Fishing Alaska

This is the third year of five I've ventured to Alaska to fish. However, it's the first time I've had the chance to enjoy the fly-in fishing the state offers. We joined the good folks at Talon Air just outside of Soldotna for an afternoon of fishing on the opposite side of Cook Inlet. It's a 25 minute flight over.

We launched out of Talon's home base on a lake just northeast of town. The chariot was a Cessna Caravan on floats, modified to accommodate a Garret 12 turboprop engine, flat-rated to 950 SHP. That 'van practically bolted from the lake surface within a few hundred yards and we were off like a shot with a nearly full pax complement of 7 plus pilot.

We traversed the inlet at 155 KTS and only 1,500 MSL which, for us Colorado pilot folk, was intriguing as we rarely see altimeter settings under 5,000 feet unless we go well east. The flight was magnificent, although a little too short for my liking.

I've always wanted to get time in a Caravan and although I wasn't flying, the owner and our pilot, Alan H., was kind enough to answer my 20-some questions on the flight over. I was parked in the right seat gawking at the scenery as I peppered him with Q's.

The fishing was fun, but the flight was the high point for me. We didn't get our limit of reds (Sockeye), but I had a great time on the flight and snapped a plane load of aerial photos. The countryside and nearby glaciers provide outstanding views from the air!

After another great fishing expedition, sandwiched around a fun hop, I'm convinced I'll be back in Alaska next year. Only this time I may spend a few extra days adding the single-engine sea plane rating to my license.

If I can lock down one of those great corporate gigs providing a 4-month sabatical from May through August (right!), I'll happily head north for a summer of flying each year. Life would be perfect! A pilot can dream, can't he?