When Sockeye Fishing Is Mat-Su Magnificent

The following appears in the February issue of Alaska Sporting Journal:

BY MARK FONG

For a decade, Chris Wegeleben spent large parts of his summer guiding for salmon on Lake Creek in Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley. These days, as the principal and driving force behind Washington State-based Prolite Rods, his time is taken up building custom rods and managing the daily operations of that growing business.

However, last summer Wegeleben received a call from his old boss, Jeff Woodward of Lake Creek Lodge. Woodward asked him if he could lend a hand during the peak of sockeye salmon season, and Wegeleben did not hesitate. He quickly made arrangements to ensure his business was in good hands and then jumped on a plane for Alaska.

Unlike prior trips to Lake Creek Lodge, this was extra special for Wegeleben, as he was joined by his stepson Joelson, and later by his wife Jessica and father- in-law Ed.

TARGET: SOCKEYE
Located at the confluence of Lake Creek and the Yentna River, some 60 air miles to the north-northwest of Anchorage, Lake Creek Lodge offers fantastic fishing opportunities. Because of its remote location, the lodge is accessible only by float plane, making for a true Alaskan adventure.

During Wegeleben’s three-week tour, the sockeye run was in full swing. Most of the fish caught were in the 5- to 7-pound range, with some up to 10 pounds. Sockeye have a reputation as hard fighters, and when hooked they are full of acrobatics.

On Lake Creek the limit is three sockeye per angler per day. According to Wegeleben, the typical Alaskan way to catch sockeye is called “flossing” or “flipping,” which is legal on Lake Creek and other rivers in Alaska. When sockeye enter freshwater, they stop eating and are not very aggressive or “bitey.” As a result, the basic idea is to drag your line through the fish’s mouth. Once you feel the fish, you sweep the line tight so that the hook will slide into the side of the fish’s mouth. Snagged fish are not kept; every fish that is kept is legally hooked in the mouth.

“Flipping is a drift fishing technique,” Wegeleben explains. “The rig I use with my clients is basically a few split shot weights that can be adjusted for the conditions, with a leader and a hook behind it and usually a little piece of yarn so you can see the hook and where it’s at. The water clarity on Lake Creek is super clear, so this is basically sight fishing. You’re there waiting until you visually see the fish come through and then you target a specific fish.”

“Most of the time you’ve only got 10 feet of line out, so most people will use a fly rod. To flip, you pull the line up with your free hand and use the rod to flip- cast the line out in front of you across the current, allow your rig to drift with controlled slack, and then you pick up the line and do it over again,” he explains.

“Flipping is not an easy technique to teach,” Wegeleben adds. “There is a perfect balance to reading the water: You gotta go above the fish; you gotta go past the fish; you gotta let it sink; and you gotta kinda pull and stretch the line out. Once a client catches one or two fish, that’s when they start to figure it out. As a guide, that is really rewarding.”

CHANCE FOR SOME R&D

As a rod builder, Wegeleben doesn’t need to look far for ideas or inspiration.

“I am working on a technique-specific prototype fly rod designed for the flipping application. I don’t want to use a typical graphite fly rod blank that is not very durable,” he says. “Instead, I am using a composite blank, one that is capable of taking a beating, but still has the power needed and is light enough that it won’t physically wear you out. I am thinking that a two-piece, 9-foot, 6-inch medium to medium-heavy action would work really well. You don’t want a super-long rod, because you’re making a windmill action with it during the cast. If the rod is too long, then you just can’t control it very well. I think this rod is going to be a nice addition to the Prolite catalog.”

The daily routine of an Alaskan fishing guide can be a grueling affair. Days start early and end late, but Wegeleben was also able to spend some quality time with his family when they came up.

“Every time I get a chance to come to Alaska, the experiences are different, and this trip was definitely special,” says Wegeleben. “I can’t wait for the opportunity to come back again.” ASJ

Editor’s note: To learn more about Lake Creek Lodge and the great fishing opportunities there, please visit their website at jeffwoodwardsportfishing.com/ lake-creek-lodge. The full line of Prolite rods can be viewed at proliterods.com.