Quick Getaway: An Affordable Fly-Out Adventure
By Dave Atcheson

   I had no problem with the pre-flight check, starting the engine, and taxiing to the runway. Even pulling back on the throttle and becoming airborne, launching us into the freedom of the clouds, was fairly simple. It was coming down I seemed to have trouble with. My feet and hands having difficulty mastering flaps and airspeed, no doubt adding numerous gray hairs to my instructor’s head and taking years off the poor man’s life.
   As one can imagine my brief initiation into the world of flying—a gift of ten hours of lessons bestowed upon me by my plane-happy father—was short lived. My shell-shocked instructor informing me in no uncertain terms that my skills might be better put to use elsewhere. But it wasn’t my fault. Bad flying must have been genetic. Apparently Dad was as poor a pilot as I was and his flirtation with flying nearly as short. Nevertheless, he was just crazy for airplanes, and as a kid on long drives he’d occupy me by turning our old Pontiac into an airliner, a jet fighter, or more often than not a floatplane. “Where are we going,” I’d ask only to be informed that we were on our way to a secluded lake or stream somewhere in the distant latitudes. No doubt on our way to go fishing—an activity we actually took part in and were much better suited to than flying.
   It was the description of those far off places—vast stretches of wild river and untamed land—that stayed with me and melded into a dream that I eventually followed north, to Alaska. And as I contemplated the map of my new home, comparing road miles to square miles, I found myself wishing that I’d put just a little more effort into mastering the finer points of landing an airplane. 
   Fortunately we have plenty of pilots in Alaska. In fact, in the 1940’s, in her book The Flying North, Jean Potter called Alaskans “the flyingest people under the American flag.” A moniker which still holds true, especially for those of us who appreciate wetting a line by ourselves, on a secluded stretch of water, in a place far beyond the wrath of commerce and industry.                                        
   Because flying in Alaska is such a simple fact of life, reaching such a place does not have to be an extravagance. A day trip to fantastic fishing, or a weekend at a Forest Service cabin, is a short flight away and won’t tax the average traveler’s budget.
   That’s why each time my father has come to visit, we’ve planned a trip far afield. The first being a quick getaway to a small lake nestled within the mountains northeast of Seward. It’s difficult to forget Dad climbing up front, into the co-pilot’s seat. I could practically feel the spirit of adventure rise from within his chest, seizing each of us as we made our way to the runway and took off to soar among the jagged spires and windswept peaks of the Chugach Mountains; the reigning backdrop of the Gulf of Alaska taking precedence and the world’s problems seeming so very insignificant from this far aloft.
   And that was only the beginning. A mere ten minutes in the air and we would be delivered into a wilderness worthy of John Muir. Left to our own devices on an appropriately named body of water called Paradise Lake, where giant stands of Sitka spruce glisten softly off still water and where retreating glaciers quietly mark the passing of time.
   I know there’s something slightly selfish in wanting to have a place like this all to oneself. However, there’s also something grand in witnessing the ongoing saga that occurs here day in and day out, with or without us. It becomes apparent watching a trio of black bears, a sow with this year’s cubs, ambling unaware over a distant snowfield, or seeing the scattered haze of insects that cloud the placid face of the lake, their annual ritual more than occasionally interrupted by the sip of hungry grayling. Fish that leave a spattering of rings in their wake, like an emerging target that all-too-soon tempts me to grab my fly rod and join in, now a participant rather than an observer.
   And while these fish are not large—grayling and rainbow trout in the 13- to 15-inch range—they make up for their diminutive size in sheer number and a willingness to strike. Balancing their fight with ultra-light spinning gear and 3-weight fly rods, it would have been possible to land 100 or more in an afternoon if after a few hours we had not opted to experiment, trying every lure and fly in the box to see which they would not hit.
   In the years to come we would spread our wings, taking off out of Anchorage to try our luck against monstrous northern pike, lured to the surface with mouse patterns and a variety of poppers. Later we would fly out of Soldotna, across the swirling waters of Cook Inlet, or out of Kodiak, to the island’s surrounding streams, in order to tackle the mighty Chinook and the feisty silver salmon. Each trip providing enough memories to fuel all our future dreams, and before we even touch down having us planning our next adventure.

Selecting a Flying Service

   With so many flight services available, and prices that change from year to year, it pays to do a little research. Begin by selecting a long established company with a good safety record. After deciding what you want to fish for (with salmon, of course, this depends upon the time of year) find out where each company flies for that particular species. Then it’s time to ask a few important questions. Is this spot accessible only by air? You don’t want to be flown into an area expecting solitude, only to find out there’s a trail you could have taken. Find out when the last time someone was there and how they did. If it’s part of a National Forest or National Wildlife Refuge, check specifics by visiting that agency’s office or website, or check the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s website and see if they have any recent statistics on runs of fish in that area. Finally, ask your flight service for references from previous customers, especially those who have visited the spot you are planning to go.
   The larger flying services that operate out of Anchorage, such as Rust’s and Ketchum’s, offer a variety of options. Day fishing usually begins at about $250 and includes hotel pick-up, fishing license, and all the gear you will need. Both companies offer river float trips, guided and unguided fishing, as well as a large number of “outpost” cabins and tent camps throughout Southcentral Alaska.
   Occasionally a short drive can mean a less expensive flight. To fish the streams of Western Cook Inlet, for instance, it’s usually worth the angler’s while to drive to the Kenai/Soldotna area and fly from there. This was certainly the case on our trip to Paradise Lake, the flight from Seward costing only $165 each.
   With many float plane services you are booking the plane itself, the cost determined by your destination. In this case you are flying at a set rate, so the more members in your party the less each pays. You need to be careful, however, because if the weight of your party and gear exceeds a certain amount the price often goes up due to the increased fuel consumption. Most of the flight services out of Kodiak operate this way, although they make available what they call “seat fares,” which is basically the same as flying standby. This is a good way to reach some excellent salmon fishing on rivers like the Karluk and the Ayakulik, although because of the distance the price of these seats usually begins at about $300 round trip.
   Fly-in fishermen may also want to look into one of the many Forest Service cabins available throughout the state. Here some advanced planning is required. Reservations for cabins need to be made early and coordinated with air travel, but this is an inexpensive way to extend your stay in some very special places.
    Whether flying into the wilds for a day, a weekend, or a week, it’s well worth the planning and effort, not only for the fabulous fishing but for the simple pleasure of taking to the air and sharing an eagle’s eye view of this magnificent land.
  
A few of the many flight services available in Southcentral Alaska:

Anchorage:

Rust’s Flying Service
www.flyrust’s.com
1-800-544-2299
    
Kenai/Soldotna:

High Adventure Air
www.highadventureair.com
1-907-262-5237

Mavrik Aire
www.mavrikaire.com
1-888-628-7457

Seward/Moose Pass:

Scenic Mountain Air
www.scenicmountianair.com
1-907-288-3646

Bear Lake Air and Guide Service
1-800-224-5985

Kodiak Island

Seahawk Air
www.seahawkair@alaska.com
1-800-770-4295

Andrew Airways
www.andrewair1@aol.com
1-907-487-2566