I'm just back from an amazing trip up to Alaska with Chris Mautino. Although I've posted about it a few other places, the first two of these photos are so unusual I wanted to share them here. Fishyaks in the ice? Nice!






At first weather kept us bottled up in Resurrection Bay just outside Seward, so we kicked it at funky Kayaker's Cove and paddled for silvery goodness. Chris hit the silver button twice for me (nice of him to let me catch both) - my first kayak salmon. Much fun - jumpers!
After three days the weather calmed down, so we moved on to Kenai Fjords Natl Park. Dropped in at McMullen, scratched for big lings - Chris converted on a 20+. We both lost much larger fish to pulled hooks. Then made the 9 mile pull to Pedersen Glacier and slid in at high tide. Headed up the lagoon the next morning for our ice time. Had to take the rods and reels! Then it was a drift on the moraine outside for flat ones that didn't show, a paddle down to Slate Is for a long-distance eyeball on the huge Aialik glacier, a tidewater beast, and then all too soon it was over.
What a trip! It'll get the feature treatment in Canoe and Kayak (very soon) and later Western Outdoors. Highly recommended - there may be fishier kayak trips in AK, but none cooler.
Paul