Thanks Alaska

The Fishing

Most Pacific Northwest steelhead rivers are busy these days. Very busy. That’s not the case here. In fact, some of Southeast Alaska’s steelhead streams may not see a fly cast over them in any given year. Consequently, Thanks Alaska guests have these streams to themselves, their only company being eagles, blacktail deer, and bears. Think back to the Roderick Haig-Brown days when fly fishers could test any steelhead river almost any time and have the whole thing to themselves. That’s still the case in modern-day Southeast Alaska, and that’s what Thanks Alaska and its 68-foot Hawkeye II provide. You won’t see hook scars on these fish and you won’t find any garbage or debris along the banks. It’s just you, your friends, and those mean metalheads.

Each day begins by launching skiffs off the Hawkeye II and making short runs to the mouths of Southeast’s most productive steelhead streams. You can cast for sea-run cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden char along the beaches (these fish range between 1 and 3 or 4 pounds) or hike upstream as far as your legs and imagination take you, working the best holes for steelhead that average between 8 and 14 pounds. 

Accomodations

If you’ve ever dreamed of a life on the water, cruising wherever your heart desires and dropping an anchor whenever you please, a trip with Thanks Alaska aboard the Hawkeye II is what you need. Trips begin in Petersburg, Alaska, a quaint fishing town known as “Little Norway.” Anglers share three bathrooms and three private staterooms with two bunks in each. The luxurious fiberglass Willard vessel also offers a full kitchen, a salon for lodging and dining, a top deck for activities, and a pilothouse for navigating the Inland Passage. No matter where you relax on the boat you’ll enjoy stunning views of Alaska’s rugged coastal landscape.

You don’t have to pick up a rod to have a great experience here. Whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, eagles, sea ducks, bears, deer—wildlife and rugged scenery abound in southeast Alaska, with photo opportunities appearing around every turn. Skiff rides from the mothership are available, providing beachcombing at its very best. Relaxing on the Hawkeye II with a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other isn’t so bad either.

World Class Fishing Adventure

Each evening, the Hawkeye II anchors in an isolated bay surrounded by inspiring landscape that includes old growth forest, tidewater glaciers, sheer rock cliffs, towering mountain peaks, waterfalls, and hemlock, cedar, and 700-year-old Douglas firs. Each day the Hawkeye II launches skiffs that ferry guests to shore. Anglers can then cast to sea-run cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden along the beaches and/or hike upstream to find untouched steelhead in the pools and runs. Whether you’re on swinging flies to steelhead or simply kicking back on the boat—maybe playing cribbage or watching the scenery and wildlife pass by—lifetime memories will be made here.