Planning Alaska (Kenai) Trip - Need Info

[Sporting_Man]

I am seriously considering a "do-it-yourself" trip to Alaska this summer.  I am planning to spend some 5-6 days in Morgan Landing area - to target some big KINGS and try fill my cooler with REDS as well. 
Now, when is the best time to go? Late Jun, maybe early July? Should I go later and target Silvers?
I would greatly appreciate any serious inputs/advice. 

[huntnphool]

Would be fun to get a few boats and some guys going up together.

[WDFW-SUX]

Your going to drive your boat to the Kenai?  Thats a long float...

[Wazukie]

My father-in-law is guide(since 1978) on the Kenai.  The best time for kings and reds is usually July.  Silvers are August.  Last time I was there I brought back 140lbs of Reds 

http://home.gci.net/~fishak/   this is his web site.

[high country]

pay attention to the motor restrictions

[Sporting_Man]

Ahh, let me get straight here - no boat. I want to explore this on foot... I know it is not as productive, but some guys still catch kings in 50 lbs. range from Morgans Landing area...

[halflife65]

Tough without the boats for kings on the Kenai.  Should still do really good with the reds.

July is the time to go.  You can catch the reds and the kings will come in.  Guy I was with got one in the mid 60's and I got several (catch and release except for one that accidentally got killed) in the 40's.

They increased the red limit to 6 when I was there and I caught a whole bunch (releasing the vast majority).  I also took about a half day and jumped on a halibut charter and came home with about 100 pounds of halibut.  I ended up boxing up a bunch of reds and halibut and sending it through Alaska air and having to go pick it up at the airport.  I'll try to scan some pics when I get home - just got a new printer and not sure how it's going to work.

There's only a couple of hours of dark at night.  I literally slept maybe 2 hours a night on a lawn chair if I slept at all, got up, grabbed coffee with instant breakfast and went fishing every day.  I only had 5 days to fish, so I didn't want to waste it sleeping and I sure as hell wasn't going to waste any time drinking beer or anything stupid like that.  I dozed in the boat when we were fishing for kings during the middle of the day.  Painful but really fun.

[rougheye]

Be sure to go Halibut fishing while you are up there , this is the last year before the IFQ quota for charter boats  . Prices will sky-rocket and there will be A limited amount of captains that will be able to participate . Good luck ! 

[Sporting_Man]

Apparently, some people just wade in and cast heavy drift gear for Kings. I was told by someone who did it. He came back with 65 pounder.
My plan is as follows: Fly to Anchorage, rent a car, drive around and try to fish every stream there is in vicinity... then, late that day, hit Kenai and do some serious fishing. Go to Russian river, or some other spot for reds, if kings are not cooperative, or if I catch my world record right away... I would stay there for 4 days like this. Maybe camp, maybe rent a cabin...
I need to know what kind of gear I need there, for example I have a Heavy Action Casting St. Croix - 12-25lbs line test, 1/2 - 2 Oz lure weight that is 9' long. I would put ABU Record 61 on it... Another one would be some medium-heavy 9.5 footer from my arsenal, with Sustain 4000 for reds and possibly kings, if something happens to the other one.
Is it cold there in July. Breathable waders or neoprens? I know it rains there a lot during summertime...
 

[Sporting_Man]

Sure, I will be open for taking a charter for 'buts, if available at the time.

Oh, another thing - firearms? Can I bring my Ruger GP100 along, to avoid ending as brown bear's lunch? I know that rifle would not be a problem, but handgun - how does that work? I mean, with Alaska laws, does it have to be concealed, or open carry?
 

[ribka]

I was there last year and went in the beginning of Sept. Crowds were gone by then. I did a DYI trip and rented a car in Anchorage and drove down to the Kenai. I was using a fly rod was targeting steelhead ( incredible, ) dollies, rainbows, silvers. Did really well and met a lot of very nice people. Went out for halibut one day out of Homer and brought some meat home. Rented a canoe and floated the Kenai for 2 days and caught some huge rb's

Bring breathable waders, a good rain jacket, head net for bugs, buy bear spray in Anchorage and Walmart and bells to put on your pack for bears. Would not bother with a handgun stick with spray. If you were in the back country then yes to bringing a firearm.

It is a fun trip and very doable DYI trip. PM for more specifics if interested.

[Tealer]

I have driven up to the Kenai 2x. Both trips were well worth it. If I was gonna do it again I would personally go later in the season. I don't really have the urge to bank a large King, I prefer the Silvers and Reds on a fly. The crowds die way down after King season as well, I had a whole 300yd stretch of the Kenai to myself. There are plenty of places that you can catch big Kings without a boat. My largest up there was only 56, but one of they guys banked a 70ish fish he could barely lift it for a pic.

[high country]

if you are gonna drive out of anch and don't like the crowds there is always good fishing up in the valley

[cohoho]

Without doubt 3rd Week of July is the best for the second run of Kings and the Reds will be plentiful beyond anything.  Super Tuesday is the best day IMO...  Tuesday of the 3rd Week, guide haven't been out during the weekend or Monday, I went seven years in row on that day and always scored a 60 lb ball park king.  HP restriction is 50HP at the power head not out drive if jet..  Used to 35...   You can rent a boat, but go the guided route if you want to see the holes the first day..  Are you retired mil? Guard or Reserve, reason asking is you can rent a boat pretty cheap from Out door rec on Ft Rich... or Elmendorf...  Kenai is crowed, so go up with that mind set....  If you want a adventure, but need a big jet boat with HP to run it and go guided the first trip...  The Klutina river near Glenallen, 4th of July then you can go to Valdez and literally catch 100's of pinks for fun...  Reds would be pretty decent also... 

[halflife65]

Coupla pictures of what it looks like...