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Category Archives: Trips

Why Wilderness Fly-Fishing?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Cory Luoma

“There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot” – Aldo Leopold.

Why immerse ourselves in Alaska’s wild landscape, and explore the untamed rivers? Why fish and camp far beyond motorized transport? Partly because we are looking for better fishing than we would find near the lodges. But perhaps, we seek something more through our fly-fishing passion than a day trip provides or than a trophy fish in a photograph could recall. Author Paul Brooks said in Roadless Area, “In every Wilderness trip there comes a moment of awareness, a sudden sense that you are there.” He described a deepening feeling of connection to nature after he and his wife had put three or four canoe portages between them and the last settlement. Do some of us need to immerse ourselves for longer periods in wilder places, not only for the fishing, but for other reasons too?

Once we’ve been dropped of in the Bristol Bay Wilderness, we are certain of several things. Our raft will certainly pass through a vast, post-glacial landscape. Between casts, we will wade in the clean cold water noticing grizzly bear tracks and salmon carcasses scattered about. We will walk downstream re-casting the fly, watching the drift, mending the line, and retrieve. Gusts of wind coursing across the tundra will blow our mental clutter away, making us focus on the fundamentals of our sport. The Arctic Tern will dive in front of the raft, emerging while dripping beads of water, with a sockeye smolt in her blood red bill. The passage of the cloud shadows on the tundra will create dramatic light. And, perhaps, let come the realization that “I am tremendously grateful to be here at this exact moment participating in nature’s great drama.”

Only in Wilderness, can we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the events of these moments are “true”, and not modified by man. There is no detail except our own actions that can be changed to make the moment a more “perfect” experience. If we find fault – it reflects only our human limitations. Perhaps we feel diminished by the weather or nervous about the Brown Bear. Perhaps we fail to land the greatest rainbow trout of our life. Or, it is equally possible that we land the lovely fish and learn about the bear and don’t simply fear it. Perhaps we will adapt our minds to the weather. One thing is certain; when we fly fish in the Bristol Bay Wilderness, we’ll participate in a drama in which man’s role is small in a vast natural world.

Mark Rutherford
1-206-617-9799

Posted in Trips | Tagged fishing, wilderness

Wild River Guides – The Experience

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Cory Luoma

See for yourself what it is like to be on a wilderness-based fly fishing float trip with us! Get a glimpse of our philosophy, and the way we do things.

Posted in Trips

Bristol Bay Alaska trophy salmon, crystal clear rivers, rainbows as long as your arm.

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Mark Rutherford

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Act now to join me this summer in Bristol Bay Alaska, your lifetime fly fishing destination. Fully guided trips for trophy salmon on crystal clear rivers, rainbows as long as your arm, adventure, sea run char by the thousands, wildlife. We’ll Raft and camp along wilderness rivers in solitude. Fly fish in 20 hours of daylight.

The days are getting longer and your family’s summer vacation plans might be a discussion item around the dining room table. It’s time to call me. There are just a few prime slots available and I want them to go to you anglers who have dreamed about this for years.

In a few short weeks I’ll load thousands of pounds of grocery staples and new fly-fishing gear onto a barge headed north from Seattle bound for Bristol Bay. Its “crunch time” if you want to make this dream come true call me or email me now! 1-206-617-9799.

Posted in Trips | Tagged Bristol Bay, Guided trips, rainbow trout, salmon

Fly fishing for Bristol Bay’s spectacular Char in July

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Mark Rutherford

Not Saying “Give Up Chasing Trophy Rainbow Trout” when you fly fish and raft down a spectacular tundra river. But you should know why Sea run Dolly Varden Char are spectacular and why anglers travel to Bristol Bay Alaska specifically for huge pre-spawn males in mid-late July.

 

Here’s the beta: There are more than 50,000 Sea Run Dolly Varden returning to the 5 primary rivers we fish. The peak of the run is July 15-30. The July fish are the largest adults and are returning to the river where they were born to stake a headwater territory and spawn. An 18- 24” adult is a great fish and is the backbone of the trophy fishery. The most memorable fish push 28”. They are often highly pigmented in pre-spawn colors and considered by many to be more beautiful than the Leopard Spotted Rainbow. Plus the return of the largest Dolly Varden Char coincides with the lowest water levels and best weather of the summer.

 

Want to know more? Does the enigmatic Char intrigue you? Do you wonder why a fish tagged on the Togiak River, Goodnews, or Nushagak is later caught hundreds of miles away up the Yukon? Dollies intrigue me! Like so many others I was once enthralled only with large Rainbows but then I incidentally took a few really notable Char. The whole deal is changed now. The big Char are treasured, they are not easy, yet are sublimely beautiful like a brook trout is beautiful. We cast as they bust balls of smelt in the brackish estuary or while herding salmon fry in the headwaters. We throw the biggest streamers in the box in deep channels or sometimes must make perfect matches to the salmon egg “hatch” on the flats. This is a fish you want to spend some time with and it doesn’t hurt that the Rainbow and Salmon fishing is spectacular at the same time.

Posted in Trips

Exclusive use permit for Togiak River fly fishing

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Mark Rutherford

Exciting news for Alaska bound fly casters. Wild River Guide Company was awarded an exclusive use permit for Togiak River fly fishing trips on the Togiak Wildlife Refuge west of Dillingham, Alaska. The Togiak is an exceptional wilderness river for King Salmon and Sockeye in July and Dolly Varden Char and Coho Salmon in August. There are some legendary Rainbow Trout. The July King Salmon run averages well in excess of 10,000 fish and more than 100,000 Sockeye return. The August Coho run is close to 10,000 and the July and August return of Dolly Varden Char is staggering. In the coming weeks look for the 2012 Season Report where we’ll report on a week long raft trip with wounded warriors fly fishing down the Togiak. Share a camp with me on the Togiak next summer!

Posted in Trips | Tagged King Salmon, Permit, Sockeye, Togiak

2012 Bristol Bay fly-fishing season wrap up

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Mark Rutherford

The 2012 Bristol Bay Fly Fishing season was positively stellar for Wild River Guides with one exception. We took “One Tough Trip Through Paradise” when Erik Oster, Steve Call, Olly Merrill and I attempted the first rafting descent of Moose creek into Lake Beverly and that is an adventure story that you will want to wait to read about when the season reports are published. Continue reading →

Posted in Trips

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Testimonials

Just then a large grizzly appeared through the willows at the far bank. It was a great Alaska scene. I will continue to explore Alaska with Mark as long as I hold up. John Merritt
It was a stellar week. Our time on the river strengthened my sense of purpose in life and changed the way I view the world. Bob Roark
Not a week goes by that I don't think about my fishing adventures with Mark Rutherford in the most remote, stunning, and productive fishery on the planet, Bristol Bay, Alaska. R.A. Beattie
Awesome Trip! A life changing event for me. We made a great team and worked well together, laughing and enjoying every moment. I personally am very grateful for the opportunity to meet and share those moments with all of you. Davide Picard. Kanektok River. June 27-July 5, 2014
I can't seem to get the wilderness, the abundance of fish, & the whole camping experience out of my mind. I have never experienced anything similar and I am addicted. Sam Carlisle
Thank you for the trip of of lifetime & for your fly fishing and casting tips, for your work, your kindnesses, and your good company! Chuck Harris. Kanektok River. August 22-31, 2014
I have fly fished Alaska for many years and this is the best. Not only the number of fish but the quality of the fishing . John Moore
You & Kate ... are outstanding people and role models Richard Voss
I have a flood of memories from Alaska, but the most remarkable ones were fishing with Mark John Markoff
Our week was more than a pleasure.  It was a really great experience for both me and the boys.  Can't tell you how much we enjoyed it! Scott Slappey. Goodnews. July 17-25, 2014.

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Wild River Guide Co.
P.O. Box 608
Dillingham, AK 99576
(203) 247-9070
info@wildriverfish.com

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