Hi folks, I'm Bill Save, host of public television's Rod and Reel.
I'm on the St. Lawrence River in northern New York today fishing for muskies.
It's the end of November and I need the big gloves.
Speaking of big gloves, my cameraman, Wink Whitney and myself, had the opportunity to go to Alaska a few years back
and fish with a friend of mine, Sandy Killen. He's a proprietor of Trophy King Lodge.
It's located just down from Anchor Point on Cook Inlet, Alaska, near the Kaseeloth and Kenai Rivers.
You'll know those names.
The fishing for halibut and salmon was just outstanding.
But fishing aside, it's world class. But the accommodations are world class.
Sandy and the folks at Trophy King Lodge are absolutely first rate when it comes to knowledge of the fisheries, hospitality, and accommodations.
And food, I think they stole the best chef in Alaska.
Let's take a minute and show you a little about Cook Inlet, Trophy King Lodge, and the great halibut and salmon fishing in Alaska.
Alaska, land of ancient glaciers and majestic mountains.
It's a magical land where the eagles soar above the tundra and survey the moose and the grizzly bear.
In Alaska's coastal waters, you'll find the sea otter, the magnificent whales, and the world's finest Pacific halibut and king salmon.
It's a fisherman's paradise where you can catch the dream of a lifetime.
The internationally renowned Trophy King Lodge can make your dreams of fishing in Alaska a reality.
They offer an exclusive week-long package that puts what experts call the best saltwater king salmon and Pacific halibut fishing in the world right at your front door.
Their luxury lodge is built on the shores of Cook Inlet, 200 miles south of Anchorage and 25 miles north of Homer, Alaska.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of prize king salmon, halibut, and silver salmon return to these protected waters.
They start fishing in May with 18 hours of daylight and temperatures in the mid-50s.
Your every need's provided for.
For Trophy King Lodge, TACROOM supplies personalized fishing tackle, hip-length waders, and rain gear that's warm and ready to go.
They fish twice a day, with each trip lasting four to five hours.
Your Coast Guard Licensed Guide meets you on the beach, where you're loaded into boats, four guests to a boat.
That ensures you plenty of room to fight the biggest fish of the day.
The first run of king salmon starts at the end of April, and that's when you find kings that average 25 to 30 pounds.
They also get a lot of 40-pounders on the first run, and somebody always lands a 50-pound trophy or two.
Cook Inlet has several spawning rivers that flow into it.
As the salmon enter Cook Inlet, they begin to move closer to the shoreline so that they can smell and locate the freshwater rivers from which they came.
The kings are usually in 10 to 20 feet of crystal clear water.
You only need a half ounce or an ounce of lead, with no downriggers or heavy tackle, to land the best of the king salmon in the world.
And Cook Inlet is about 150 miles long, and it ranges from 5 to 30 miles wide.
As you're fishing, the shores give way to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
Mount Iliama rises 10,000 feet above the snow-capped Alaskan Range.
Eagles soar along the hillside currents, looking for the next meal.
This part of Alaska remains as it was centuries ago, pristine and unspoiled.
Their second run of king salmon starts in the middle of June and lasts into August, nicknamed the Trophy King Run.
This is a very exciting time of the season.
They fish hard for monster kings that come, and listen to this, 50, 60, 70, and 80-pound range.
They're unbelievable, and that's what brings sportsmen and women from all over the world to Trophy King Lodge.
August is when the silver salmon start showing up.
Weighing from 6 to 18 pounds, these acrobatic fish are known for their beautiful aerial fights.
If it's a halibut you're looking for, you'll find them all summer long.
This part of Alaska is known as the Halibut Capital of the World.
Their superb taste, enormous size, and awesome power has made the Alaskan Pacific Halibut a prize catch.
Look right out right there. I saw it, it just fell right off. It was hooked around the hinge.
Hooked around the hinge, it wasn't even in the fish. You'd let up, you lost them, no question.
They've kept records, and over the years they know that 20% of their guests have pulled halibut weighing over 100 pounds.
I see a huge dark shape. Oh, what a big fish. Oh boy, don't mess him with this one. This is the one we wanted.
Even the smaller 50 and 60 pounders need to be harpooned to get them safely on board.
I'm coming back with you. Hit him, hit him, hit him, hit him.
There he goes. Before he goes under. Try not to break off.
Back in the drag off. Sport fishing at its finest, and at the end of each day, they clean, filet, and flash freeze or smoke your catch.
At week's end, they pack up your bounty, and on an average, ship home over 100 pounds of salmon and halibut filets for each guest.
Now that you know what to expect on the water, let's talk about what you can find on shore at Trophy King Lodge.
It's first class from rods to reels. Every Saturday evening during the summer, 16 guests arrive to enjoy a week's fishing in this very special place.
Once you've settled into your room with private bath and fully stocked minibar,
the main lodge will host a cocktail hour with fresh seafood hors d'oeuvres.
Lodge president and general manager John Stolman will host a gourmet five course dinner, introduce the staff, and outline the week's itinerary.
Throughout your stay, you'll enjoy personalized luxury service.
Their game room with open wet bar, pool table, also doubles as a conference room for special meetings, and a hot Finnish sauna at day's end.
Every day, their chef prepares an award-winning entree with special sauces, fresh baked breads, and mouth-watering desserts.
And each morning, you'll wake to a hearty breakfast that could feed a grizzly bear.
And later, return to the lodge for a warm, healthy midday meal that keeps you going all afternoon.
Every evening, a five course dinner is served with wine.
That's Trophy King Lodge. It's Alaska's premier king salmon and Pacific halibut fishing lodge.
They'll treat you to the experience of a lifetime.
They only serve 260 guests a year, and over half the lodge is booked by returning clients and referrals.
So please call them several months in advance to book the best weeks possible.
Discover the thrill of Alaska sport fishing, and catch the dreams of a lifetime at Trophy King Lodge.
Well, what did you think of that?
If you get the opportunity to go to Alaska, look up Sandy Killen at Trophy King Lodge, or give them a call.
Book yourself a trip, a vacation you'll never forget.
You've got my personal recommendation, and believe me, I wouldn't steer you wrong.
You'll get hooked on fishing in Alaska at Trophy King Lodge.
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