Silvers at Sam Fejes Tsiu River Lodge

[matt vejar]

I fished at Sam Feje’s lodge on the Tsiu river the last week of August. It was the second week of anglers coming into the lodge and boy did I hit the Silver Jackpot! We had a group of four of which one was the 18 year old daughter of a dentist from Washington. She was quite the fisherwoman. We had two guides Andrew and Coop. You won’t find more courteous and enthusiastic guides on any river in Alaska. Sam had said fishing was tough as fish were in the river but not biting due to lack of rain, but the sky opened on day two and the fishing went from nice to fantastic in 24 hours!
I’ve been to 25 camps hunting and fishing and none compare to the food (Dianna cook) and service you will receive at this camp (everyone). They have a sauna, fire ring with Adirondack chairs, dry room ( guides bring anything wet back to cabin in morning) no wet waders here! If you’re looking for the best of the best this is it by anybody’s standards. You have a choice to drive quads down to the river or be flown down in a super cup. The ride is 40 minutes but bears are usually seen every morning so I had Coop chauffeur me down each morning. Going along the beach at daybreak is awesome as well!
Each day we left at 4:15 to get the best spot on the river. Success is what this lodge is all about!
Day 1 was the only sunny day and fishing was good but tough as silvers don’t like sun. The worst the weather better that bit on this trip!!
All of us fly fished with are own gear, but spinning tackle and lures are provided at no cost. I would bring my own gear regardless. Alaska air is very accommodating as I saw every possible rod/reel combo known to man. They open one overhead for the masses and if it fills you place in yours above!

 

[matt vejar]

Day 1
Sunny weather and decent fishing. Best fly was a Clouser 1/0 inChartreuse and White. Later in day purple and chartreuse/black Hareball fly in 1/0 worked.

 

[matt vejar]

Days 2-5
Wind and rain off and on through out the day. 3 inches of rain raised the river from say 50 yds wide to a 100 or more but the fishing was on as more fish moved into river. All days had a period of around 3 straight hours of non stop action on the fly or spin with slow or slower periods in between. The normal day was 5 am to 2 or 3 pm with lunch flown down or brought in by one Sam’s two daughters who were in camp for 3 of the days I was there. They made camp and fishing even that much more fun! Thanks Adriana and Amanda for some great laughs!! I would not think that very many places provide hot soup and sandwiches for lunch on the shore. The breakfast and lunch at camp are remarkable. Cordon Blue, pork ribs, Mexican night with shredded moose enchilada, and the Grinder Pizza ( shredded moose with mushrooms, peppers and as good a pizza as you’ve ever eaten-pepperoni too. Homemade cookies, pie's, cheese cake. Snacks at 4 pm ( moose sausage, cheese, smoked salmon, cream cheese spreads) amazing is all everyone could say. Dianna is the best cook I’ve seen period- and a great person on top of that- always a smile and what would you like. She makes a lodge your home in one day. Remarkable!!!

 

[matt vejar]

Sam Fejes is a Master Guide of over 40 years on both Kodiak and Tsiu river lodge where he hunts for goats, black bear, moose and brown bear. Kodiak Island for bear and deer. If you’re looking for a top notch fishing or hunting trip you cannot go wrong at his lodges. I’ll be back for the bear/moose combo at Tsiu river lodge as I just got a little taste of the best I’ve seen!