S21Ep19: TARPON of Alaska!!! 150 Sheefish in 3 Days!

[@907AK8]

Born and raised Alaskan here. I've rafted the Kobuk several times in my life and fishing for sheefish on that river is probably my favorite fishing experience ever

[@isaaclandecker907]

Awesome! I felt pretty lucky to experience it myself. What part of AK are you from?

[@inupik23]

Epic trip, Isaac. I've got family up there. I don't really know them, but they're there. Glad to see you're showing the whole state. We don't have Shee fish where I grew up. I wish we did. My college buddy, who's from Kotz, used to tell me how much fun it was to go "hooking" for sheefish. Thanks for sharing.

[@isaaclandecker907]

Hooking is right! My arms were pretty wore out after 3 days. 😂😂

[@benburns5995]

Just recently found you channel and enjoying the videos. Appreciate that you take the time to film your expeditions for us to enjoy.

[@isaaclandecker907]

Thanks! Someday when I’m 80 I hope to watch these videos and hopefully it will bring a smile to my face

[@stevet8121]

I would call those He Man Sheefish. Epic! Do you have to stop somewhere for fuel?

[@isaaclandecker907]

Haha…we stopped in Galena on the way up!

[@z987k]

I like how you actually leave southcentral with the plane. I find it pretty hard to find guys that will cross the Alaska range with me to go do stuff like this. If you ever need a second plane to tag along(on wheels), let me know! I was up on the Kobuk back in July and it was so flooded there were no gravel bars to land on. We found some on some tributaries, but not a damn sheefish to be found.

[@isaaclandecker907]

Sounds good! I’d heard the water had been high but I think we got lucky with the timing!

[@glennpurchase807]

Man. That was an awesome fishing trip. Very large fish. I enjoy the fly fishing. The camera work was superb.

[@isaaclandecker907]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@anglingthe801]

This is literally the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! A tarpon pikeminnow whitefish all in one!?!?? Literally so cool! My new dream trip for sure! 👊👊👊🔥🔥🔥

[@isaaclandecker907]

It’s fun!!

[@coyotewacker]

Great Fun ! Thx for Sharing 👍

[@johnboyles4101]

Lived in Nome for 41/2 years but Neve ver made it up to the Kobuk.. looks like a fantastic river...thanks

[@isaaclandecker907]

It was extremely fun! Highly recommend it if you get the chance again.

[@emptyset00]

wow great trip! the slow-mo and 360 add great elements to the videos, too - well done! you really can't go wrong when you do video in that kind of country...

[@isaaclandecker907]

For sure! Alaska makes videography pretty easy!

[@k6lsn]

Didn't know anything about these Sheefish but found some great info on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Looks like you timed it perfect and had a great time, heck, even with the bugs. Enjoyed the vid guys. ✌️ Wheelchair John in Idaho USA 😎

[@isaaclandecker907]

I had never heard of them until a few years back either. Been a bucket list trip ever since!

[@grandmastersniper]

Was curious, what do you do with the hides you get from trapping?

[@isaaclandecker907]

Hey! I literally just got them back last week from getting tanned!

[@jerrywtt]

I was just out near Kotzebue for a few weeks working. I was gutted that I didn’t get the opportunity to fish when I was up there. Maybe for the better it was still 20 below. One day though!

[@isaaclandecker907]

Yeah! You should try it out! That is truly a remote part of alaska

[@PinePassSledHead]

Looks like an unreal time. I live in Northern bc so I can appreciate the bugs you have to deal with...only makes it that much better when the fishing is hot.

[@isaaclandecker907]

Yeah, the bugs were terrible!!

[@andersonfamilyoutdoors1057]

Great video. So awesome you got them on the fly with a spey rod. I have a cub SQ2. I want to come fly with you.

[@isaaclandecker907]

It was a fun trip for sure! What part of AK you in?

[@andersonfamilyoutdoors1057]

@@isaaclandecker907 I live in Fairbanks. I should be doing my check ride in a month or two.

[@dougsmith548]

How come no catch clean eat video?. Stay safe God bless🇨🇦 🤪

[@blaahster]

Ikr sheefish is amazing, try smoked sheefish so good

[@tomasbmx]

what a beauty of fish, sees like the sea run trouts , silver, fresh and powerfull. this fish is anadromous ? or is this fish from the salmon family ? i am from tierra del fuego argentina, i never see some fishing like this , was amazing

[@isaaclandecker907]

To be honest I’m not sure what family it is from. It is not from the salmon family though.

[@tomasbmx]

@@isaaclandecker907 do you know if these fishes are anadromous?

[@isaaclandecker907]

@@tomasbmx I’m not sure actually, but they do go to the ocean and then return every year to the river.

[@chaos18E]

What time of year where you up there?

[@isaaclandecker907]

End of August

[@chaos18E]

@@isaaclandecker907 that’s what I figured. Thanks!!

[@stevenrochon2513]

Awesome fishing and country. Doesn't get any better. Are those fish also called Koni ? Thanks for the video brother 👊

[@isaaclandecker907]

I haven’t heard that term, but it’s totally possible!

[@deaganachomarunacathasaigh4344]

Yes they are also called Koni along with nelma, sheefish, siifish, inconnu

[@yugomarinkovic2067]

Great video! Are they good to eat?

[@isaaclandecker907]

I’ve heard they are amazing but we didn’t eat any.

[@yugomarinkovic2067]

@@isaaclandecker907 Thank you!

[@pwrplnt1975]

Those are some massive sheefish! Great Video! Crocodiles and little cleo's are two of the best lures around! Do they call male sheefish, maleefish????

[@isaaclandecker907]

😂😂

[@waynewang8216]

Do you guide for sheefish? Or do you know anyone who does?

[@isaaclandecker907]

I actually don’t. Not really sure if people do or not.

[@TeddyReedSr]

Tarpon of the Arctic like the big doctor spoons too

[@mrsockeye]

I agree with everything said by everyone else here: super cool video. Sheefish are definitely on my list of fish I must catch before I die. I would much do what you did than fish for tarpon on the flats.

[@isaaclandecker907]

It was epic!

[@sethmiller3869]

Arent they pretty good to eat?

[@isaaclandecker907]

I have never tried, but I have heard that.

[@gibbyutah]

So cool!

[@gregwatruba4541]

"It got a little cool last night, only 30°." That's hog killin' temperature down south. 😁 looks like great fun, again. Y'all didn't keep any to eat??

[@isaaclandecker907]

Haha! Well when stuff starts freezing overnight then I’d say it’s cold! We just released them all but people do eat them. Supposed to be pretty tasty!

[@noryaa4194]

outrageous!

[@hunt4fish]

wow, at it again eh? You can fish in your spare time ahaha..... Guess you're deep freezer is starting to look a wee bit filled by now. I envy you bud, best of both worlds in your pocket!

[@isaaclandecker907]

Haha! I dabble in Alaska fishing. The freezer is overflowing. I’ll probably have to give away some of my salmon to make room for moose meat hopefully!

[@reapergrim76]

Awesome! 😀

[@BowhuntingRoad]

Man I need to do this sometime.

[@isaaclandecker907]

It’s a lot of fun and pretty easy!

[@damienbell3155]

Dang man I’m totally jealous. Those r sum nice she fish. No catch and cook

[@larsandersson4394]

Tarpon, Sheefish is that some kind of "whitefish"?

[@isaaclandecker907]

Yeah, it is a whitefish in Alaska.

[@larsandersson4394]

Here in Sweden we have a species almost same but don't get that large, we called them Sik ( coregonus lavaretus).

[@isaaclandecker907]

@@larsandersson4394 Nice!!

[@canidsong]

Good Ole' tundra tarpon.

[@gavinkarnage]

4:52 that’s about average too

[@isaaclandecker907]

Yeah! They were very plentiful to catch!

[@donlandecker]

Epic✔️

[@kayakingviolinist]

Dude, what do you do for a living?! I feel like I’m living life wrong watching your videos!

[@isaaclandecker907]

Hahaha! Well currently I’m waiting to start a new job in 10 days so I’ve had some free time! 😂

[@kayakingviolinist]

@@isaaclandecker907 nice man, good luck with the new job. I was stationed up in Fairbanks for 4 years a while back. Been trying to figure out an exit strategy and move back up to live the life. Just have no idea what I’d do for a job to fund that life haha!

[@isaaclandecker907]

@@kayakingviolinist be a pilot!

[@lukewoodruff4030]

I want to go to there.

[@isaaclandecker907]

It was crazy!!

[@stevelyk4454]

Guess that their not so edible Nice catch and thanks You deserve more subs(maybe change up your name a bit)

[@inupik23]

Actually, those are a very delicious white fish. I love me some Shee fish. We don't have any in the river I grew up on, but we had friends and family from up North that would send us some.

[@isaaclandecker907]

My parents picked my name so not sure how they’d feel about me changing it 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

[@stevet8121]

@@isaaclandecker907 Now that's funny! I think your name is fine, btw.

[@stevelyk4454]

@@isaaclandecker907 not telling you to change your name Isaac! Add something to your name like outdoors or something of your choice so people see you. Your content is awesome!

[@isaaclandecker907]

@@stevelyk4454 hahaha…I’m just teasing! I sort of just started posting some random videos last winter for friends/family but I guess it may be time to put the outdoors or hunting or fishing in my name!

[@stropolimadness3867]

Can you eat those

[@isaaclandecker907]

Yep!!

[@surthrivingalaska2511]

Good video, but you shouldn’t be using treble hooks for catch and release fishing, respect your targets and use single hook barbless hooks, even if there is only a small chance of releasing. Second off don’t put the fish on the rocky shore to flop around and bang itself up, these guys are used to being weightless in water. And lastly you shouldn’t hold the fish out of the water as long as you are, technically that’s illegal up here, it should never leave the water, but if you must make it as brief as possible until you place its gills back underwater facing up stream.

[@dougsmith548]

How come no catch clean eat video?. Stay safe God bless🇨🇦 🤪

[@isaaclandecker907]

I’m not quite on the meat eater level. Maybe I’ll add that in next time 😂