Journal entries
| "In search of Steelhead," our first trip to Prince of Wales Island, April 1998 |
April 19, 1998 0/0 (landed/hooked)
After a 36 hour ferry ride from Bellingham, WA to Ketchikan, AK we finally arrive. It was a
beautiful trip but I was ready to catch some fish. We then took a float plane over to Thorne
Bay on Prince of Wales Island. Thorne Bay is a small town with a small cafe, grocery store,
sporting goods store, hardware store, and a few other small businesses. After getting the
truck and camper from John and a few supplies we headed out. Running out of time we
drove a short distance and stopped along the river to fish. We caught a few cutthroat trout
but no steelhead. We decided to camp there.
Sunset off the back of the ferry
April 20, 1998 0/0 (landed/hooked)
Waking up right on the river was nice. We fished a little but caught only trout so we headed
back into town for breakfast. The water on the Thorne River is a dark tea color and is
different than what we are used back at home. It makes it harder to judge the depth and
read the water. We spoke to a few people in town asking them about the Steelhead runs and
nobody seems to know much, or isn't willing to tell. After breakfast we explored more of the
Thorne River looking for Steelhead. Not having any better luck we concluded the fish
moved through the lower part of the river quickly at this water level so we decided to try
another drainage. We drove over to Staney Creek which seems to rise and drop much
quicker than the Thorne. Still no luck so we decided to try another stream. We are having
trouble determining what technique to use and where the fish hold in this tea colored water.
We headed over to the another river and camped there.
Brent fishing on the Thorne River
April 21, 1998 6/8 (landed/hooked)
Brent and I walked upriver in the morning and found a few nice holes and spotted a few
Steelhead. Brent hooked one using a streamer fly with a split shot. He drifted by the fish
and got it to turn by jigging it back. Later I hook and land a nice Steelhead on a spinner with
a barbless siwash hook. After a short stop for lunch we hiked downstream. We started
seeing and hooking more fish. We decided that spinners are the best way to cover the water
at this level. We camped there for the night.
April 22, 1998 5/6 (landed/hooked)
After breakfast we worked our way downstream. We didn't hook anything until we passed
the water we fished the night before. We ended up hooking 6, and landing 5. All of the fish
were hooked on spinners. We then drove out to Staney Creek where we saw a few fish
below a bridge. We decided to camp there and fish in the morning.
"This is the journal I kept during the first trip that Brent and I took to the island. I didn't get very
descriptive in this journal but it show how we did on our first trip. The journals I kept of later trips
are much more detailed. The weather was primarily showers on and off most of the trip. We were
in awe of the island and didn't know what to expect. As you can see in a few of the pictures we are
carrying firearms not knowing that there are only Black Bears on the island. We used a truck and
camper as transportation and housing for our trip. I hope this journal helps you get prepared for
your trip to the island. Enjoy........."
Kenji King
Thorne Bay Lodge
descriptive in this journal but it show how we did on our first trip. The journals I kept of later trips
are much more detailed. The weather was primarily showers on and off most of the trip. We were
in awe of the island and didn't know what to expect. As you can see in a few of the pictures we are
carrying firearms not knowing that there are only Black Bears on the island. We used a truck and
camper as transportation and housing for our trip. I hope this journal helps you get prepared for
your trip to the island. Enjoy........."
Kenji King
Thorne Bay Lodge
| Thorne Bay Lodge is an equal opportunity provider on the Tongass National Forest, USDA. |
| Copyright © Thorne Bay Lodge 2007. All rights reserved. |
Thorne Bay Lodge, Alaska
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
