Alaska Travel

[Gavin]

I stayed on the Kenai with a bunch of friends last August and the fishing was fantastic. We did a lot of fishing in in the Cooper Landing area. We did really well on Quartz Creek, the Russian, and caught some huge bows on the Kenai. In August it was all egg patterns, small ones for sockeye eggs, big ones for king salmon eggs. The hike up to Russian River Falls is well worth it. Fishing was best on the upper two miles and it really slowed down near the campground.

If you can, I'd try to book a couple fly outs across Cook Inlet. Last year we fished the Kustatan and the Big River Lakes for Silvers and had a fantastic time. We were hoping to hit the Chuit too, but fog kept us out of there. Think Pink for silvers. Best fly on the Kustatan was a pink string leach, best on Big River Lakes was a pink sparkleminnow #2. There is also some good fishing near Soldatna, Ninilcik & Homer, plus halibut charters arent very expensive. Cheers.

[mizzouflyfisher]

Thanks for the info guys. The trip is finalized-July 13-Aug. 10. I will also have access to a vehicle for most of the trip, so transportation is not an issue. I do have a couple more questions though. Where can I find some pike that are fairly easily accessible? I'm trying to find some pike lakes that don't require a fly in and can be fished from shore. Also, where is my best shot at silvers. I realize that I am leaving a little early for the majority of the silver runs (Can't help it). I think I should be able to find some fish though. Any hints at early season silvers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again guys,

Mizzouflyfisher

[Phil Lilley]

Pike- someone else will have to address that.

Silvers- that early they may be in the mouths of rivers in the bay. But that is very, very early for their migration. Try down the cost of Kenia- what Gavin said.

[Gavin]

Your probably a little early for Silvers, but there should be plenty of Sockeyes to mess with and this summer might a Pink Salmon year.As Phil said your best shot at a fresh silvers will be in the bay, or near river & creek mouths. Another spot that congregates salmon, trout, & char are lake inlets & outlets, and especially the short runs between lakes. Dont forget your nymph box, your probably going to need it before the salmon drop eggs, and make sure you have different sized eggs or beads, big for king salmon roe, small for sockeye and other roe.

As for Pike, I've hooked a few in AK, usually in weedy pockets off the main rivers, but never really targeted them.

When preping for last years Kenai trip, we found a lot of good info about salmon, and pike fishing on the Alaska Fish & Game site. Sorry but I dont have the link. Cheers.

[mizzouflyfisher]

I made it to Alaska. It's 8:30 pm here now, and I'm going to try to fish Campbell Creek in a little bit. Tomorrow I'm heading out for a 3/4/5 day trip, who knows. I'll post some reports when I get back. Wish me luck.

Mizzouflyfisher

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Glad you made it! Keep us all posted as to how the early fishing is. Cheers and good fishin' - Brian

[mizzouflyfisher]

Just got back from a 2.5 day trip. Fished the Russian River (didn't really want to yet, but rain blew out most of the places I wanted to fish) for most of the time, hiked up a mountain to catch some grayling the rest of the time. Managed to catch around 2 dozen rainbows on the Russian. They were really tough to move for the most part. Had to pick out each fish and cast repeatedly. Biggest was around 22", lost 2 in the 26" range, almost all on big nymphs or zonkers. Saw 5 bear and 3 moose. Will keep you guys posted on the next adventure.

Mizzouflyfisher

[Phil Lilley]

Sure looking forward to all those pics from mizzouflyfisher's trip!! We'll have to create a whole new section just for the lot.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Not too many pictures I hope. Just reading the post makes me want to jump up and head that way. I don't think I could take it if there were pictures. Alaska is one of the spots I want to make it to. Alaska, the Catskills, and Yellowstone are the spots on my wish list for now. I'm sure there's more but that'll have to do for now.

John

[mizzouflyfisher]

Just got back today from a week long trip up the Parks highway north of Anchorage. Caught good rainbows up to about 22", several dozen humpies, chums, hooked several kings, and caught about a dozen pike in a lake that was about a 3 mile hike. Fought one king for over an hour and more than 1 mile before breaking it off. Yes, it was hooked in the mouth. I broke it because I was a long way from the car by myself and it was past 10:30 pm. No sense getting eaten by a bear for a 50 pound king Rainbows are heating up as spawning is picking up. As of right now, there are only a few kings spawning. Leaving tomorrow for the lower Kenai peninsula, don't know where I'm fishing, just am.

Mizzouflyfisher