fishing report from Howard Mckim / Alsaska (pics)

This was one of the craziest things I've seen in awhile. Two eagles fighting as they plummet to the sea. One flies up, one doesn't. I abandon a client to race over and check it out. This eagle keeps trying to fly out but is too water logged. I'm only a few feet from it but can't really do anything.

After a few attempts it starts doing the breast stroke with its wings, aiming for the nearest shore, which was probably over a hundred yards away. Inch by inch it swam as we kept our distance, but got on each side of it. The eagle was slowly sinking, and we weren't sure it would make it. It was really cool to watch its mind working. It never panicked and would just stare at us as it swam along. You could just see it thinking.

Finally it made it to shore, which is steep rock. The sound of the talons scraping up the rock as it struggled to get up was something to remember. As soon as it was up on the rock we bailed so as not to cause it any more stress.

All the while my client I left behind had a big coho on, had unknowlingly knocked the star drag loose, and had been fighting the fish for at least a half hour before I got back over there and tightened the drag down.




Ketchikan Kayak Fishing
www.yakfishalaska.com
888-315-2925

Wow...beautiful...uhhh...eagle there! 

The two birds fighting may have been two birds in a ritual mating act. Not sure if bald eagles do it, but some birds of prey lock their talons together and do a spiraling "death roll" towards the ground and pull up at the last second. Looks like this unfortunate, wet lady or fellow didn't prove to be a good pick. Good thing they were over the water!

That's such a cool and unusual photo, that I would have thought it was a fake if we didn't happen to know the guy who took it.

It's a little hard to tell in the photo... but is Howard's client a chick? 

It's a little hard to tell in the photo... but is Howard's client a chick? 

It seems she has a ring on her finger. Don't ever second guess! 

It seems she has a ring on her finger. Don't ever second guess! 

Ring on right hand??? 

-Allen

Oh man, I miss AK. I used to do guidework on Price William Sound out of Whittier AK & caught my first big kayak fish there (16lb silver). The salmon acted like bonito, swimming in small fast schools. I saw bears swimming in open water across the channel & orcas out my window.  I'd love to go back & fish up there again. Ketchikan is really cool too, it's where Ray Troll (a huge artistic inspiration of mine) has his studio. Downtown is built on stilts over the water, just really cool place.
Sean

that eagle looks like "Sam the Eagle" on the Muppet Show.......



aahhh...another Hollywood moment at NCKA  .....

Good point, but this wasn't the spiraling love dance. This eagle was just reaching maturity and did something wrong and got beat up, and was driven straight down into the water. Client was a girl, but not in the photo. That's my girlfriend. Yes Ketchikan is really cool. Its raining sideways right now. 28 inches of rain in the last month. WooHoo! I was in Ray Troll's studio just yesterday.  I don't know who sam the eagle is, but it does look like him. I think that answered all your comments..

Here's my client that day-




Ketchikan Kayak Fishing
www.yakfishalaska.com
907-225-1272

I'm due for a vacation in '06....I'm torn between going to Kona, Hawaii or Ketchikan, Alaska......I'm leaning more towards a trip Alaska since I'm a big fan Salmon and trout  Not too many bikinis in Alaska though 

I vote for Ketchikan Joel.  It's a little over an hour flight from Seattle so I can join you for a weekend.  And if you want to stop by Seattle for a couple days (I think you'll have to layover here anyway), I'll set you up with a kayak here too.

-Allen

Yup, I just got a PM from Dave. He's interested as well. I'd really like to see Howards "playground" in Ketchikan. I've been reading his reports from the past and I loved every aspect of his adventures - from fishing to hunting = living off the land. Just gotta figure out what's the best time of year to visit - especially for Salmon.

Allen - thanks for the hook-up - I'll definitely take advantage of it

Howard - any thoughts?

I had  a couple hours in Howard's water this summer.  UNBELIEVABLE!!  Caught like 9 fish, including a salmon and a pacific halibut, all in one little area.  I didn't want to leave but the cruise ship was on a schedule.

Ketchikan is a must for any kayak fisherman that can make it there, and Howard is THE MAN!

I'm plotting devious means to get back up there next summer.

Allen

I had  a couple hours in Howard's water this summer.  UNBELIEVABLE!!  Caught like 9 fish, including a salmon and a pacific halibut, all in one little area.  I didn't want to leave but the cruise ship was on a schedule.

Ketchikan is a must for any kayak fisherman that can make it there, and Howard is THE MAN!

I'm plotting devious means to get back up there next summer.

Allen

Allen...I'm STILL upset at the fact that you did not have any photos of your trip 

Yes, the images live forever in  my mind......time for a Vulcan mind-meld?

NICE.....I finally get to look like a celebrity  .....the ear job makes me look more hobbit-like