of the gas tanks at Portage Creek. The owners, Chris and Leona Carr showed us great hospitality.





Another beautiful day on the river!





This was one of the most beautiful days I have spent on the river.





Back at Scott's home in Dillingham. The girls wanted to roast marshmallows so Scott started a small fire in the driveway.





We spent our last two days camped on an island in the Lake Aleknagik fishing for sockeye salmon.





The view from camp.





We camped on an island because the bears were all over the mainland looking for an easy meal. Renee got to see bears catching salmon and we even got to see a sow with a very young cub.





Renee thought the bears were awesome.





We caught our limit of sockeye.






I think Renee enjoyed the trip as much or more than I did... #bestdaughterintheworld

I love this sort of report.

Where all the family have a great time, especially the children.

Well done.

Jason...great pics and story... It is hard to beat camping and fishing with your children..and in Alaska to boot! Good on you both...

Zee

Memories of GREAT times that both of you will carry the rest of your lives

Awesome

Mike

I second that! Awesome!

Jason,
I've read many of your reports of your experiences with your daughter from moving to WY and your hunting and now fishing trips.... Your involvement in enjoying and sharing life with your daugther is truly inspiring. I feel as if there just isn't enough time in the day at times and reading this report was just plain enjoyable.

Fabulous report, Dad!

Nice report that brought back memories. Did you fish the Char at the mouth of the Agulowaq when you were on Aleknagik?

Jason,

It looks like you both had a great time. Your pictures of your daughter with fish brings back memories of my daughter holding with a smile that wouldn't quit.

Thanks,

Tom

Outstanding man! That girl is gonna be....er, is already self-sufficient!

Those salmon are big enough to just about eat a little girl out for a swim ...

Well done, indeed!!!

quote:

Originally posted by matt salm:
Jason,
I've read many of your reports of your experiences with your daughter from moving to WY and your hunting and now fishing trips.... Your involvement in enjoying and sharing life with your daugther is truly inspiring. I feel as if there just isn't enough time in the day at times and reading this report was just plain enjoyable.

Thanks Matt. That is one of the nicest compliments I have received.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Nice report that brought back memories. Did you fish the Char at the mouth of the Agulowaq when you were on Aleknagik?

We did last year and did quite well. This your it was just too rough and windy when we were there. We did see lost of bears in that area.

We caught our sockeye on the other end of the lake, where it empties into the Wood River.

Jason,

Those pix bring back some memories. We fished and camped those same places many times. 3 weeks in the bush. Nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark

Outstanding! Man those memories will last a lifetime for ya.......and that little girl!


.

Jason:

Looks like you were on the Nushagak, right? I rented a boat in Portage Creek some years ago from Chris Carr. Is his buddy Tom still hanging around?

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Jason:

Looks like you were on the Nushagak, right? I rented a boat in Portage Creek some years ago from Chris Carr. Is his buddy Tom still hanging around?

Yes, the Nushagak. The photo of Renee and I holding the salmon was taken in front of Chris's place. This is our second year on the Nushagak and we have gotten to know Chris and Leona Carr a bit but we have never met Tom.As far as I know Chris and Leona are the only ones who stay there.

Absolutely wonderful to see the smiles, and the fish.

What were you using to catch them?

quote:

Originally posted by Esskay:

What were you using to catch them?

We caught dollys, rainbows and dog salmon on Mepps type spinners.

We caught almost all the kings on Spin-n-Glows with roe. We may have caught one or two back trolling Flat-fish, but I would really rather drift than back troll.

We caught the Reds on bare hooks by casting into the finning groups of fish(lining, not snagging!).

Jason:

Thank you for pointing me to this thread. Truly an amazing experience, I'm sure. You are
a great father to take your daughter on a trip like this. This is the exact type of trip that
I am interested.

I appreciate your recommendation.

Thanks,

JasonP

I've stayed with Chris at his place in Portage Creek, and hunted Brownies up the Nushgack River.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
I've stayed with Chris at his place in Portage Creek, and hunted Brownies up the Nushgack River.

I bet that was a memorable hunt! Did you ever write a hunt report? I would love to hear some details.

Chris and his wife Leona were really good to Renee and I and added a lot of color both years we fished up there way.

I've been to Chris's place in Portage Creek. When flying up, I noticed a big fuel take caught in the brush along the river. When we arrived, it turned out Chris had lost one of his fuel tanks in a storm earlier. We took his boat down river and retrieved it. It's a shame to see all the houses and generator plant Alaska built for the natives, only to have them abandon it and move to Anchorage. Leona and I played pool on the table in the village's abandoned municipal building.