Sorry to the fellas on our staff as I'm sure you'll agree...here are the prettier faces of Alaska Sportsman's Lodge

(left to Right)
Stephani, Tu, Michelle, Sarah and Liz

First 30"+ of the year! Eric Dompeling-Breaking the ice...

Beautiful 30.5" spring rainbow Trout...guest Eric Dompeling

BAM!!! OPENER!

29.62" Bud Fackrell, ASL guide Schuyler

First 2010 orientation...
A couple fine Bristol Bay mornings...

We've been working and preparing for 8 months for this week to come and we are thrilled it is here. Remnants of winter from Lake Iliamna greet us as we rev up the engines on the boats, turn the plane props, and grab a few rods to see what the river has to offer. As sure as the sun rises in the East we are not disappointed. It is so quiet out here on the river the only sound that rises is the river's body wrapping around the silhouettes of our boats and gently passing under the floats of our planes. We truly celebrate what an incredible playground we have and that we are able to share this playground with our friends...

Cheers to 2010 season at Alaska Sportsman's Lodge...we'll see you soon.

ASL Staff...

Brian, Todd, Robbie, Jerry, Elizabeth, Matt, Michelle, Sarah, Stephanie, Tue, Jeffy, Brian B, Schuyler, Cody, Jimmy, Colin, Dan, Tom, Jason and pup-Denali.

SPORTSHOWS 2010 ASL ON THE ROAD AGAIN....

Denver: ISE Sportsman's Expo January 7 to January 10

Sacramento: ISE Sportsman's Expo January 21 to January 24

Chicago: Great Waters Fly Fishing Show January 29 to January 31

Long Beach: Fred Hall Sportsman's Show March 3 to March 7

Minneapolis: Great Waters Fly Fishing Show March 26th to March 28th

Sportsman's Photos

Gotta love Funnel
Skylar's first Rainbow on a fly rod
Elizabeth and Steph...WOW...the cuisine was incredible
Day break...
Kate with Arctic Char
Bears...really, really close to us

Angling in measurements of 14', NO WAIT that's 30 inches plus, no wait that's IMPRESSIVE!

BTL Guide Akash Patel

BTL Guide Health Lyon & BTL Guide Kate Taylor

BTL Guide Justin Crump & spey angler client Kate Hertz

Here's the thing...Ms. Talented Guide Kate Taylor with Alaska Sportsman's Bear Trail Lodge has been touting the double-handed rod's many talents. Baiting me with the fun of covering twice the water with a heck of allot less effort than a single-handed rod. Increasing the success of what we all step into waders for...

So today I'm nudged yet again by Ms. Kate with what the spectacular possibilities are. Clearly, I need to get my hands on a double-handed rod, get my butt up to Naknek River and get schooled on what I'm missing. (Hopefully she has more patience than the normal individual.)

BTL guide Akash, BTL guide Justin with spey angler Kate Hertz, BTL guide Heath & BTL guide Kate know what it feels like to catch a 30" plus line-possessing-rainbow Trout on one of these bad boys.

If you missed out on this year's Spey Casting Clinic held by Kate and Justin...make sure you get in for 2010 season...I'll see ya there.

Numbers are everything!!

Guest Shelly Allen with ASL pilot Jerry (putting on a guide hat for a moment) wins the COHO gamble. Actually I don't think there was a cast made by this lady that didn't end up in Mr. Coho's mouth...basically Shelly had the rod in one hand, a beer in the other and showed everyone how to get-r-done!

Is that SNOW?

ASL Guide Jimmy and guest Allan Dolynny brave the thicker than thick No See-Ums to catch this beautiful 26 and 3/8" rainbow Trout.

ALL DAY AS THE DAY IS LONG

The weather is unseasonably warm, but we aren't complaining. A low ushered in two days ago and like a light switch 27", 28", 29", 30" all day long. We are in the thick of BIG BOW season and it is red hot!

THIRTY-ONE AND HALF WITH A SEVENTEEN GIRTH

This is a serious fish. As you can see on ASL guide Cody Adelman's ecstatic grin these heavyweights don't come around often (in fact I'm not sure who's happier him or Joe). Client Joe Pagliero makes the glory wall with this beautiful trophy.

Jimi Hendrix

The magic Purple Haze. Its the curtains shutting to the end of a spectacular fishing day in Bristol Bay.

BIG BOW SEASON

Big bow season is upon us and Tyler with ASL guide Jeffy respectfully rang the beginning bell with this 28 in, chromer!

SPEY CASTING INSTRUCTION IN ALASKA

SPECIAL GUEST TONY WEAVER WILL BE JOINING ALASKA SPORTSMAN'S BEAR TRAIL GUIDES KATE AND JUSTIN IN A FANTASTIC WEEKEND OF SPEY CASTING.

A day out of the office...

ASL guide Brian Boe

ASL guide Schuyler Grove

I had the great pleasure to accompany two of our guides on their day off...I wish my days off looked like this! Awesome two days...thanks guys.

30 years of bliss.....

Gary and Mary Cartwright in the beginning...

Mary competing with Gary....

Mary ditching Gary for talented Guide Jeffy Pfaender...

Mary ditching training wheels altogether...

Okay so here's the story...Mr. Gary Cartwright (above) has been coming to the lodge for, I don't know, like 15 years?!?!! All the while he's telling his beautiful and understanding wife...Mary, "Ya, I gotta go to Alaska Sportsman's Lodge with the guys for season opener. Yep, it does help when I also do a few business trips a year at Alaska Sportsman's Lodge. I hate to leave you hon...but its important to do these trips." Mr. Cartwright is so good at convincing his wife, he's able to make it out as many as three times per season! BTW Gary IS a salesman by trade.

This year he decided (or maybe Mary decided) that it was time to make a trip together for their 30 year anniversary (congrats by the way). The pictorial of the trip pretty well sums up the story; Mary is officially hooked on fishing.

It took Gary 10 years to get on the 30-inch glory wall! My guess is Mary will beat that by a long shot!! Yes, Gary...Hawaii is out and we are pleased to say that trips to Alaska Sportsman's Lodge are in (with your wife of course)!

Thanks Gary and Mary! 30 years inspires us all!!

Reputation

Jim White, my father

I wish this guy could at least ACT like he is having a good time! The weather, the fish and all the other elements out of our control is hard enough...just kidding...he's our poster child.

"Just a note to say thank so much for all the great fun for the Carlile team and our clients. You guys did an outstanding job taking care of us and we truly appreciate all the great memories that you have made for us and our clients. Take care and have a great rest of the season !"

Linda Leary, President Carlile Transportation

...this speaks for itself

Apparently these Alaska Sportsman's Lodge clients chose their weapons carefully...

Rays of Gold...

This is the only gold that should be coming out of Bristol Bay!! Another spectacular sunrise followed by a mimicking sunset on the Kvichak River.

Ingredients:

2 ridiculously good guides: Jeffy and Schyuler

add 5 hockey players

3 coolers full of beer

78 degrees

some shenanigans

Shake the hell out of it....and whatta ya get...some darn big kings!