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THROUGH THE SEASONS
A Look at Run Timing on Alaska's Kenai
River
By: Greg
Brush
Many people think my job as an Alaskan fishing
guide is nothing but good times filled with blue
skies, countless salmon and endless smiles. Sure,
my clients often catch fish and certainly have fun,
but ask any long-time guide and he will quickly
inform you that our chosen profession is anything
but a "cake and ice cream" experience. Don't get me
wrong, I love what I do and consider myself blessed
to make my living in an office as beautiful as
Alaska's outdoors, but let's not forget the hours
of boat scrubbing, egg curing, and rod tying that
are often taken for granted. Being self employed
adds another entire element to my job that is often
overlooked. Since I count on the satisfaction of my
customers to bring me repeat business, the bulk of
my "off season" is spent informing and educating
potential guests to the many important details of
planning a quality Kenai Peninsula fishing
trip.
Without a doubt, the number one question I
receive is, "What's the best time to come up?"
Well, "the best time" for dad and little Johnny
looking for lots of action will certainly differ
from "the best time" for two veteran Chinook
fisherman hoping for that once-in-a-lifetime trophy
king for their wall. I like to respond to this
common inquiry with a couple questions of my own,
specifically "What are YOUR needs and desires, and
what is YOUR definition of best?" "The best time"
is a very personal decision, and one must consider
that the Kenai is an 81 mile long system where
salmon are not present at all times. Further
complicating the issue is the fact that this unique
river supports two distinct runs of sockeye,
silver, and king salmon. These multiple runs
sometimes overlap, but more often than not create a
window or lull between substantial groups of
incoming fish. One must also consider nearby
fisheries that often compliment the Kenai River,
perhaps making one timeframe more attractive than
another for those looking for diversity in their
fishing vacation. Finally, our fishing regulations
are so complex that there are regulatory
considerations to factor in each and every month.
So you see, the broad question of "when's the best
time" cannot be answered with a simple blanket
statement.
The fact is, nothing is more critical to the
success of your fishing vacation than WHEN you
elect to fish. Ask any veteran salmon angler and he
will likely concur that run timing is everything
and hitting the water during peak of the run is
paramount to your fishing success. In simpler
terms, "You can't catch what aint there!" On the
Kenai River, timing is indeed everything, and
prudent anglers do their homework. So follow me
through the seasons, pinpointing the peak of the
runs and identifying optimum times that will
provide you with maximum opportunity.
MAY
Although king salmon start trickling into the
Kenai in late April every year, May marks the
arrival of spring in Alaska and the real beginning
of fishing season on the river as fishable numbers
of kings finally begin to show. The early run of
Kenai kings generally builds day to day, which is
to say "the later in the month, the better!"
Although only 50 to 150 fish enter the system
daily, better fishing than those numbers reflect
can be had due to limited fishing pressure and low
water conditions (the fish have a very limited
places to hide and often show themselves in the
shallow water). At this time, one can fish for
holding fish on river miles 36 through 13 via drift
boat or pound several holes in tidal water,
awaiting the arrival of brand new fish. Be prepared
for long hours between strikes; regardless of time
frame, the Kenai isn't about sheer numbers of fish,
it's about the size of the fish. Somewhere in the
back of every May Kenai king fisherman's mind is
the fact that the world record was caught on May
17th! A run of Hooligan (smelt) also arrive in mid
to late May.
PRO'S: True peace and quiet on a world famous
salmon river, low water conditions means fish can
be easier to target, spanking new kings full of
fight.
CON'S: Limited amount of fish due to beginning
of the run, slot limit, no bait.
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: The entire 'early
run' (i.e. May and June) is managed as a single
hook, artificial only (no bait) fishery with a slot
limit requiring the release of any king between
44"-55".
SUPPORTING FISHERIES: The start of Kasilof River
drift boat kings (note: first day of bait is May
16th), Cook Inlet halibut with trolling for kings
on the beach. Razor clam digging on minus tides.
Note: Anchor River, Deep Creek and the Ninilchik
River provide limited weekend opportunities to bank
fish for kings beginning Memorial Day weekend.
JUNE
This month marks the peak of the early run Kenai
kings. Historic midpoint of inriver return is June
13th, with over half of the run entering the river
in the two week period between June 6 and June
20th. King numbers can start to fall off the last
week of June, although a push of huge, girthy fish
often arrive at this time, giving the angler
willing to gamble a bit a chance at a monster
once-in-a-lifetime salmon. Early run sockeye salmon
enter the river in early June. These Russian River
bound fish fly through the lower river, making
fishing for them difficult until about the second
or third week of June when they begin stacking up
in the upper Kenai River. The middle and upper
river opens for trout mid month, usually providing
good fishing for the first week of the season.
PRO'S: Considerably less pressure than the July
king fishery, i.e. a pleasant fishing experience.
Rising water levels giving power boaters easy
access to all king holes, exceptional king fishing
on the nearby Kasilof River to fall back on.
CON'S: slot limit, no bait, end of king trolling
on Deep Creek beaches.
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: Single
hook-artificial only (no bait) fishery with a slot
limit requiring the release of any king between
44"-55". Upper Kenai opens June 11th, Russian River
opens June 15th, and the lower and middle Kenai
opens June 15th.
SUPPORTING FISHERIES: Early run Kasilof kings
peak early to mid month. Deep Creek, Ninilchik and
Anchor River kings on various weekends. Cook Inlet
halibut as well as Homer spit fishing lagoon.
JULY
Public perception is that this is "the best"
time to fish the Kenai. Certainly it is the most
popular time due to the arrival of the second run
of sockeye salmon, the second run of Kenai kings,
the lifting of the bait ban, and the lifting of the
early run slot limit in the lower river. However,
one must factor in the huge increase of fishing
pressure and how it affects the overall success
rate. Basically, there are more Kenai kings in the
system, but a sizeable increase in the numbers of
fisherman often offsets this fact, keeping the
success rate similar to the more peaceful June
fishery. In a nutshell, if you are bothered by a
boat on your right and a boat on your left, then
pick a different timeframe. Peak of the second run
of Kenai kings traditionally occurs the last two
weeks of July, and the first big wall of second run
sockeye hits the river in the third week of the
month. Middle and upper Kenai trout fishing remains
open, but is generally slow to fair fishing.
PRO'S: Largest numbers of king and sockeye
counts mid-month, use of bait, no slot limit,
possible increase of bag limit on sockeye near end
of month.
CON'S: Substantial crowds, commercial fishing in
Cook Inlet can severely impact the number of new
salmon entering the river, sometimes slowing the
fishery tremendously, darker kings towards the end
of the month.
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: Single hook with bait
allowed. No slot limit in lower river (still
applies in middle Kenai through July 14th).
SUPPORTING FISHERIES: Kasilof River late run
kings, Cook Inlet halibut, and Homer spit fishing
lagoon.
AUGUST
With the closing of the King season on Aug. 1st
comes the departure of the crowds and the feeling
of a frenzied community returning to some degree of
normalcy. Hundreds of anglers intensely competing
for every sacred king strike suddenly disappear,
and the fishery shifts gears to a more laid back
one where one can anchor their boat and actually
relax! A local favorite, early run Kenai River
silver salmon often begin arriving in late
July-early August but seem to be present in
fishable numbers by August 4th or so, peaking
around mid-month. On even numbered years (2002,
2004, 2006 etc.), pink salmon enter the Kenai
literally by the millions. This fishery is
undoubtedly the perfect one for those looking for
guaranteed success and lots of action, namely
women, kids, and beginners, and hundred fish days
are not uncommon with pinks. August also marks the
spawning of kings and eventually sockeye in the
middle and upper river, which provides a marked
improvement in fishing for big rainbows and Dolly
Varden, literally getting better by the day as the
month progresses. Sockeye salmon fishing remains
good in the middle Kenai during the first two weeks
of August.
PRO'S: Less crowds-higher success rate. More
liberal limits. Many options for those looking for
diversity in charters, species and methods.
CON'S: Generally cooler temps and shorter
days.
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: Kenai River closed to
silver fishing August 1-3rd. Retire your rod after
retaining second silver (although you may trout
fish after silver fishing above the mouth of the
upper Killey River).
SUPPORTING FISHERIES: Kasilof River silvers,
Cook Inlet Halibut, Seward silver salmon, Deep
Creek silvers, Homer spit silvers and various
fly-out fisheries.
SEPTEMBER
September in Alaska means blustery days and
cooler temps. There is little doubt that fall is
here and winter is close on its heels, driving
casual fishermen indoors to the warmth of a fire
and good book. But the die hard angler knows that
some of the Kenai's best fishing of the year can
now be found. Occasionally the second run of
silvers arrives early enough to provide no gaps
between the August run, but September 5th might be
a wiser choice to mark the arrival of these
substantially bigger, stronger Coho, with the peak
of the run generally occurring during the second or
third week. Likewise, fishing for resident trout
peaks mid-month as big native rainbows and fat
Dolly Varden find themselves in a literal feeding
frenzy as loose salmon eggs and rotting flesh flood
the system. World class trout fishing can be found
in the middle and upper Kenai throughout the month
of September.
PRO'S: Larger Silvers. Minimal crowds in the
lower river silver fishery. Silver/trout combos
available in the middle river.
CON'S: Cool weather with a chance of below
freezing temps in the later part of September.
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS: Retire your rod after
retaining second silver (although you may trout
fish after silver fishing above the mouth of the
upper Killey River).
SUPPORTING FISHERIES: Kasilof, Deep Creek and
Anchor River steelhead. Russian River rainbows.
ABOUT THE REGULATIONS
"Regulatory Considerations" is only meant to
highlight a new or unique law that might influence
ones decision of when to fish the Kenai. In no way
is it intended to summarize the 64 pages of local
regulations. To say that fishing regulations on the
Kenai Peninsula are complex is a gross
understatement. In fact, locals like to joke that
one must hire an attorney to decipher our current
regulation book. All jokes aside, managing our
delicate but popular fisheries has become a
difficult juggling act that necessitates complex
rules and laws. The fact that salmon runs vary
season to season creates a need to manage by
"Emergency Order' which means that immediate
regulations can be set in place at any time by the
Department of Fish and Game as necessary. A
visiting angler would be wise to call the Alaska
Dept. of Fish and Game for a quick update upon
their arrival. Difficult to understand or not,
ignorance of the law is no excuse and you will be
held responsible when in violation. Always consult
the regulation book, confirming your understanding
with a quick phone call if any confusion remains.
The following are local contacts that can and will
assist you in your time of need.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Soldotna
branch (907) 262-9368
Alaska State Parks, Soldotna branch (907)
262-5581
Alaska State Troopers Bureau of Wildlife
Enforcement, Soldotna branch (907) 262-4573
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (907)
262-7021
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