Some people’s summer starts when the weather gets nice or a certain day comes about. For me the start of summer is when that first Salmon, which in my case is Sockeye, is resting by my feet. Today I went in search of summer and although I wouldn’t be able to fish long it would be early in the morning; which is hammer time for all Alaska Salmon. I departed at about 5:45 a.m. and drove the whole 20 minutes to a great Salmon river all the while thinking how lucky I am not to have to drive 3 hours or more for a shot at these fish. I arrived at my spot, a slower moving section of the river with steep banks on both sides. This is a spot where reds will rest. I crossed the river and walked to my favorite spotting ledge but didn’t see anything so i tip-toed down the steep bank to search for Salmon elsewhere. The key to catching Sockeye is spotting them before they spot you. They are the most difficult Salmon to catch requiring stealth, perfect drifts and a keen eye or feel for soft strikes. As i am walking down the river a fish rolls which is always a good sign. Reds don’t roll unless they are relaxed and a relaxed red is much easier to catch than a finicky one. As I slowly wade towards the spot i see 6 or7 figures in the water. All of them the steel blue color of reds which is also great because steelhead also inhabit these waters and can end up spooking the reds if you hook one, which is quite easy and unethical this time of year. I adjust my strike indicator to the right height and throw out my glo bug. I make sure to make good mends and towards the end of my drift my indicator dives hard, maybe too hard as i think it may be a steelie as reds are notorios for their subtle stikes. But sure enough a 4 pound chrome piece of muscle clears the water and then clears it again, then again, then again! I almost drop my fly rod in awe of the arial display i just witnessed but before you know it the fish is tearing off line and I refocus. You can make the case that sockeye are pound for pound the best fighting salmon and this fish lived up to it. The 4 pound fish has 40 yards of line out like nothing and is giving my 6 wieght fly rod all it can handle. I pull the fish in close and with the last bit of it’s energy it jumps again and then it was over. I land the fish that is destined to become dinner. Red salmon are the most coveted eating fish in Alaska. Some, like the copper river Sockeye Salmon, sell for 28 dollars per pound. After that fish i caught 2 more of similar size and fight, a truly great day for red salmon fishing. Fishless days are common and 2 fish days are great. To catch 3 in 3 hours is quite a feat and a validation that you have excercised some serious fly fishing skills. As i am driving home, I’m glad summer is here. I can almost taste the the great fly fishing to come, but for now I will be tasting fresh Alaskan Sockeye Salmon.