This Time Last Year at Cusack's

Last year in Alaska I had an opportunity to break in one of my good friends into the guiding industry and give him a last hoorah before he enlisted into the army. Doug Suhey had always been an outdoorsman and a fisherman but he quickly picked up a passion for fly fishing when I mentioned we might need a strong, motivated individual to do a little guiding as well. Doug jumped on the opportunity and had one hell of a summer. Topped off by his father Larry coming up to visit in July for Larry's birthday. Here are some of Larry's favorite pictures from his time spent up there. Larry told me his trip to Alaska was so much more than just fishing, but it appears he caught some nice fish along the way as well. 

Brian and Kirk,

I was up with Doug the second week of July 2011, so pretty close to this time last year. The sockeye were just starting their run up the Copper River. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the time spent with Doug up there.

Keep the faith,


Larry

"In a 30 min span I caught over 25 fish with a nymph. The location was Bobs brothers cabin on the mountain."

Cusack's Alaskan Tesitmonial

This post started as a comment on our Cusack's Fishing Report Post. Tim Donahue and his son Adam were recently at Cusack's Lodge and had an excellent trip! These are some of the pictures he and Adam shared with us as well as a wonderful commentary on his experience. Looks like they had some awesome fishing! As always feel free to contact us at flyfishingfiles1@gmail.com or bob directly at bobcusack@aol.com if you have any questions or inquiries about fishing with the myth himself in Iliamna, Alaska. For now enjoy the spread. 

My Son Adam and I just returned from fishing with Bob Cusack. One of the best trips of my life. This was a graduation trip celebration, the deal with my son was out of college in 4 years we go fising in Alaska. We picked Bob after doing a couple of months of research. What sealed it for us was talking to Bob on the phone, his 40+ years of experience kind of quietly comes through. It was obvious he knew his stuff.

I don't know where to begin, the experience far exceeded our expectations. Both from a fishing experience and just being with Bob and his wife Lula. Every day fishing was great. We had a couple of days where we caught over 100 fish each on one of Bob's secret spots. Our weather was good except for one of the days where it was really blowing too much to fly or even go out in one of the little boats. Even on that day where most guides would say its too cold or rough to fish Bob came up with a plan. We had a late breakfast and fortified our spirits and put on the life jackets. Bob took us out in his big enclosed boat and we took off after the Sockeye which were just starting to come in. As Bob said we damn near got blown off the sandbar in gale force winds but we brought home some fish. That day that should have by all rights been one of the crappiest ended up being our second most fun day thanks to Bob.

As for our fly-in trips, I've been around a lot of pilots both private and commercial. I worked at an airport as a teenager flown some myself and have flown almost 2 Million miles commercially and charter for business. I'll just say I've never met a better instinctive pilot than Bob. 

Bob's wife Lula provided us with outstanding dinners each evening. Her culinary skills and creativity made each meal something we really looked forward to. Bob cooks a pretty mean breakfast. I went up with the intent of losing some weight but I gained 5 pounds. 


Both Adam my son and I really enjoyed talking with Bob and Lula each night. For us it was like staying at a close friends home. We have been back home in Ohio for almost a week and I have to admit re-entery was tough, we both miss being up at Cusack's. As I have told my friends back home, my memory of the secret river was to be out fishing where there was no evidence of mankind all day catching so many fish my arm was tired. Looked up in the sky and saw three Bald Eagles flying over head at once. Bob thanks to you and Lula for a trip we will remember all our lives.

I had a feeling I'd be seeing that mouse! 

A couple of big male sockeye! 

Cusack's Alaska Lodge Fishing Report

Let me preface this by letting you all know that Bob Cusack wrote this piece, the entire piece. I didn't edit this just to make him live up to his reputation haha, this is really how he talks to me. He is a character and that's why we love him and that's also why you should fish with him. Check out www.cusacksalaskalodge.com for more info on Bob or contact him at bobcusack@aol.com or 907-571-1202 who knows he may have still have a couple spots open this season!

Lula and I both miss you characters this summer. I miss you two bum fucks. After these two I realize you two were geniuses. I don’t know how I could have thought you two were dumb fucks. Forgive me and please come back – you better know better than that! 

I just dropped off two fishermen from Ohio – Tim and Adam Donohue (father and son). We had a great time with them this week – they enjoyed your secret fishing hole and caught 100 rainbows each. They did a lot of mousing and streamers. The week before, Nevin Cooley and Dave Cahill fished in the same spot. Each of them caught about 50 fish. Nevin pulled out 3 nice lake trout fishing a mouse, and Dave caught about 5 grayling out of a pool that was 5 feet below where he was wading. It was blowing 50 mph when I dropped Tim and Adam off. They will pass through 60-70 mph at 2000 feet on the climb out from Iliamna – might have to clean themselves on arrival in Anchorage. They were catching sockeye off the point when it was blowing 70 mph. Damn near blew them in the lake, but with a shot of scotch and a good cigar we had a blast.  



Remember that slew where you and Kirk caught those big pike? Well one of my guides, Trevor, was exiting it into the main river when he spotted a big pike swimming with a 20 inch rainbow in his chops. He was guiding Lee and Mark Bellinger who are from PA. They came up with Nevin and Dave. Trevor has a great video of it, but I can’t send it due to the bandwidth. So when I get out of here I can email it to you. However, I will send a photo – no, it’s not as big as yours, but he did see several twice as big as the one with the rainbow. Anyway, Trevor slipped up behind this fish and threw him up on the bank. The rainbow was dropped in the process, but Trevor landed on the pike. I am sure it was a relative of the one you caught. Trevor said it was right outside the slew and there were a bunch of rainbows hitting dries. He never caught pike before and a week earlier he picked one up by the lip- he is learning. 


Other than that things have been pretty much boring. Oh ya, remember that old Magnum Research 45/70 pistol you used to tote around? Well I was coming across the portage at 11:30pm. I ran into 3 bears – a sow with cubs. They were unusually close (20 yards) by the time I saw them. I didn’t feel like screwing around with them so I fired one round and it didn’t kick or make much noise. I gave them another shot and all seemed normal. They ran off. When I glanced down I saw that I blew off the entire 10 inch barrel. I know I am fast but not fast enough for the 2nd bullet to catch the 1st one. I guess the 1st one got stuck in the barrel. I am hoping to get another barrel put on it. I’ve been lucky lately.

Destination: Iliamna, Alaska

Here is a short clip of some good Alaskan fishing memories over the last couple of years. From Bob Cusack's Alaska Lodge based out of Iliamna, Alaska focusing primarily on fishing the Copper River and the Gibraltor river. Remember if you even want any more info on any of our destinations just ask! You can comment on this post or comment us directly at flyfishingfiles1@gmail.com and we will work towards setting up your dream trip!!

 Alaskan Memories 

As a final reminder we are down to our last few hours to vote on our poll. Thanks for everyone who voted. 

Rack of lamb and a full house!

Campfire stories and a riverside bed

Big brute giving the stinkeye to the camera

Destination Fly Fishing

"The sun was setting on a beautiful summer day in Alaska at 11:30 pm as we were finally taking our gear off from a long but fruitful day of fishing. It was almost midnight, we were still fishing, and more importantly, it was still light out. We shared the day with numerous animals: rainbow trout, brown bears, and bald eagles to name a few. When looking back on it I just can't think of a trip more beautiful, this will always be a cherished memory for me."

Destination fly fishing has been a part of my life since I became a professional in this industry. I have worked in Alaska, Chile, and yes Central Pennsylvania as a fly fishing guide. I have fished in those places as well as many others, with and without guides. Yet, there are so many places I still wish to see and experience. Fly fishing is growing into more of a destination experience, secret spots are becoming less secret and because of that word is getting out and anglers are seeking the next great adventure. Whether it's chasing that trophy trout in Alaska or breaking a rod on a tarpon in the keys, the challenge is there and there for the taking. I look forward to the opportunity to check off my next item on the list and conquer my next challenge. But, fly fishing is so much more than that because it is not easy. The challenge is what makes us want more. Getting your ass kicked by a brute of a rainbow as he wraps your line around a submerged tree branch and proceeds to throw up the middle fin on his way down the river is the exact reason why we head out the next day to try it again. The biggest fish always get away for the same reason, if we landed every fish what would we have to catch tomorrow? 

Over the next couple of days I'll share with you some of my experiences from destination fishing (that you haven't heard!). As well as some trips I hope to take and some information on where I would go if I was planning those trips. If you have any questions about any of these locations or would like to know more about fishing a destination trip just ask! If we don't know we will try our best to get you in contact with someone who does. 

And don't forget to vote on our poll! Any feedback helps!

Alaska - A Day to Remember

The season is about to begin on all of the fisheries around Lake Iliamna, Alaska.  I was looking through a bunch of pictures that I have from my seasons guiding for Cusack's Alaska Lodge and the next few pictures reminded me of a great day that we had fishing the Gibraltar River.  We only went out for an half day of fishing because our two guests had to be back at the lodge to catch their Air Taxi flight to Anchorage, AK to get their flights home.  

We were using a variety of trout beads and egg patterns and we were catching large trout after large trout.  In a sequence of about thirty minutes both guests caught the largest trout of their lives, had a close view of a very large brown bear!  

Either way I thought it would be fun to post something about Alaska since the season is about to open up within the next several weeks!

The weather looks like it is going to continue to cooperate this weekend, so get out and fish!

Tight lines!