Even though catching fish is ostensibly the ultimate goal, to me fly fishing is more often just an excuse get away from civilization and into wild places. The overall experience, in my humble opinion, is much more important than counting the number of fish to hand. As such, guiding in Southeast Alaska has given me the privilege see some pretty spectacular wilderness, which in many ways has made a more memorable impression on my experience here than the fishing has, spectacular as it may be. This is largely due to our regular forays into Misty Fjords National Monument. Occupying 2.3 million acres of pristine temperate rainforest in the panhandle of Southeast Alaska, Misty Fjords National Monument boasts what is arguably the most striking scenery in all of Alaska. Often referred to as the “Yosemite of the North”, in reference to the sheer, polished cliffs common to both areas, it’s easy to be distracted by the rock walls dotted with mountain goats towering overhead, and forget that you’re actually supposed to be fishing.
The fishing in the “Misties” consists primarily of native rainbows, cutthroat and dollies in the 12-20 inch range. Not huge by Alaskan standards, but then again there’s always steelhead & salmon for those who want their big fish fix. Fishing in the Misties is about the overall experience, not about trophy hunting. Until next time
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