Each fall a buddy and I put together a little gathering in Cooper Landing Alaska. This started several years ago when we met in the quaint little fishing town about 2 hours South of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula. Beginning in early September friends from all over Canada and the US gather for the festivities which include socializing, eating, drinking and even a little fishing. I usually spend 5 or 6 weeks there chasing trout and salmon each fall however the bulk of the action (people wise) lasts about 2 weeks in September. We call our little gathering "Fishapalooza" and this years celebration was number 3.

This year had vastly different water conditions than any year since I started coming to "The Great Land" back in 2003. The waters were at a 64 year high which left a lot less territory for getting out on gravel bars to fish. With the high water fish had much more room to roam and they were congregating in spots that are usually dry or too low to offer protection from predators. Luckily the Upper Kenai River can handle a lot of rain without "blowing out". Even with water this high there is still good visibility and plastic beads emulating single salmon eggs work quite well.

I got this beauty of a trout in the last week or so of my trip and with the help of my friend Jack was able to get a great shot of myself, the fish, my best friend Sahtu (sitting in Jack's drifter) and some beautiful fall colours.