alaska - cabins

willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...

http://www.nps.gov/aplic/

anybody tried it? in nc, the only thing i know of is the swan cabin
above santeetlah creek in graham county... $25 a night for 10 in a
primitive camping cabin.

Jeff Miller wrote:
willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...

http://www.nps.gov/aplic/

anybody tried it? in nc, the only thing i know of is the swan cabin
above santeetlah creek in graham county... $25 a night for 10 in a
primitive camping cabin.

I've heard that these Alaska public cabins are a good deal. It sounds
tempting, but you'd have to get the fishing scoped out ahead of time.
Just because it's Alaska doesn't mean the fishing will be good. You'll
presumably fly in to a lake, and you'll have limited mobility once
you're there. If the fishing sucks right around your cabin, you're screwed.

Float trips offer the advantage of mobility. You can cover 100 miles of
river in a week and a half. On the Kanektok, the fish were very unevenly
distributed. There was no one place on the river where I'd have wanted
to stay for more than a couple of days anyway. We planned a couple of
layover days, but it didn't work out because of weather delays.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Jeff Miller wrote:
willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...

http://www.nps.gov/aplic/

anybody tried it? in nc, the only thing i know of is the swan cabin
above santeetlah creek in graham county... $25 a night for 10 in a
primitive camping cabin.


I looked at them. They do get booked up well in advance. Some of
the cabins you can drive to but as I remember it, most require a float
plane to access. Although the cabin rentals are cheap, the real cost is
in getting to them.Some of them are on lakes and a boat is required.

Although Alaska seems so remote to us, there is SERIOUS combat fishing
during the Salmon runs on rivers that are easily accessed. No matter
how good the fishing is, I don't want to go to Alaska and be involved in
something even approaching this:

http://www.crystalglen.net/Fishing/alaskacrowd.htm

I'm up for another trip to Alaska and nothing seems to be falling in
place. Do some exploring and see what you come up with. At least from
Denver, there are still "cheap" flights to Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Willi

"Willi" wrote in message
...
Jeff Miller wrote:
willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...

http://www.nps.gov/aplic/

anybody tried it? in nc, the only thing i know of is the swan cabin
above santeetlah creek in graham county... $25 a night for 10 in a
primitive camping cabin.


I looked at them. They do get booked up well in advance. Some of
the cabins you can drive to but as I remember it, most require a float
plane to access. Although the cabin rentals are cheap, the real cost is
in getting to them.Some of them are on lakes and a boat is required.

Although Alaska seems so remote to us, there is SERIOUS combat fishing
during the Salmon runs on rivers that are easily accessed. No matter
how good the fishing is, I don't want to go to Alaska and be involved in
something even approaching this:

http://www.crystalglen.net/Fishing/alaskacrowd.htm

I'm up for another trip to Alaska and nothing seems to be falling in
place. Do some exploring and see what you come up with. At least from
Denver, there are still "cheap" flights to Juneau, Anchorage and
Fairbanks.

Willi
McIntosh offers--Willy I think that 40th guy to left of the tree was me.
My wife and I found plenty of private streams you could short hike into
just off thr highways. Think we ought to consider using a couple of vans
out of anchorage.
Working today with a little practice casting before trip to Fla next month.
A nine weight does not work like my 5 wt--think I will wear a helmet next
time I practice--that damm fly really whips around my head.






t

On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:08:03 -0500, Jeff Miller
wrote:

willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...

Just because it is Alaska doesn't mean the fishing will be good. What
Willi, RW and Chas did is the way to go (or to a lodge and fly
out/drift). There are so many rivers in Alaska that the best thing is
to go with someone who knows something about them. I wouldn't want to
be in a cabin on some lake for a week with no good fishing.

To me the obvious way to go is to use the experts. It may cost a
little more, but you are guaranteed (practically) great fishing
whether you do a do-it-yourself-float, or book a lodge that flies you
out every day. To catch trophy fish you have to get away from the
maddening crowd. If you can drive to a cabin, so can others.

Dave
(looking for a partner to go in September)

Dave LaCourse wrote:

On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:08:03 -0500, Jeff Miller
wrote:


willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...


Just because it is Alaska doesn't mean the fishing will be good. What
Willi, RW and Chas did is the way to go (or to a lodge and fly
out/drift). There are so many rivers in Alaska that the best thing is
to go with someone who knows something about them. I wouldn't want to
be in a cabin on some lake for a week with no good fishing.

To me the obvious way to go is to use the experts. It may cost a
little more, but you are guaranteed (practically) great fishing
whether you do a do-it-yourself-float, or book a lodge that flies you
out every day. To catch trophy fish you have to get away from the
maddening crowd. If you can drive to a cabin, so can others.

Dave
(looking for a partner to go in September)






as you know, i usually stumble about in the shadows of those with a lot
more knowledge.g good suggestions all. given this year's plans, i'm
probably looking toward 2007 for planning purposes. i like the idea of
the float trip. the guys at appalachian anglers in boone do it every
year, but the do-it-yourself trip rw, willi, and charles did appeals to
me the most. i just assumed all the alaskan waters were fertile fishing
spots, so i'll re-tool my studies. jim and i know a guy from here that
moved to alaska, lives near, but north of anchorage. he's a pilot and
hunter/fisherman. we've talked loosely about renewing our acquaintance
with him. g

jeff

Jeff Miller wrote:

as you know, i usually stumble about in the shadows of those with a lot
more knowledge.g good suggestions all. given this year's plans, i'm
probably looking toward 2007 for planning purposes. i like the idea of
the float trip. the guys at appalachian anglers in boone do it every
year,

We met a guide on the Kanektok named Haden Copeland of Appalachian
Angler. He claimed to know you.

but the do-it-yourself trip rw, willi, and charles did appeals to
me the most. i just assumed all the alaskan waters were fertile fishing
spots, so i'll re-tool my studies.

The Kanektok isn't intrinsically fertile at all, and I understand that's
typical of the Bristol Bay area. For example, we saw little insect
activity. The fish population is mostly anadromous and supported by the
biomass brought into the river by the salmon runs. The rainbows and the
char are found eating the eggs and carcasses where the salmon are, and
the salmon seem to move around a lot.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 09:02:25 -0500, Jeff Miller
wrote:

jim and i know a guy from here that
moved to alaska, lives near, but north of anchorage. he's a pilot and
hunter/fisherman. we've talked loosely about renewing our acquaintance
with him. g

Jeff, there is a small group of cabins - three, I believe, at the
headwaters of Battle Creek (Battle Lake). The creek is about 5 miles
long, flowing from Battle Lake to Kukaklek Lake, and is chock full of
rainbows and silvers in August/September. I don't know who owns these
cabins, but I believe they are available for rent.

When I fished Battle Creek two years ago, there was a family staying
at the cabins. I think there are two cabins for sleeping, and one for
cooking/eating. I Googled it, but couldn't find anything. Now *that*
would be a cabin to rent for TWO weeks.

Twenty minute flight from King Salmon, Illiamna, or Igiugig.

Sorry I don't have more info.

Dave

Dave LaCourse wrote:

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 09:02:25 -0500, Jeff Miller
wrote:


jim and i know a guy from here that
moved to alaska, lives near, but north of anchorage. he's a pilot and
hunter/fisherman. we've talked loosely about renewing our acquaintance
with him. g


Jeff, there is a small group of cabins - three, I believe, at the
headwaters of Battle Creek (Battle Lake). The creek is about 5 miles
long, flowing from Battle Lake to Kukaklek Lake, and is chock full of
rainbows and silvers in August/September. I don't know who owns these
cabins, but I believe they are available for rent.

When I fished Battle Creek two years ago, there was a family staying
at the cabins. I think there are two cabins for sleeping, and one for
cooking/eating. I Googled it, but couldn't find anything. Now *that*
would be a cabin to rent for TWO weeks.

Twenty minute flight from King Salmon, Illiamna, or Igiugig.

Sorry I don't have more info.

Dave





thanks dave...i'll look for it too. when's best for fewest biting bugs
and skeeters?

jeff

I would not lock a party into a remote cabin. Though one might be able
to cross projected run peaks with cabin-accessible water, its no
guarantee of fishing success.

As a suggestion (from one who goes annually), take over a B&B in the
Mat-Su valley and use it as a base of operations (Gigglewood, Talkeetna
Dog Tours, others). Use the local guides to help find the best fishing,
split up and take a few fly-ins. Take a GPS and set a few waypoints.
Regroup and compare notes. Some may even enjoy places like Montana
Creek and get their fill fishing for all teh different species that
frequent those waters. Near there are more remote places that can still
be reached by car like Kroto Creek, Peters Creek and other small waters
that feed the Susitna River.

From the Mat-Su Valley, its not a long drive up to Denali for those who
want to take in the park. Also good fishing along the Parks Highway in
that direction.

Check-in regularly with websites such as Alaska Outdoor Journal (
www.alaskaoutdoorjournal.com ) and AlaksaFlyfish.Net (
http://www.alaskaflyfish.net/ ) to get the latest info to help last
minute planning. On the dy of arrival, go to Sportsmen's Warehouse on
Old Seward Highway for info. On the way up, stop at Three Rivers Fly
Shop on the Parks Highway (Across the railroad tracks) for first hand
current conditions.

Armed with this info, we have NEVER had a disappointing day. We've
always had to stop fishing because we were too tired from landing fish
and our stomach's were bruised from the rod butts.




Dave LaCourse wrote:
On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:08:03 -0500, Jeff Miller
wrote:


willi,rw, and chas 's alaska trip interested me enough to spend time
looking at options. alaska has a "public cabin" program that might suit
a group and make the trip even less expensive than the "inexpensive"
rafting/camping trip willi, rw, and chas developed...


Just because it is Alaska doesn't mean the fishing will be good. What
Willi, RW and Chas did is the way to go (or to a lodge and fly
out/drift). There are so many rivers in Alaska that the best thing is
to go with someone who knows something about them. I wouldn't want to
be in a cabin on some lake for a week with no good fishing.

To me the obvious way to go is to use the experts. It may cost a
little more, but you are guaranteed (practically) great fishing
whether you do a do-it-yourself-float, or book a lodge that flies you
out every day. To catch trophy fish you have to get away from the
maddening crowd. If you can drive to a cabin, so can others.

Dave
(looking for a partner to go in September)