Jeanette's trip to the Bush, via Float plane. Here's her account...

Alaska was awesome!!!! I just stayed in Anchorage for the 24 hours I had to kill there. Spent time out at the Native Cultural museum that was pretty interesting. Then rested up for the fishing.

We were up at 4:45 am every morning for coffee, a very quick bite, wadered up and shuttled by boat to the morning spot and fishing by 6am. We'd fish for Salmon in the morning then have a Brunch, switch gear and fish for trout all afternoon. The lodge was a very rustic fishing lodge. The owner was an incredible woman. The only way in is by float plane or a 5 hour snow-machine ride in the winter. She begins getting ready for guests in the winter by trekking in over the snow with all the dry staples.

Her first husband was a bush pilot. He bought the place with just a trappers cabin on it. He got as far as adding a kitchen and building one cabin when he was killed in a plane crash. She was going to just sell the place when another bush pilot told her if she would build one more cabin (and he would help) he would find her the clients. (an if you build it they will come kind of thing).

That was 15 years ago and they stay pretty well booked up. But, from the moment you get there until you leave you feel like you are family. And the food....the chef was very talented. He was also the guy who fires the generator in the morning and one of the guys roping the float planes. No room for snobbery there! I hope I get to go back someday.I loved the shot of the fog rising off the water and the sunrise reflecting of the Alaskan range with our "taxi" waiting. Made the early mornings worth more than just the great fishing. (as if that weren't enough!)
I stayed at the Talstar lodge on the Talachulitna River. The first river in Alaska to be sanctioned as catch and release only for wild rainbows. At one time the river boasted 40" trout. a few are beginning to creep towards that size again thanks to catch and release. The river the float plane landed on was the Skwentna River About 65 air miles west ,north west of Anchorage.