Greetings! I've fly fished the Situk River out of Yakutat, Alaska several times over the past nearly 30 years. The Situk hasn't changed much but the fishing has. It is far more crowded on the banks than when I first threw flies at Coho in August 1994. I still enjoy going there and still manage to hook fish, but I am timing my trips so as to avoid the crowds as much as possible yet be there earlier or later in the runs of the particular salmon species. I intend to fish in late July or early August next year to catch the later sockeye runs and the earlier running coho.
Please let me know if you have suggestions to better my timing.
Fish on@
Tim

The start of a lot of fun adventures, but no amount of fish is worth your life.
I grew up fishing over the Columbia River Bar and still maintain the same rules for safety:
Besides all of the obvious safety precautions such as lifejackets, sounding device , VHF radio, back up GPS service such as on your phone , I never go out without my anchor and at least 300 feet of line and 20 feet of chain for your size boat.

I always check the wind ,weather and wave conditions and if concerned call the Coast Guard on channel 22 for a bar report before heading out.

I prefer to tagalong or lead another boat on the way out as well as when you are coming back in. I prefer to choose tides where you have an incoming tide early in the morning, and get your fishing done before the wind comes up and come across the bar at Highwater slack or while the current is still coming in.

I have crossed bars from Alaska to panama several times over the years in my own boat and others and this advice has never failed me with a few exceptions of a Southwest blow on the incoming tide. It’s usually the Westerly northwest , Or even north wind against a strong ebb tide that creates the short and big waves. Listen to the Coast Guard weather report for bar conditions even when you’re at home and you will soon discover The patterns of the weather during the summer and late fall.

Ideally I like to see a doubling of the wave height and of the swell. For instance 4 foot swell at least eight seconds apart, better yet 4 foot swell 10 seconds apart. Watch the weather report for days before you go out and the days after you are going out to see what the pattern is going to be and what the pattern has been in the previous several days.

I have had many beautiful trips with buddies and my family including when they were young children from northern BC to southern Oregon and given the right conditions such as I just explained, we have had many wonderful successful trips. Usually the ones that aren’t so much fun is as a result of staying out too late or pushing the envelope and violating my own rules.

It’s not always good luck it’s more good seamanship that will add to your successful trips. Have fun and be safe.