Alaska trip

[Commando]

Anyone have a guide they could recommend for the kenai or kasilof for a king trip? Also anyk e have a guide to fish with out of Seward for a hailbut trip? I went up there with my dad when I was in high school and loved it. Now I'd like to take my wife up there for a vacation. Also when's the best time to get into so e sockeye on the kenai?

[Bmcox86]

Let me ask a couple friends around town and I'll let you know on both, theirs a few guys in Seward that chase big halibut and a lot that just take you to chicken holes.

[Buckewe]

Look into russell fishing. I spent a week last summer and they are very friendly and know how to put you on fish. They fish the keni, kasiloff, and out of Homer for kings and halibut

[The Fin]

I recommend Fenton Bros. Fishing.  Mike and Murray are top guides on the Kenai and Kasilof.  Also do halibut trips.  They can set you up with just about any kind of trip you are looking for.

[cohoho]

I recommend Fenton Bros. Fishing.  Mike and Murray are top guides on the Kenai and Kasilof.  Also do halibut trips.  They can set you up with just about any kind of trip you are looking for.

Been a long time since I heard their names, but concur!    3rd week of July is about as good as it gets for Reds on the 2nd run of the Kenai right up river a few miles from Bings Landing.  Used to be the "Super Tuesday" run for BIG Kings on lower river that first Tuesday of that week.   Granted they haven't had the runs of Kings as they did just 5, 6, 7 or 8 years ago, but Reds are thick and plentiful...   Silvers are trickling in Seward also, but out side.  Out of Seward see if Admiral Charters is still running, he was the best Halibut dude up there during my years in AK, atleast IMO....    Or you can hit the road to Valdez if your up for a drive, as the Kultina River will be full of big kings and tons of Reds...

[XAFSSGT]

I recommend Fenton Bros. Fishing.  Mike and Murray are top guides on the Kenai and Kasilof.  Also do halibut trips.  They can set you up with just about any kind of trip you are looking for.

 

I can vouch for them as well.

[NW Woodchuck]

I used Russell fishing company for kings, sockeye and halibut and am counting the days until I can go again.  I had 3 different guides from Russell's and they were all top notch in my opinion.

[Buzz2401]

I think most people are gonna be disappointed in the Kenai and the Kasilof if they are fishing kings.  I'd hit the Kasilof out of those two, at least you will get a nice quiet ride. 

[NW Woodchuck]

Agreed, the Kings we caught were on the salt after our halibut trips. 

[Wazukie]

Larry Mills with www.logcabinlodge.us

He's been fishing and guiding the Kenai since 80' - He's also my father-in-law.  Probably knows the Kenai as well as anybody if not better. 

[high country]

I work in Alaska and fish it fairly often. I fish with friends and on a whim I used pro fish-n-sea out of seward. They will get my money every time now. we had 6 guys on a boat that was uber fast and they had us on fish all day. here was our best fish

and when we were done catching big butts, we clobbered the lings and rocks.

[high country]

my friends in alaska fish kings right now because the river fishing has been so poor. if it were me, id be snaggin out of the salt at seward if I wanted to catch some fish to keep. the river may produce a bigger fish....but the experience is frustration IMO. it is easy to snag right out of seward, just look across the inlet where the dry dock is and head over. bring weighted trebles and have fun.

[jeepster]

From what I've heard, the kenai is kind of clapped out and there are alot of rules and closures. Where as back innthe day 60-70 pound kings were common, 30-40 pounders are the norm, Besides it's like THE spot to go, everybody goes to the kenai. I'd go kasilof over kenai. Last time I was in soldotna I got charged by a moose right in town. Kenai is cool, but there are places where you go drifting by houses and its not really the Alaska experience I was looking for. That was 10+ years ago, and I haven't been back to the interior or really, anywhere but fishing towns like cordova, dutch, Sitka and all the towns in between along the coast, traveling to and from Alaska via boat is an entirely different experience all together.

[Fungunnin]

I like the Kenai Peninsula but like others have said it isn't really the true Alaska.
Have you looked at Kodiak at all?

Hell if you want a meat trip I'd just book a Washington salmon charter in the July time frame.
Last year we were getting 2 kings, 2 pinks and 10 rockfish per person per day out of Neah Bay. 

[TLEVIN40]

Been up twice with Fenton brothers, great time both times, fished river couple days salmon and the Seward the other for lingcod and halibut.

Good outfit, and fun lodge with lake on it to fish if you like.

[klickman]

When looking at a trip to the Kenai Pennisula you need to ask yourself what your expectations are.  If you have no problem sitting in a boat all day for 1-3 bites maybe land a King or two, but the chance to land a 30-40 lber go Kenai.  If you time your trip for mid to end of July you should hit plenty of Reds on the Kenai too.  The legendary Kings of 60+ lbs are rare anymore.  The Kasilof in July is typically slower fishing but less crowded.  If you want Halibut, rockfish, Lings, silvers and don't mind long runs to the grounds go to Seward end of July through Sept.  If you want great halibut fishing shorter runs and maybe some salmon Homer hands down. 

The best guide on the Kenai I have fished next to is Greg Brush, never needed a guide have our own boat.  Stand up guide and a great fisherman. 

If you aren't stuck on going to the Peninsula in July I would recommend Fishing some of the Mat Su Valley streams in August.  Great Silver fishing from the shore and world class rainbow fishing. 

Good Luck

[haugenna]

Tagging

[trophyhunt]

Not sure about the area your looking into, but Chinook Shore's out of Ketchican is worth every penny.  Jeff's outfit is really nice.

[high country]

The mat su tribs are getting pretty regulated and WHATEVER you do,  don't park at Jim creek and leave your rig.....they have been burning cars there for the last couple years.

Pro fish-n-sea had us on butts, rocks and lings in 1 hour out of port. We were 40 minutes ahead of the other boats that left @ the same time. Their boat is fast.

[tmike]

If you are looking for kings I'd probably skip the Kenai this year. I just saw the forecast for early and late run kings and it looks pretty bleak. Reds on the other hand will be plentiful if the 7.1 million prediction holds true for Central Cook Inlet. Seward sounds like a better bet for what you are looking for.

[b0bbyg]

I usually get to fish with family or a buddy of my brother in law so I am no expert on guides.  But what might help people giving advice is are you looking just to catch a few quick halibut, are you looking for a multiple day all included guide service, wanting a lodge/guide all included trip.?

There are some really nice VRBO sites that can be rented to give you access to the Kenai when the Reds are running but could be spendy.  Homer has tons of Halibut 1/2 day and 1 day boats that can get you halibut. They may not look to get you big fish but they all can get you fish typically.  If you are looking for longer trips with targeting multiple types of fish you already have lots of good suggestions.