Do you love fishing? Have you heard of the Kenai River in Alaska? Kenai River fishing is an angler’s dream come true, truly the mother lode of salmon fishing. The river runs a spectacular 82 miles, from Kenai Lake in southern Alaska to the Pacific Ocean, at Cook’s Inlet.
From early May, until somtime in mid-October, the Kenai Peninsula, a reasonable three hours south of Anchorage, provides fly fishing adventures you may never forget.
The salmon varieties that can be found here include the King, Sockeye, Silver and Red, each with two runs a year. And, as if that wasn’t enough to keep you busy, Kenai River fishing offers Steelhead, Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.
If you are truly addicted to fly fishing, the Kenai River peninsula is heaven on earth. The largest salmon ever caught in the world was a 97-pound King Salmon, in 1985. Enthusiastic fishermen flock to the Kenai Peninsula, hoping to best this record. A typical catch is forty pounds! It doesn’t get much better than that.
The following is a brief unofficial schedule of the Kenai River fishing season, to help you plan your vacation!
Around the middle of June, there’s one run of the Red Blueback salmon, followed by another in the middle of July. If you like smoked salmon, you’ll want to be fishing now, as the Red variety is the king of smoked salmon. Reds are also highly prized for the grill, as well as canning.
Also running in mid-June and mid-July are the King salmon. While other rivers in Alaska yield more fish, the King salmon of the Kenai river are known for their great size. A typical catch in the second run is 40-50 pounds. Don’t be surprised to net a King of a larger size!
Kenai River fishing offers two runs of Silver salmon, one in early August and another in late September. The larger catches are usually found in the September run.
If all of this isn’t enough to whet your appetite, the Kenai River yields trophy sized Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout.
If time permits, your vacation plans should include a visit to Cook’s Inlet. Here you will want to take time for a deep-sea excursion of Kachemak and Resurrection Bays, where the giant bottom-dwelling halibut live. An Alaskan record-sized halibut of 466 pounds was caught in Kachemak Bay!
Add to that a little drive just 30 miles from Kenai to Clam Gulch, a popular destination for clamming. Razor clams are abundant here. As the name implies, their shells are sharp, so be careful! Best digging times are when the tide is at minus two feet or lower. Check with the Department of Fish and Game for local limits.
As you might guess, accommodations are plentiful in the area along the Kenai River. You’ll find fully furnished cabins all along the river, with excellent guided fishing tours. Travelers come from all over the world to experience a Kenai River fishing vacation. Be sure you book ahead! It’s an experience you won’t forget. Bon Appetit!
By: Arnie Jacobsen
Posts Tagged ‘Fishing Adventures’
Fly Fishing – Kenai River Fishing
March 21st, 2010Nassau Fishing Guides
January 16th, 2010
When traveling to Nassau, many expect to experience sports fishing adventures. Various fishing boat trips and charter fishing boat trips are available for fishing enthusiasts to experience. Nassau is known for its authentic fishing experience. While on vacation, many individuals like to embark on this exciting water adventure.
Nassau houses a large variety of fish from white marlin to sailfish and yellow fin and skipjack tuna. Who cares if you’re novice! Many experts are available on board to help guide you on the correct techniques to catch the biggest fish of your life. They will provide valuable information on which lure to use and how to cast a reel in a specific way to catch certain fish.
Nassau hotels and lodging can be affordable for any family vacation. Whether you like a hotel or a resort, many accommodations are available to fit the needs of every family. By reading through various reviews, you can find cheap lodging alternatives. Discount room rates are available. These accommodations make Nassau a great vacation for everyone.
With fishing comes a large assortment of sport fishing equipment to use while enjoying the sport. With various types of fishing available including deep-sea fishing you experience in Nassau, different equipment is needed for each excursion. Fishing supplies are available for the young and old. We know that having the right equipment makes one more confident in their performance in the water.
From fishing boats to fishing rods, sport fishing equipment encompasses a wide range of selection to fit the needs of every fisherperson. Fishing tackle is especially important and come in a large selection. Many fisher persons enjoy collecting a variety of tackle to put within their tackle box to brag to others about how many they have. For children, fishing tackle comes another collection of theirs that they treasure. These include various lures.
Saltwater fishing and fly fishing each require specific equipment. From fishing line and rods to lures and tackle, fishing supplies are a large market. If you’re new to the sport, there are a variety of guides and professionals to help you choose the right items for your experience. Jump right in, take a chance with fishing. You won’t regret it!!
By: Sarah Freeland
Fishing – Understanding How to Choose the Right Fishing Line
January 15th, 2010
It is often said that the fishing rod is the foundation of any game fishing expedition. Just how well a fisherman can catch game relies heavily on how well he can handle his fishing rod.
It is also said that the lure, or bait, is the spice, the zest of such game fishing adventures. Just how simple or difficult it is depends on the kind of lure that the fisherman chooses.
Despite the reputation of success attained by fishing rods and fishing lures, however, they will equally fall short if the fisherman neglects to learn and master one vital component of the game: the fishing line.
Two fundamental actions are involved when using a fishing line:
1. Lure-casting. A good fishing line is required to guarantee that the lure is cast in the correct manner. This means that the desired angle and the needed distance are satisfied. This is especially significant in game fishing where every move, every action is critical to the success of the catch.
2. Spinning. With this movement, it gets a little tricky, a bit delicate. Logically, the fisherman wants a fishing line that’s strong and resilient enough so that it won’t break while reeling in the caught fish. The fisherman would also want a fishing line that’s most resistant to abrasion to ensure a smooth spin.
Therefore, from the required actions above, we can come up with the following necessary qualities of an ideal fishing line:
ª Strength. The fishing line should be strong and durable enough so as not to break when reeling in the game it was made to catch. You shouldn’t measure this by just taking a line and pulling and stressing it with your hands to gauge or estimate its strength.
Experienced fishermen know and understand that the dampness or the dryness of the fishing line will affect its strength. Fishing lines that absorb water, such as monofilament lines, are not recommended for rainy or damp days, even cold and wintry days. The more durable and resilient cofilament lines are more ideal for such conditions. They cost more but its well worth it.
ª Abrasion resistance. The fishing line should be resistant against friction and abrasion caused by contact with rocks or boulders, tough vegetation and other terrestrial and deep water objects.
Some fishermen frequently have to cut their fishing line every half hour or so just to ensure a fresh line if and when they do manage to catch a fish. This seems so unnecessary and more than a little wasteful in time and fishing gear.
Fluorocarbon lines have extra density compared to most other fishing lines. This makes them very resistant to abrasion.
ª Stretch. Depending on the fisherman’s skill level, the fishing line’s capacity to stretch will play a critical role. For fishermen who are just starting out, the line’s stretch will provide some allowance for mistakes and mishaps, especially when fighting the fish.
But for clumsy, klutzy fishermen, on the other hand, setting up the hook or clasp could be easily miscalculated with a line that provides a lot of stretch. You’ve just got to pay close attention every time.
There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to using a fishing line that can or cannot stretch. Just keep in mind that the least resistant a line is to stretch is the more sensitive it can be for detecting a possible catch.
To be a successful fisherman, you should start with getting the right fishing gear. Part of this gear is the all-important fishing line. You surely don’t want to be losing great catches just because your line keeps snapping off. Match your fishing line to your game and location and you’ve got it good. Good luck!
By: Len Q.
