“The Nush”

[Jezz]

I’ll contribute a short tjones story… since I’ve been a smart ass. Bought a Nushagak float plane fish camp trip at the Umpqua Enhancement Derby. Bid on it the year before, but it got too rich. Covid hit and it was cancelled till 2021.

flew in...did some flossing… fished some…the end…..

 

[bullbugle307]

I'm confused, those look like silvers. I never fished silvers that wouldn't take a fly.

 

[Buschy]

I just got back from POW fishing. Not an expert, but those look like kings to me (except for pic four in the yellow jacket, that looks like a pink)

Well done catching some great looking fish! My wife and I are already counting the days until next summer!

 

[Jezz]

Kings and sockeye

 

[Salmonchaser]

looks like you were early, ultimately ADFG issued an emergency order allowing only catch and release on kings because the run was so poor. Sockeye of course were another record setting year.

 

[bullbugle307]

Kings and sockeye

That makes more sense!

 

[Jezz]

looks like you were early, ultimately ADFG issued an emergency order allowing only catch and release on kings because the run was so poor. Sockeye of course were another record setting year.

This was last year, on/near July 4th. It was 4 fish per person 10 days before our arrival and they reduced it to 2. Something needs to be done on the netting in Bristol Bay for sockeye. a lot of the bigger kings we caught were net scarred, a few had one eye missing. Caught lots of jacks. They lifted the nets the day prior to us leaving, breaking previous day records for sockeye daily. It was raining, gear was dried for trip home and only had 2 hrs to fish before float plane departure, had 225 lbs of salmon and tagged on kings. Opted to stay in camp. 4 people went out and it was best fishing all week. Had 2 4 rod hook ups.

I had the most fun in 40 yrs of fishing flossing those sockeye. Pretty incredible to do when its illegal in the lower 48. Fish were stacked 4-5 deep and 4-5 wide. If those nets weren’t in Bristol, could of walked across the River on sockeye.

I was approached by 2 lease holders (tribal land) to buy them out. Conclusion they saw the writing on the wall, kings on the Nush is gone for the foreseeable future. At least that was my take after asking questions.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Very good, I guided in Bristol bay for 20 years, tragic what has happened. Yes sport fishers have some of the blame. In any event I know guides who are as good as me, who struggled every day, last year got tough, this year I know people who didn't touch a fish for days.
I retired last year, told them I wouldn't fish for kings any more. Caught my first in 1961.
Get after the sockeye, they eat better anyway