Suggestions Between Anchorage and Kenai in July

[metalmouth]

I've heard the Kasilof has smaller fish. Is that true?

[drstressor]

To answer a couple of rpcrowe's questions:

Don't worry about storing your fish. *All of the processors will hold them for you until your day of departure. *Holding your fish for an extra week is never a problem.

After your Kenai River experience, I would recommend heading down to Homer. *In addition to halibut fishing, they have lots of sight seeing tours by boat or airplane. *The best bear viewing is at Katmai Park on the other side of the inlet. *You can get day trip flights out of Homer with a guide for between $500 and $600. *These are the giant Alaskan Brown bears. *You are about certain to get great bear pictures by late July when the silvers are in the river. *Halibut fishing out of Homer is done in deep water and the trips can be long. *Walk on charters are less than $200.

If you go to Seward instead of Homer, you'll have even better halibut fishing and the runs are shorter. *The Kenai Fjord sightseeing trips out of Seward are spectacular and are well worth the $150-$200 fares. *You'll see calving glaciers and lots of marine mammals and birds.

Just Google either town and you'll get lots of links with info on fishing and tours.

If you would like to do a small boat halibut trip for cheap, book out of Anchor Point just North of Homer. *The fishing is less than 10 miles off shore. *Quick limits are the rule for 15-30 lb fish, which are the best eating. *PM me if you would like some guide recommendations.

Don, that stop fishing after 1 salmon retention is a Kenai River thing. *You can C&R until your arms fall off on the Kasilof and other rivers.

[metalmouth]

I would also like to take a saltwater fishing trip if possible. *The problem with that is what to do with the fish since I will have about five to seven days left in Alaska before I fly home.

Soldatna has a packing house on the left side of the road coming in from the Penninsula that will pack and freeze your catch. Most of the places you stay have rows of freezers as well.

MM

[metalmouth]

Here is some info on what I'm planning next between Kings:

I've taken a few notes so you know my interest. :

Innoko River, AK
Destination: S.W. Alaskan Interior 300 Air Miles N.W. of Anchorage or just N. of Aniak, AK
Species: Pike and Sheefish
Season: June through September, July is dry with unbearable bugs, August starts rainy season
Accommodations: 67’ Houseboat
Rating: 10++++++++ The largest Pike in the world @ 50+ inches. A slow day is 20 to 25 Pike.
Pike Rods: 9’ 9 wt.
Reels: Ross Big Game #4
Line: Cortland’s Pike and Musky Taper or Rio’s Freshwater Quickshooter
Leaders: 6’ of 16 lb. Mason attached to 20lb. Climax Steel leader with an Albright knot.
Flies: For Subsurface work the Reynolds Pike Fly (Red and White) or D’s Minnow (White Blue w/Peacock Hurl Strand Back) and for Surface Clipped Deer hair Divers such as Dahlberg Diver (red head, white bucktail), and the Umpqua Pike Fly
Colors: Red/White, Yellow/Red, or White with lots of Flash
Hooks: Tied on 3/0 Salt Water Hooks
Hook Removal: Must have jaw spreaders and extra long forceps
Sheefish: In excess of 40 lbs. and reaching 40” are known as the Tarpon of the North and look just like them. They are actually the largest members of the Whitefish family. The average is 12 lbs.
Flies: Small baitfish patterns, D’s Minnow or Clouser Minnows and Deceivers
Line: Sinking Tips with 3’ leaders of 16 lb. tippet
Colors: Red/White and all White with Flash
Hook Size: 4 thru 1/0 Make sure all heads are Epoxied so that Pike don’t tear them up!
Service: Midnight Sun Trophy Pike Adventures, www.mstpa.com
Phone: 800.440.PIKE
Owner/Operator: Leon Rand, Greg Befus?
Guide: Scott Rowenkamp
Capacity: 6 Fisherman at a time
Rates: $3450.00 Includes 5 days of fishing, lodging, meals, and flight from Aniak
Getting There: Fly to Anchorage on First Day, Aniak the second via Peninsula Air 907.243.2426. A rep from Midnight Sun will meet you. You board a Helio Courier 295 aircraft for the final leg. Travel accommodations can be made by Alaska Wilderness Travel 800.544.2236, ask for Sherii?
Clothes: 3 important items are layers of fleece, breathable waders, good raingear and if you go in July a bug head net is a must!
Wading: Do not jump out of boat as muck in feet deep and do not stand in one place if you do decide to wade. Every pic I saw had someone wading.
Water Depth: It’s directly affected by the Yukon River. When the Yukon rises it eventually backs up into the Innoko. It doesn’t matter if the water is high or low as long as it is consistent, so is the fishing.

[metalmouth]

The fly in's are fun and the pilots are a hoot. Try to ride copilot if you get the chance. You can see the country, bear watch, and fish some great places. Here's and article and my pic mugging in Alaska.

Kustatan Cohos:

[AKtoCA]

haha....it's not always about the meat ;D

My only time on the kenai was during silver season. No silvers to speak of but I caught about three kings. Couldn't take them out of the water for pics, but it was awesome. I think they may have started cracking down on guides that are going "silver" fishing but catching kings.

I've never caught a pike before, but next time I go up to visit the folks I think I'm going to only fish for the green machines....well, I might HAVE to go to the russian for reds or the Deshka for kings. ;D

I heard minto flats is probably your best bet to catch some monster pike.

RP or anyone else for that matter...they do have cpus' in Alaska, meaning they do have alaska fishing forums

[metalmouth]

Jerbs,

You are correct and have some good suggestions.

You just nailed the reason I never come back with Kings. I keep letting them go so I can catch another unless it's 5:30 and the day for guides ends at 6:00. :-[ :-/ :-? : ;D 8-)

[AKtoCA]

MM...If I remember correctly you cannot fish anymore after you have landed and kept your one king for the day.

Seward is a beautiful little town where you can check out some glaciers, possibly see some bears, and go out on the salt.

Or...you could go the opposite way to check out Denali state park and Mt. Mckinley. Cool ,but long drive. You might see a bear there too. If you go all the way to Denali and you got some $$$ you might as well go all the way to Fairbanks and try for some monster pike at Minto Flats.

Fairbanks is anywhere from 5-8 hour drive from Anchorage.

Have fun!

[metalmouth]

Not to say you are crazy but maybe little nuts. *;D You are going during the most sought after time on the Kenai for Kings there is. Flying across the bay gives the arms a chance to rest but I'd spend my time right out in front of Beaver Creek out to the second island. You will have a shot at the fish of a life time and hitting the 50/50 club. A King over 50" and 50 lbs. If released the local preservation organization will pay part of the price for a full size replica. My recommendation is to keep the first King in the 30 to 40 lb. range for meat and then trophy fish until your arms fall off or you catch the fish that Salmon Fishermen's Dreams are Made Of!

Just a thought . . . * that runs through my mind on a daily basis. *8-)

MM

[rpcrowe]

I am going to the Kenai with my son-in-law, his dad and his brother. *I am booked for 3-guided Kenai River trips and one fly-out trip between July 21st and 25th.

Since I am the only retired guy in the party, I want to get to Alaska a four or five days early and perhaps sample some other types of fishing.

I also want to book a bear viewing photography trip and also do some photography on my own.

Any suggestions? *I am open to any suggestions! *I will have a rental car and I am willing to book additional guides. *

I would also like to take a saltwater fishing trip if possible. *The problem with that is what to do with the fish since I will have about five to seven days left in Alaska before I fly home.