Alaska Fishing with Mark Glassmaker • 1-800-622-1177
Guide to Alaska Fishing •
Alaska Fishing
Headquarters • Alaska
Fly Out Fishing  2007 Year in ReviewAs the 2007 season comes to a close, there is much to remember and reflect upon before looking ahead to 2008. This past season, like every season, was unique in many ways. Run strength, run timing, weather, river conditions all play their part in making each season a little different than the last.
Away from the Kenai and on the other side of Cook Inlet, our fly out trips this season began in earnest in mid-June. We frequented both the sockeye fishery at Big River Lake and the king fishing on the Chuit and both provided several great days of fishing combined with spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing. The sockeye run to Wolverine Creek and Big River Lake was exceptionally strong this season and despite the relative popularity of this remote location, this trip continues to provide one of our most consistent and memorable remote fishing and bear viewing experiences. Even though Kodiak Island and Karluk lagoon are normally a mainstay on our June fly out menu, this year we did not fly to Alaska's "Emerald Isle" due to late king returns and emergency closures. Every year is very different and we hope the Karluk rebounds nicely next season. The Chuit became our primary fly out destination for kings this June and despite less than favorable weather conditions, we did find good numbers of fish. With less than average snowfall this past winter, the Chuit remained fairly low. On bright, sunny days, the fishing was tough in the reduced flows. In the lower light of the morning and on days with cloud cover, the fishing was very rewarding. This river remains one of our favorite fisheries of the season as seeing huge wild king salmon in a small creek like the Chuit is what Alaska fishing is truly all about.
As we entered the last week of July and the final days of the 2007 king season, a number of nice fish came to the net but overall the run never really seemed to hit full stride. Likewise, the sockeye return in late July and early August remained fairly contained and unlike the past two seasons when we saw a good portion of the return arrive late, the sockeye run had definitely pasted its peak as we entered early August.
Beginning in the second week of August, catch rates for early run silvers were starting to become more consistent. One could expect to have a fair number of opportunities in first 2-3 hours of the day and on a number of days this yielded limit catch of chrome bright coho. The silver bite typically tapered off mid morning and this proved a perfect time to shift our angling attention to the Kenai's prolific trout fishing. This fishery has become increasingly popular in the last decade and with the no retention regulation for fish over 18 inches, the middle section of the river has maintained a remarkable population of very large and completely wild rainbow trout. Recent statistics note the angling public is well aware of this awesome fishery as trout fishing now rivals king salmon fishing on the Kenai River in total angler hours spent on the water. The early run of coho tapered off as it normally does in the last days of August, though the bigger and brighter late run of Kenai silvers was waiting in the wings. After a brief week to ten day respite between runs, the lower Kenai started getting consistent pulses of bigger fish in mid September and this transferred up-river in rapid fashion. The fall is always a very special time to visit the Kenai, especially when you consider the parade of fish that have entered the river throughout the course of the season. Indeed this year the Kenai saved the best fishing of the season for the end as mild temperatures and lots of fresh ocean bright salmon kept us busy well into October. Though unpredictable weather wise, the late season can be very rewarding for those willing to risk the inclement weather. Realistically, unless you live here, trying to plan a fall fishing trip to the Kenai anytime after mid October is simply a roll of the dice. Last year the river was frozen shut by late October and this season, even in mid December, it's ice free and begging anyone that will listen for "just one more cast..." Indeed the fall is always a very special time to visit the Kenai, especially when you consider the parade of fish that have entered the river throughout the course of the season. Year in and year out the Kenai and surrounding waters fulfill the fishing dreams of visitors worldwide and we feel truly privileged to have spent the past eighteen seasons living our own dream. Thanks to all of our guests both new and old as it is your patronage that has allowed us to continue doing what we love and that is helping our guests plan high quality and professionally guided fishing adventures to the Kenai Peninsula, the Kenai River and surrounding waters. We are definitely looking forward to yet another action packed fishing season in 2008 and we sincerely hope you can be there to join us. Sincerely, |
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©
2003-2007, Alaska Fishing with Mark Glassmaker |
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After
a few weeks of chasing spring steelhead in southeast Alaska, winter
cobwebs were well cleared and in mid May we began fishing the Kenai
and Kasilof rivers for big, bright kings. The Kasilof began as it did
the year prior with some fish in mid May but really no serious numbers
until later in the month. The Kenai was seeing some fish as well with
most of the action coming in short-lived bursts around the tides. Water
levels on both the Kenai and the Kasilof were very low early in the
season due to our late winter and chilly spring. By the first week of
June, the water had risen considerably on the Kenai and fishing was
improving as well. At the same time on the Kasilof, good numbers of
both hatchery and natural kings were filling up the holes and fish boxes.
Action on the Kasilof remained very steady for the first two weeks of
June. Likewise, the Kenai was also seeing very consistent fishing and
after June 10, we started to shift the majority of our king effort toward
the Kenai. Despite colder than normal water temps and a few rain storms
that muddied the river for few days, June proved to be a very exiting
month on the Kenai River. 
Mid
June also marked the opening of trout season on the Kenai and this season,
like so many in the past was another epic one for trophy trout. Mid
to late June and even into early July found the bulk of the trout population
just below Skilak Lake where they congregate for their spring spawn.
After
a robust June, July debuted with great anticipation. Hopes were high
for another banner late run of kings, as we saw in 2006. The month started
with some success, but overall fishing was only steady at best. The
average size of the kings in early July seemed much smaller than we
are accustomed to. Speculation wondered if these were still late arriving
early run kings and the big, thick-shouldered late run kings had yet
to arrive. As the month progressed we did see a fair number of larger
fish but fishing success and the overall size of the kings was below
average for the Kenai River in July. Reasons for the less than stellar
late run are likely many, though perhaps the biggest factor was the
aggressive persecution of the commercial sockeye fishery in Cook Inlet.
Excessive gill netting along the migration route leading to the mouth
of the Kenai snared many thousands of our sacred Kenai giants. Sonar
counters indicated good numbers of kings were entering the river throughout
the month but it was likely counting excessive numbers of smaller kings
that had used their size advantage to evade the commercial nets. Sonar
counts are also regularly skewed by large pulses of late run sockeye.
Despite the mediocre fishing, we did manage consistent results daily
and our boats worked very hard to afford our anglers more than their
share of king sized opportunities. 
The
first week of August is definitely an exciting time despite the close
of king season. Even with the run in its ladder stages there are always
enough sockeye still present to provide plenty of action and meat for
the freezer. In addition to sockeye, we also begin to see the first
waves of early run silver salmon and for sheer numbers, trout fishing
is very tough to beat. This season was no exception as throughout the
summer, and especially in the first few weeks of August, we saw world
renowned rainbow trout fishing. 