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Fly Out Fishing ![]() 2005 Fishing ReportsMark's Fishing Report, June 12, 2005:
As of Sunday 6/12, many, if not all of South-Central June fisheries are in full swing. Beginning on the Kenai River, Early Run King Salmon numbers have seen a significant spike in the past week with between 400 and 700 ER king salmon passing the lower river sonar counter daily. The last available count as of this fishing report was Saturday June 11 when 555 kings were recorded bringing the cumulative total of ER Kenai King Salmon to 5,638 fish. It seems this run is on tract to meet or exceed escapement goals. Fishing on the Kenai River has been hit and miss as increasing water levels and have affected angler success. While many boats were seeing between 4-6 fish per day over a week ago, more recent catch rates have dropped to 1-3 fish per boat. There have been a number of very large fish moving through the Kenai system and several trophy class fish weighing well over 70lbs. have been recorded. On Wed. June 8, my boat hooked a Kenai Monster just below Eagle Rock on the lower Kenai River ad fought the fish for nearly 45 minutes without even seeing it. After well over an hour, we finally were able to bring the giant to the net and after carefully taping it at nearly 53 inches long, we successfully released the fish to continue its epic journey. We estimated the fish to weigh between 70 and 75 lbs. The non-retention slot of 44-55 inches has been very effective in preserving these genetically unique trophy class Kenai Kings and letting this fish go was rewarding beyond what words can describe. Currently, the Kenai River continues to rise as snow melt and rain in the Kenai mountains puts more and more water into the system. Water clarity is less than ideal at the time of this report although conditions should improve by early next week with little rain in the forecast.
Troy Johnson with a nice Kasilof King also taken on June 11.
On the Kasilof River, the ER of King Salmon has seen a new push of fish after a very high tide cycle over the past week slowed the numbers of fish entering the river. The last 2-3 days has seen a significant spike for both naturally produced and hatchery origin Crooked Creek Kings and fishing has definitely followed suit. Many anglers are retaining their one fish limit and guided trips are yielding double digit hook-ups in recent days. The ration of hatchery fish to wild fish has improved to as high as 3 to 1 and this run should continue to produce very good fishing over the next week to ten days. Anglers are reminded that wild kings may only be retained on Tuesdays and Saturdays with retention of hatchery fish only during the remaining days of the week. Given the improved ratio of hatchery versus wild fish currently in the system, the Kasilof offers a very good chance for retaining the daily one fish limit of king salmon. Water conditions are very good although the river is getting higher by the day. Trout fishing opened on the Kenai river-wide today and action was expected to be very good. More detailed information regarding Kenai Trout fishing will be included in the next fishing report. King salmon fishing on lower Kenai Peninsula Rivers will come to a close after this weekend, although good numbers of kings are still present and entering the Anchor, Ninilchik and Deep Creek. All of these smaller snow-fed streams have seen very solid king runs this season and angler success during weekend only, open days has been very high. West Side Cook Inlet fly-out fisheries have also gotten off to a very good beginning with lots of sockeye and bears massing around the outlet of Wolverine Creek where it enters Big River Lake. Massive schools of sockeye salmon, fresh from Cook Inlet, can be seen circling the clear waters of Redoubt Bay and fishing pressure has been moderate. We have taken several trips to this popular West Side destination and have gotten limits of reds and have seen multiple brown and black bears on every trip. There has already been a significant push of sockeye up Wolverine Creek over this weekend although newly arriving fish continue to mass around the mouth of Wolverine Creek and large schools of newly arriving sockeye can been seen breaking the surface throughout Big River Lake. This run will continue to build through mid-July. King salmon fishing on the Chuitna has not yet begun due to excessive snow melt and high and murky water conditions. This river is expected to come into fishing shape may mid week and angler success should be very high. With several trips planned for us in the near future, a detailed report will be available soon. The neighboring Theodore River has been high as well but it has been fishable and reports indicate very good catch and release king salmon fishing on this tiny, yet very exciting river. We also plan to visit the Theodore over the next week and will continue to update this report as we explore both of these very productive remote fisheries. If you have any questions regarding any of the above Kenai Peninsula and West Side fisheries please fell free to email me anytime at mgfish@mgfalaska.com. Good luck on the water and great fishing!
Mark's Fishing Report, May 31, 2005:
On the neighboring Kasilof, fishing has continued to build daily since Mid May. In the recent 3-4 days, the fishery has seen a significant burst of fresh kings and multiple hook-ups per boat are now the norm. This run offers mix of both hatchery and naturally produced early-run king salmon and anglers are reminded that only hatchery king salmon (marked by a clipped adipose fin) are allowed to be retaining with the exception of Tuesdays and Saturdays when both wild (natural) and hatchery king salmon may be kept. New rules which allow anglers to keep fishing once they retain a king salmon on the Kasilof have been very well received and have made this fishery a very attractive option for Kenai Peninsula anglers. This run should peak in the next week to ten days. Water levels are moderate and rising.
Patty Powers and nice hatchery king salmon from the Kasilof River Lower Kenai Peninsula streams such as Deep Creek, the Ninilchik River and the Anchor River are all seeing fair to strong return of king salmon and fishing pressure over the Memorial Day weekend was heavy. Perhaps the most productive of these rivers was the Anchor where low water and lots of fish made for good fishing around the high tide. Anglers are reminded these rivers are weekend only fisheries and fishing for salmon is limited to the lower, tidally influenced sections of these streams. Downstream steelhead (kelts) are also present in the Ninilchik, Deep Creek and the Anchor and are making their way back to Cook Inlet after being in the rivers since the fall/winter. Kenai Peninsula steelhead are not allowed to be removed from the water and should be handled with extreme caution to ensure their safe release. Good luck on the water and great fishing! Here are a few more photos of recent king salmon caught fishing on the Kasilof River. Click on any image for a larger view in a new window. Coho, halibut, more on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula Mark's Fishing Report, November 23, 2004: As of 11/23/04, the Kenai Peninsula is experiencing a temperate beginning to winter. We have seen several reasonable snow storms with some accumulation although persistent warm temperatures and rain have melted most of it. Daytime temperatures have been in the mid to high thirties. On the southern Kenai Peninsula, both the Anchor and Deep Creek are both flowing at moderate to high levels with good clarity. There is a great deal of shore ice and debris from cold weather a few weeks prior and flooding caused by ice dams. Both steelhead and dolly varden remain active and fishing is rated as fair on both the middle and lower sections of the Anchor River and Deep Creek. The Ninilchik River remains largely frozen and unfishable. The Kenai is low but still navigable above Bings Landing. Trout fishing both below and above Skilak Lake is still a viable option, weather depending. Trout are not highly concentrated but larger fish are found just below spawning silver salmon. Good numbers of both dark and bright silver salmon are present although their season closed November 1. Mark's Fishing Report, October 20, 2004:As of October 20, Kenai Peninsula fisheries continue to provide excellent angling opportunities for those willing to put in their time on the water. The Kenai River is still seeing a fair number of silver salmon after one of the strongest returns of coho since ADF&G began estimating escapement. Silver salmon season on the Kenai normally closes the last day of September but was extended this year through the end of October due to the large return. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing on the Kenai, both above and below Skilak Lake, remains very good with a number of larger fish being caught. Fish are being taken on both flesh patterns and painted beads.
Dan Mendenhall with a beautiful Kenai Rainbow caught in late September.
Steelhead trout fishing on the lower Kenai Peninsula Rivers has been very steady with large number of fish present in the Anchor River, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River. These fisheries have been most productive just after rain storms although currently all rivers are low and clear and fishing has slowed. Look for more fish to enter these rivers just after the next big rain or before the river freezes for winter.
Jim Rinker readies a nice fall steelhead for release. |
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2003-2007, Alaska Fishing with Mark Glassmaker |
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