Situk River

**DaveC** · 01-10-2008, 10:55 PM

Aaron:
I sure enjoyed seeing your hero shots on John Wilson's site. My "Bucket List" includes steelhead in AK and the Situk is one of the rivers I have looked into a bit. So I've got a bunch of questions for you - rather than post them all at once I'll ask a couple and then follow up after your responses. So here goes:

1 - were you there fall or spring?
2 - did you fish mostly from the road or by boat?
3 - did you use a guide? can you recommend that guide?
4 - how wide and deep a river is it - is this a single handed rod river or a two handed rod river?

I look forward to your responses.
Best Fishes,
Dave Cornue

**Nymphmeister** · 01-11-2008, 01:14 AM

Dave-
I can answer some of those questions for Aaron.
1. Early Spring (April I think?)
2. Boat
3. Sans guide (but he had the inside scoop from a local guide)
4. Not a big river, you could cover it with a one hander. 40-60' across in most spots I think.

Torrey

**Dave** · 01-11-2008, 01:27 AM

Yes, I've been looking over those pics recently too. Insanity.

It's funny that this post came today, we were just talking about the Situk yesterday. This is one of the spots I want to hit within the next few years. Steelhead HEAVEN

**AaronJasper** · 01-11-2008, 07:57 AM

The fishing there is as easy as it gets. I would not hire a guide as the fish are easily visible. There is no secret to finding them. The strange thing about the trip is what we caught them on. We were using crappie tube jigs. The fish could not stay off of them! The more odd the color we used, the more we caught.

I did talk to a guide there. However, after going there, that was not necessary. The fish are almost everywhere you look.

You fly into Yakutat, AK.

I used the Glacier Bear Lodge. There are several more that you can use in the immediate area. It is not a very expensive trip. We were well under 2,000 each. It was the best trip I have even been on.

The weather is not cold, but it is nasty.

Anytime after the 15th of April is great according to the people I spoke to.

All of the fish were caught using a boat. You can rent one from the lodges there.

The river is small and a 10 foot, one handed rod is perfect. Think nine weight. The fish fight harder than anything I have ever hooked.

Most of the river is 2-3 feet deep. There are some deeper pools. The river is a light colored gravel bottom.

**DaveC** · 01-15-2008, 09:53 PM

I'll check out Glacier Bear Lodge. I assume they have a webiste.
Couple more questions:
1 - Is Glacier Bear who you rented the boat from?
2 - You said you did all of your fishing by boat right - so you didn't fish from the road is that right?
3 - How limiting would fishing from the road be - how much more water can you cover with the boat?
4 - Any idea how long the run lasts? I may be in Anchorage in May 2009 on business, hmmm that has possibilities ;D
5 - How much does this river color up from rain - is the fishing sensitive to this? I've fished a couple of rivers in the general area for Silvers and rain has caused problems

Thanks Aaron!

Best Fishes,
Dave

**AaronJasper** · 01-15-2008, 10:01 PM

Glacier Bear has a website.

You need a boat. The walk is near impossible as you are trying to climb fallen Sitka Spruce trees. They are all at least 10 feet in diameter. There aren't a ton of fish above the bridge.

Do not think of fishing from the road!!! This should be rules 1-100 for fishermen visiting the Situk River!

As far as "the run" is concerned, about 3,000 come in November. The remaining 12,000 - 15,000 come in April. They spawn sometime in early May and return to the ocean by early June.

They say that no matter how much rain the area receives, the river is only slightly stained. Everything is frozen so there is no mud running into the river. Also, the river starts off as a lake. I would think that this helps as far as clarity in concerned. Another rule as far is steelhead fishing in concerned is that high water=more fresh steelhead!

**bobdawson** · 09-30-2011, 03:45 PM

The Situk River in the Gulf of Alaska Watershed drains a portion of Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska. The river is popular with fly fishermen.... I do however question the sanity and origin of the sport from time to time.Can you help me out knowing this?