Pasagshak State Recreation Site Favorites

Favorite thing: Lake Rose Tead lies a short distance north of Pasagshak Bay on the Pasagshak River. Named for a USO performer during World War II, the gentle lake lies in a nice setting and forms the spawning ground or crossroads for the red, pink, silver and other varieties of salmon that enter the island at the mouth of Pasagshak River. During certain weeks of the year, the lake surface froths with salmon activity, and parts sometimes change color due to the enormous number of fish in their death throes.

Favorite thing: Fishing fanatics incorporate the tide tables into their recreational activities, but certain it is that the mouth of the Pasagshak River offers excellent opportunities to fish for sockeye and King salmon, as well as Dolly Varden, a dark trout. Early on summer mornings, the mouth of the river lies in a shadow due to the neighboring hills until about 7:00 (depending on the week), when the sunlight brightens the mouth. A moment before, the fish would not be able to see the fly and thus not ever strike. A moment later, when the sun washes the river, the fly is visible to the fish, and the fish visible to the fishermen. Happy casting!

Favorite thing: Like the rest of Kodiak Island's more popular fishing holes, you will not only have other human traffic plying their lines in the water, but the natural fishermen -- the bald eagles and the kingfishers -- will normally accompany your visit. Immature bald eagles are generally brown all over without the tell-tale ivory hood, but mature eagles will also look for scraps and dead fish on shore. Except when perched in trees, these birds are best photographed when concentrating on an immediate meal.

Favorite thing: Here is a photo of my son and I out stalking the Red Salmon. I have to thank our very own VT'er MrClay2000 for taking this photo of us! But this is a common scene of seeing us out fishing either here or one of the many other rivers and streams on Kodiak Island.
It was such a beautiful morning to be out on the river. We didn't see a cloud in the sky all morning long! And we caught alot of Salmon!

Favorite thing: After landing the fish you must hold the fish still on order to be able to get the hook out of his mouth. These Salmon are very strong and slippery so most people prefer the smash to the head to slow the fish down. If the fish flopps around for too long you better check your line or even better yet re-tie your fly as your line may have been chaffed by the fish in the rocks. This will weaken your line and the next salmon may just snap your line!

Favorite thing: After landing any fish in Alaska it must be killed if you intend on keeping it. Some states allow you to keep fish alive on a stringer but not here. Every summer people get caught trying to keep fish alive after catching them. They do this hoping that they will catch a bigger one!! Then they can release the smaller one. But the problem with that is the survival rate of a fish that has had a line run through is gills is very low!! So don't try it here!! If you are fishing the catch and release style of fishing don't drag the fish up the river banking!! Try to keep it out of the water for as short of a period as you can and hold the fish with his head aiming up stream so the water with wash over his gills. Make sure it is alive before releasing it. You can be fined for releasing a dead fish!!

Fondest memory: In the picture you can see I'm bonking the salmon in the head to kill it instantly and it won't suffer. Before that I poke a hole in his gill plate so that the heart will pump out all of his blood and the meat will taste much better at the time of cooking!

Favorite thing: For the best results you will want to have polarized sun glasses which will allow you to see into the water without all of the glare that the sun creates. Another tip that goes along with this is to try to keep the sun to your back and it cuts down on the amount of glare created by the sun. If you can see the salmon in the water it increases the odds that you will catch fish! On Sunday morning 7/13/03 I landed about 20 Red Salmon using these techniques!!

Fondest memory: In the photo you can see the sun is at our backs..later in the day it is best to cross the river and fish from the other side.....That is a local tip that you will use if you get the chance to fish the mouth of the Pasagshak River.

Favorite thing: If you are going to fish for any of the salmon here at Pasagshak and aren't familiar with the techniques make sure you keep your rod tip up!! If you let the rod tip down it is very easy for the salmon to either snap your line or to get off the hook. You can see in the photo..My son is using the proper technique for fighting salmon with a fishing rod.