Steelhead fishing on the Situk River is nothing short of adrenaline-drenched chaos. These sea-run rainbow trout are near the pinnacle of sportfish in Alaska, and once hooked, you will soon understand why. Their Olympian-like athleticism, strength, agility and endurance will leave even the most seasoned with an ear-to-ear grin. There are a wide range of techniques and lures that anglers use, and it pays to have a variety of presentations in your tool kit so that you can be prepared to find the hot offering. Learn the best methods of how to fish for steelhead on the Situk.
Silver Salmon are on the move up the river and are in the bay. We have not received the rains we were hoping for this last week, so river levels still very low.
Guides are being innovative and venturing out to new locations, to give clients the best possibilities to catch fish. Even though the river level is low, the fishing continues to be really good. Lost river and Tawah creek are producing fish, but they are also feeling the effects of no rain. Ankau bridge is seeing good numbers of Silver Salmon passing by at every incoming tide. Also the Ankau lagoons are producing some real nice fish, which can be reached in one of our skiffs.
Ocean conditions have been good lately with all the sunshine and no wind. Halibut, black rock fish, ling cod and now Silvers Salmon fishing has been real good. Average halibut retained is around 50 to 60pounds, which are the tastiest ones to eat.
Forecast is for rain, but we are crossing our fingers this time it really shows up……..
All the Steelhead have now vacated the river for the arrival of the Sockeye run.
Although it’s been a slow start for the Sockeye, last night we had our first decent push over the weir. We have been catching a few in the lower end now for about a week, but they were not migrating up the river, but with a good amount of rain the last couple of days the fish seem to be on the move. We’re looking forward to a great Sockeye season this year.
Bookings still available for the 2018 season and we would love to host you.
Have you ever wondered what a day up at the Yakutat Lodge is like?
Have you wondered what time your day starts, what the menu is like, how long you are on the river or ocean for, what the travel time is to the fishing holes? Well, wonder no more. This blog is here to answer all your questions. If you have others be sure to contact fish@yakutatlodge.wpengine.com for all the answers and booking inquiries.
What time do you wake up?
Typically, the clients are asked to be at the lodge at 6:00 am to have breakfast – so they would be waking up around 5:00 am.
Do you have breakfast at the lodge restaurant? What is it usually?
Yes, we have a full breakfast menu running from 6:00 am – 11:00 am. There is always a daily special – which is different each day. Typical breakfast is choice of Bacon, Sausage, or Ham with Eggs, Toast and Hash Browns
It’s been a very eventful first few weeks of being open. The steelhead are on the lines in good numbers. It’s been great to see new and old faces returning to the lodge.
And it’s only the beginning. Expect to see more photos and updates as the season progresses.
There have been many upgrades to The Yakutat Lodge since the new owners took over in October of 2016. With this being the first year in operation we have learned a lot and have taken all requests into consideration. Thank you to all of our guests for their feedback. The Yakutat Lodge wanted to let its valued guests know exactly what updates have occurred and how they might affect your stay with us.
We will start with the upgrades to our fishing fleet. Last year we had all of our ocean vessels sent to Juneau, the upgrades that were completed were; new outboard motors, new onboard heaters, new electronics and all hulls where cleaned and refurbished. We currently have stocked up with some of the best new rods and reels in the industry for our guests to enjoy. Our freshwater clients will be happy to learn that we are adding two new Pavati Drift Boats. These boats have heaters for those chilly Alaska mornings, a heated compartment for meals on the river or as Pavati calls it a “Pizza Oven”, flat floors for ease of movement, built-in fish box and a padded fly fishing casting area to help with clients standing in a moving boat. The new Pavati Drift boats are comfortable and versatile for a great day on the Situk. We also have added several newer Suburban’s to our fleet to make transportation to and from destinations more comfortable.
We have done major upgrades to many of our accommodations as well. “The Big House” has all new carpeting, furniture, queen log beds and new comfortable mattresses. Keep in mind that the big house is ideal for a multitude of different types of groups. Whether you are planning a corporate retreat for your high-end clients or a family reunion, the big house is a perfect fit for up to 18 guests. The Lodge has been updated with a new kitchen and refurbished bar for all of your dining and drinking desires. This is a place to relax and socialize with a cozy atmosphere. Our Airport Motel has been renovated with new queen log beds, comfortable new mattresses, new flooring, and new interior furnishing. Our goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible while enjoying the rustic beauty Alaska has to offer.
The Yakutat Lodge is committed to our guests new and old. We want to create a warm and welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for our guests to enjoy. For all inquiries please contact fish@yakutatlodge.wpengine.com or call 1-800-YAKUTAT (9258828).
Yakutat Lodge is finishing up a great season and closing things down for the winter. Fishing is still good, but the weather takes a turn for the worse at this time, and the river becomes to dangerous to continue floating.
If you are considering booking your 2018 trip be sure to contact us with any and all questions or inquiries. We are hoping that you are looking forward to next year as much as we are.
If you have any photos from this year we would love to share them on our social channels and our website. Please send them to yakutatlodgemedia@gmail.com. Thank you to all the guests that have sent photos, keep an eye on the website and social accounts to see your feature.
If you would like to have our 2018 promotions sent directly to your inbox, please send your email address to yakutatlodgemedia@gmail.com and you will be added to our list receiving the opportunity to book our 2018 promotions first.
See you all in the spring of 2018 for a great Steelhead season.
Silver Season on the river is in full swing. The fishing is stupid good. Thousands of Silvers entered the system this week and should continue for the several weeks straight. Flies, Jigs, and Spinners are very effective for the aggressive fresh Silvers. All 14 miles of the river is full of fish now and the guides are reporting 40 to 75 fish landed per boat each day.
Ocean conditions remain good for Halibut and Silvers. Although the Silver fishing is slowing down, there are still plenty of residual fish swimming around out there.
Water levels have finally risen from the recent rains and it’s calling for more rain to come, which will keep the river in good shape for the kick off to Silver Season.
The number of Pink Salmon have started to decrease as the Silver numbers are increasing on every tide.
Silver Salmon and Halibut fishing have continued to be exceptional in the bay.
Ocean fishing for Silvers is still going strong with limits being reached on a daily basis, halibut fishing remains strong, with many fish over a hundred pounds this week.
The river is full of Pink Salmon, about 400,000 to be exact. Silver Salmon are starting to show up in the river on every incoming tide, not in big numbers yet, but that could change any day now. This next 6 weeks will be the time when the most amount of fish are present in the system, and you have the chance at 50 to 100 fish to the boat days. (Mostly Pinks).
