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RIVER FLOAT TRIP DESCRIPTION: By
floatplane from Lake Hood, fly for an hour to a remote
lake located near the Kahiltna glacier on the south side
of Denali National Park. Embark on your scenic,
sport fishing, and
whitewater adventure in the foothills of the Alaska Range.
Lake Creek begins flowing from seven-mile-long Chelatna
Lake, a brilliant blue-green body of water, and the largest
lake in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
Prospectors who hiked up river seeking gold first explored
this part of the Mat-Su Valley. There's still lots of gold, platinum
and carbonized wood to be found on the river! Today,
this tributary of the Susitna drainage is one of south central
Alaska's most famous sport fisheries. Throughout the trip,
float the rivers entire course, fifty-five miles southeast,
descending through a twisting and turning slalom of closely spaced
rocks and boulder gardens that will keep your attention to its confluence with the glacial
fed silt-laden Yentna River.
Lake Creek offers world class fishing opportunities for
TEN species of fish including Arctic Grayling, Whitefish,
Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, King, Sockeye,
Coho, Pink, and Chum Salmon. In addition Lake Creek provides
excellent video and photographic possibilities encompassing
majestic landscapes, wildflowers, and viewable wildlife.
Its quicker fly-in closer proximity to Anchorage can make
for even
a practical day-trip scenario, however far better surroundings
substantiate a multi-day float trip experience on the upper river
free
from jet boater traffic, lodges and bush flight drop-offs. Seasonal
high volumes and diversity of sport fish literally saturate Lake Creek.
The watercourse is birthing and spawning returns for a highly
predictable, consistent run of larger variety wild King
Salmon that are thick in numbers. Silver Salmon are also extremely predictable
both aggressive, numerous, and easy to hook into. What has positively
improved is the exceptional Rainbow fishery within the past
8seasons due in part to enhancing and keeping counts of the Red
Salmon run more than
a decade and a half ago pooled with the Rainbow Trout catch & release
measures in effect. Reds pack the creek today where 20
some years
ago they where all too few and nearly wiped out.
The overall character of Lake Creek
features a predictable consistency to the fishery with numerous smaller
feeder creeks that are highly beneficial
tributary streams for eagerly feeding Rainbow Trout,
Arctic Grayling, and life lines of spawning Salmon. These influential
little confluences combined with
the stable boulder garden nature of the river,
continually oxygenating rapids, undercut rocks for cover,
perfect gravel
beds for spawning, and deep resting pools for large
schools all construct one of the finest established drift
fishing habitats worldwide.
Weather is often favorable and every so often
burning hot by anyone's standards. Foul and rainy weather,
however will spike
brisk flooding, although it rarely hangs on for prolonged
episodes. On clearer days throughout the float, south side
views of Mount McKinley, Mount Foraker, as well as the
eternally snow covered Alaska Range are spectacular and
frequently in sight from different awe-inspiring perspectives.
If you don't wish to fly-out reasonably remote yet
aspire to hammer-time, no-stop Alaska style sport fishing at its
best…
Lake Creek has got it all and will be hard to beat!
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