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Kenai area fishing
Posted by alaskanfishguides on Jan 10 2006
Bradb makes some good suggestions, however please do check the regulations closely! The 2006 regs will be out in April. For example, the Anchor river closed for kings on June 20 last year and Deep Creek on June 13. So, by regulation and run timing, the King fishing will be over on the lower Kenai Pen rivers/creeks in July.
Nevertheless, 2006 is a pink year and the silvers should be showing up around the end of July first of August. I recommend either bait or spoon/spinner at Cunningham Park in Kenai.
Also, look at Centennial or Swiftwater parks in Soldotna. Both of these are great for red and silver fishing with river access right at the campground.
The Russian will be at its peak during your trip and finding camping will be a challenge. Indeed, even getting to the river will be a challenge (possible with patience). This will be combat fishing; an very unique experience. This is also a great place to learn how to fish for reds because there will be so many people to watch. Make sure to wear a hat and good impact resistant glasses!
As far as the red salmon "snagging" goes, the jury is still out. This topic is one of great debate. "Do reds bite or are you simply flossing them?". I am here to tell you that reds bite! Just this last year I caught many reds while fishing for silvers with eggs and spinners. Though the majority of reds are caught using a drifted coho fly, and certainly many are incidentally snagged (probably more due to the volume of fish in the hole), even some are caught on the outside of the mouth, thus validating the flossing theory (and technically illegal means and methods; i.e. snagged). Nevertheless, in my opinion, more often than not, the reds are hooked inside the mouth.
Now, that could open a can of worms... I must say, however that catching reds, particularly on a fly rod is very exciting. They like the faster water and can really put the pressure on when they make a run.
The Kasilof will be producing silvers by the end of July as well. Fish upstream of the Sterling Highway bridge or at Crooked Creek.
In addition, to get away from the crowds, many of the local area lakes will produce great trout and pike fishing. For example, look at the Swanson River drainage. Many of those lakes hold great rainbow and dolly varden with very good access. Scout Lake (in Sterling), Stormy Lake (in Nikiski) have great reports of nice pike (30+" this week ice fishing on Scout). Johnson Lake in Kasilof is a great producer of smaller trout...
I think that you will find plenty of room by the last week of July and certainly into August at the campgrounds. The peak time in Soldotna area campgrounds is from July 15-25. After that, the weekends will be busy, but during the week it should be easy to find good camping and fishing.
Hope you have a wonderful trip. I have fishing tips and run timing charts on my web site www.alaskanfishguides.com to help you figure where to go and how to rig up. Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have any other questions.
Good luck,
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