Post by: Sporting_Man on February 10, 2010, 05:07:48 PM
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. :)
Post by: huntnphool on February 10, 2010, 05:10:49 PM
Post by: WDFW-SUX on February 10, 2010, 05:13:34 PM
Post by: Wazukie on February 10, 2010, 05:23:21 PM
http://home.gci.net/~fishak/ (http://home.gci.net/~fishak/) this is his web site.
Post by: high country on February 10, 2010, 05:43:30 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 10, 2010, 05:53:45 PM
Post by: halflife65 on February 10, 2010, 06:55:08 PM
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.
Post by: rougheye on February 10, 2010, 07:17:18 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 10, 2010, 07:23:53 PM
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...
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 10, 2010, 07:27:44 PM
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?
Post by: ribka on February 10, 2010, 07:36:07 PM
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.
Post by: Tealer on February 10, 2010, 07:51:22 PM
Post by: high country on February 10, 2010, 09:08:07 PM
Post by: cohoho on February 10, 2010, 09:18:24 PM
Post by: halflife65 on February 10, 2010, 09:33:25 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 10, 2010, 10:01:39 PM
I wouldn't mind renting boats or even going for paid guided boat trips daily. I only want to avoid guided packet-arrangements -being on a boat only and not sightseeing and having some freedom. I can easily stay for 6-7 days (plenty of vacation time and money). I just like to do it "my way"... besides, I like fishing from banks if possible.
However, I am receiving mixed messages - some people almost religiously recommend late June/early July, and some would think that nothing is lost even in late July. I definitely want to try my luck on Kenai kings, for sure. Keep coming with your comments, this is interesting.
Thanks again.
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 10, 2010, 10:03:25 PM
Post by: Viszla on February 11, 2010, 09:38:16 AM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 11, 2010, 10:19:40 AM
Post by: Viszla on February 11, 2010, 10:36:17 AM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 11, 2010, 02:00:40 PM
Post by: Viszla on February 11, 2010, 03:14:11 PM
Post by: halflife65 on February 11, 2010, 03:21:11 PM
Medium heavy is what we use with 20-30lb line. You gotta horse 'em in so you're not tangling everyone up downstream.:yeah:
Combat fishing for reds on the Kenai. It actually wasn't as bad on the Russian. However, there are so many fish that if you get tangled you'll get a pass and not in a fistfight like on the Cowlitz.
I thought it was hard to fish for kings without a boat, though.
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 12, 2010, 08:40:48 AM
Post by: Sportfury on February 14, 2010, 06:15:00 PM
As for firearms I never found a need to have one. There are bears around, but with all the people we never saw one. In Soldotna there was a no shooting law within the town limits, so if you did hear a shot you always assumed it was over a bears head. When we started camping further out of town on my buddies uncle's property he started bringing his .338 Win Mag. Of course we had our fish cleaning station in the back of the camp, but made sure it was cleaned up daily with no morsels for anyone to find.
One other thing you should do when you are their is go watch the Alaskans dip net for Salmon at the mouth of Kenai. When the tide comes in is the best time to go watch because that is when the fish will start up the river. You will see some crazy contraptions and see a lot of people get wet. Some scary moments out there.
Never did fish the Russian River. My buddy who was from there said it was not worth fishing due to all the people plus he said the reds were a lot fresher down river. If my memory is correct from high tide it only took the fish 8 to 12 hours to get up Soldotna area's where we fished.
As for rods I have a Lamiglass 9.5' in medium/heavy with a Shimano Symetre reel spooling 25# line. Worked great for reds, but the one time I think I hooked into a King the fish screamed my line off the reel and right to the middle of the river. I lifted my rod tip in excitement and popped the line right there with the fish still heading toward midriver. My buddy always took his big fly rods with monofilament on. Talk about an exciting fight when he hooked a fish.
Best of luck to you and have fun.
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 15, 2010, 07:35:41 AM
I will plan for the third week of July, seems like. I have a freedom to go mid-week. Tickets seem to be steady @ $450. Ouch... But, I will be fine.
As far as my rods and reels go - I will have a heavy actioned St. Croix Avid 9-footer casting rod (10-25 lb line, 1/2 - 2 Oz lure weight) with ABU Ambassadeur 61, spooled with 20-25 lb mono for kings, and medium-heavy spinning St. Croix Avid 9.5-footer (8-17 lb line, 3/8 - 1 Oz lure weight) with Shimano Sustain 5000. I can go with 15-20 line on this one. I hope that this will cover my needs there. These are very sensitive rods, especially the MH 9.5 footer. I hope it is not going to be overkill for Sockeye.
Post by: Huntbear on February 15, 2010, 07:53:06 AM
:dunno: :dunno:
Give me a day or so, will get you some info.
Post by: upwind on February 15, 2010, 08:09:02 AM