Sportfishing par excellence is all about location, location, location! Strong tides prime the deep waters surrounding Waterfall Resort with millions of baitfish that attract annual returns of trophy-sized salmon, halibut, red snapper and ling cod. The historic cannery turned Legendary Sportfishing resort is located on the west coast of Prince of Wales Island, 63 air miles west of Ketchikan. All fishing gear, rain gear, and fish processing are included in your Waterfall package.

Brian Mayberry, Sahuarita, AZ, with his 60.5 lb. King caught 7/24/09!

This past summer, Waterfall’s Marketing Manager, Joel Rayden, supported a fundraiser at Lake Cachuma –20 miles east of Santa Barbara — for a local PBS radio affiliate. While enjoying the festivities, Joel grilled up some of the salmon and halibut that he had caught at Waterfall shortly before the event. The savory aromas drew in several Santa Barbara County Sheriffs! Joel very kindly shared his fish taco feast with the Sheriffs who enjoyed every delicious bite.

Sgt. Walton, Joel Rayden, Sheriff D. Allen

Feeling akin with nature
Southeast Alaska remains a timeless and unchanged wilderness

By Pete Ottesen
June 24, 2009 12:01 AM
Recordnet.com

KETCHIKAN - In a brief, 75-minute flight from Seattle, outdoors adventurers are transported to an isolated wilderness surrounded by water. Here in southeast Alaska the landscape is punctuated by misty fjords that spike the clear sky and abundant wildlife - soaring bald eagles, breaching humpback whales and feeding Chinook, the king of salmon.
The center of this great wild place is Prince of Wales Island, where bears, whales, sea lions, black-tailed deer and eagles overwhelmingly outnumber humans, and things don’t seem to change. Poke around the rocky cliffs and promontories, and mountain-covered forests of Sitka spruce, hemlock, cedar and pine, and you feel akin with nature in a timeless place, where wild creatures still are in charge.
Exciting, unexpected encounters with wildlife actually are common. Just when and where, well, you just never know.
A four-day stay at Waterfall Resort, a self-contained wilderness lodge on the west side of Prince of Wales Island, afforded a glimpse of the severity of nature and the symbiotic relationship between 50-foot, 40-ton humpback whales, bald eagles and a small marine bird, the rhinoceros auklet. We had just boated a 26- and 32-pound Chinook salmon when auklets suddenly began to fly past, dive and herd tiny candlefish into a massive, chaotic heap. We stopped fishing, the activity was so intense.
The birds forced the tiny fish - key parts to the food chain - into a dense ball of silvery, undulating bait that actually rose above the ocean’s surface with fish that thrashed on top of each other and out of the water. Bald eagles took advantage, 16 in all, swooping down and grasping fish in their talons, eating them in flight and returning time after time. A trio of whales appeared, too, as if a dinner bell had been called and seined the water with their massive snouts held perfectly vertical about 8 feet out of the water, as they pushed through the candlefish.
Creatures, large and small, worked in unison. The carnage lasted just minutes. Then, the rodeo ended and calm returned. Whales dived out of sight, eagles rested atop nearby spruce trees and satiated auklets preened in the sun, having done their jobs.
“That’s how nature works,” said Colin McCrossin, who has guided these waters for 12 years. “Here, nature rules, and we’re just observers.”
Many visitors are attracted here to catch for four species - salmon, halibut, lingcod and yellow-eyed cod that abound in the nutrient rich waters. But strict conservation regulations mean people come here to do more than simply fish. There are countless islands, coves and inlets to discover and hiking trails into the rain forest. Tall cedar totems are eminent witnesses to the first peoples of the island and striking saw-tooth mountains, pushed up by glaciers eons ago, outline the incredible vistas.
Years ago, Waterfall was a cannery, the largest salmon packing outfit in the southeast. The clapboard warehouses and cabins have been retrofitted into a resort where eagles and black bears still abound in the remote setting, reached only by a 45-minute float plane ride from Ketchikan.
Prince of Wales is the third-largest island in the U.S. with more than 990 miles of shoreline, where there are remnants of deserted canneries and rural villages worth exploring such as Claig, Klawock, Coffman Cove, Hollis and Hydaburg that exist on tourism, fishing and timbering.
Contact outdoors columnist Peter Ottesen at (209) 546-8269 or pottesen@recordnet.com.

Let’s Go Fishing!
by Stuart J. Faber
BizTravelers Choice
Winter 2009

Ever since I was a toddler, I loved to go fishing. Today,
many fishing holes are overcrowded or fished out.
But every trip to Alaska yields enough fish to throw
a huge party. This year, I spent a few days in Ketchikan, then
hopped on an Otter floatplane charter with Promech Air for the
flight to Waterfall.
Waterfall is nestled on the shores of Prince of Wales Island,
an area of clear, cool deep water which attracts hoards of salmon,
halibut, red snapper and ling cod. In the early 1900s, what is
now the resort was the largest salmon packing plant and cannery
in the region.
Many
of Waterfall’s
buildings,
which are now
used for guest
cabins, recreation,
a general
store and
fish processing
plant, were
constructed in
the 1930s for
the cannery
operation.
As I stepped out of the Otter, I was immediately taken with the
timeless aura of this resort
Although Waterfall is a resort for the serious and dedicated
angler, the impeccably trained staff caters to all levels of angling
expertise. And they wasted no time uniting us with the fish.
Moments after the floatplane reached the dock, we were escorted
to the registration office where we picked up our fishing licenses
(pre-ordered and waiting for us), obtained our boat assignment
and were directed to the gear and tackle room to pick up our
boots and raingear-from there to the boats.
These Coast Guard certified guides are not just college kids
who seek guiding jobs in the summer. Most of these grizzled
guys have been working at the lodge for over ten years. They
have intimate knowledge of every fecund fishing hole in the
region.
Soon we were over a halibut habitat. As the guide activated
the fish finder and deftly maneuvered the boat back and forth
over the hole, we hooked up with one fish after another.We
barely had time to take a break for our specially packed lunches.
By the time we gleefully returned to the dock, each of the three
fishermen in my
boat had his daily
limit.
Approximately
one hour
each day was required
to navigate
to the best fishing
holes. Along
the route were a
variety of companions
including
humpback, orcas
and grey whales.
The tackle provided by the resort is the best quality the
industry has to offer. The GPS and fish finding electronic equipment
were also first class.Throughout the trip, we never had an
equipment breakdown.
Our catches of the day usually included the limit of six
silver salmon, aka, Coho, ling cod and two halibut. Many record
size catches are brought back to the dock. My August trip was
too late for the run of king salmon which populate the waters
from May to mid-July
HANGIN G OUT
Accommodations are more than comfortable. Neat-as-apin,
full housekeeping cottages and deluxe suites have large,
shiny bathrooms and are furnished with comfy beds and an array
of cozy-country furniture.There are no phones or TVs in the
cabins-but who needs them? At night (and it does not become
dark for most of the summer), take a stroll and see the waterfall
that supplies water to the island (the tap water is better than
any bottled water), commune with the resident black bears, tell
fish stories at the friendly bar-or, as I did, go to sleep right after
dinner.
Food is fabulous at the resort. The morning starts with
freshly baked rolls and breads, breakfast meats, yogurt, cereals,
flapjacks, waffles and eggs of every description. The supper
buffet is always
stocked with
freshly caught
king crab, juicy
grilled prime
steaks, an
elaborate salad
bar and a variety
of other soups,
pastas and hot
dishes. For dessert,
homemade
cake, pie or an
ice cream sundae.
HOME WIT H THE BOUNTY
At the end of each day as we returned to the dock, a crew
was waiting to process our fish. Our catch was placed in a tub labeled
with our names. Immediately, the fish were transported to
the processing shack where they were professionally cleaned and
carved into filets, then flash frozen. On departure day, we did
not have to worry about the shipment to our homes. The resort
has an in-house Alaska Air Lines representative who tagged our
boxes of fish, presented us with baggage tags and a boarding pass
and we never had to handle the boxes until we arrived at our
hometown baggage claim area.
I think about Waterfall every day. The fishing was great, the
scenery was stunning and the accommodations were perfect.
For reservations and information on Waterfall Resort,
contact 800/544-5125 or www.waterfallresort.com or wfreservations@
kpunet.net. For more about Promech, call 800/860-3845
or info@promechair.com.

Fishermen and women from around the globe who enjoy halibut fishing know there is one destination that tops all others - Alaska. Alaska halibut fishing is legendary. Both novice and avid fishermen alike enjoy the wonders of Alaska and its world class fishing.

The Alaska fishing industry is second to none. The Alaska sport fishing industry is addictive. One trip to Alaska for halibut fishing or salmon fishing and you will become hooked. Every pun intended!

The beauty and majesty of Alaska is awe inspiring. The scenery alone is worth the trip for visitors of all generations. Add to that Alaska halibut fishing that will likely have you catching fish bigger than you and you will quickly see why many families go back year after year for an incredible experience.

Many thrill seekers overlook sports fishing. Typically that is because they have never done it. Being out on a stunning lake, surrounded by incredibly beautiful mountains and catching fish right out of Moby Dick is exhilarating, empowering and fun!

Couples, siblings, fathers and sons, friends and companies have been enjoying Alaska halibut fishing for decades. Whether they are roughing it in a tent, or enjoying the finest accommodations at resorts like Waterfall Resort, the experience is magical.

Few places offer both the amenities of world class resorts like Waterfall Resort, and the beauty of unblemished nature as Ketchikan Alaska offers. Sports fishing is an ideal form of sport and entertainment.

A quick tour of YouTube will leave you breathless for more. You will learn about the legendary halibut fishing in Alaska. You will see the power and majesty of nature, surrounded by serene, picture-perfect mountains.

It is unlikely you will find a more magical place to vacation without the requirement of a passport (if you are American). Ketchikan may become part of your soul after just one trip, just as it has bewitched millions of other men and women who have explored its natural beauty and sports fishing.

Alaska fishing trips are considered by many to be the adventure of a lifetime. Few vacations combine the beauty and power of nature; the relaxation of luxury accommodations; the sensation of top notch cuisine and the excitement of world class fishing.

Men and women from around the world have enjoyed Alaska fishing trips for decades. Top quality resorts like Waterfall Resort, have brought a new level of luxury and enjoyment to fishing trips.

Alaska fishing trips are most popular in the late Spring and early to mid-Summer. Salmon fishing and halibut fishing are the two cornerstones to the industry with many fishermen and women catching fish that meet and even exceed their own body weight!

Fathers and sons, brothers, co-workers, husbands and wives and entire families have enjoyed Alaska fishing trips. Typically it is important to book reservations early for the best resorts and the best fishing spots, but last minute trips may also be possible.

If you are considering booking a fishing trip to Alaska you should factor all costs of the trip before making your decision. Some resorts offer all-inclusive packages and this typically equates to substantial savings. Though on first glance these resorts may seem more expensive, when you consider the a la carte pricing of other resorts and hotels you may find that you save significantly.

Do a little research online and you will be able to make the best decision. You will find the best fishing sports, the most luxurious accommodations, the budget you need and more.

If you are looking to “rough it” then you will want to do a very different type of research. Try to find safe and secure camp grounds. Remember the Alaskan wilderness is a little different than camping in your backyard. You can look for cabins or other campgrounds and read reviews for these locations.

The more you read online the easier your decision will be. Take advantage of great rates available at many top resorts and lodges and book great Alaska fishing trips.