Who’s been out that way? Planning a trip late this summer to go chase some big fresh water fish with the flyrods.
Not sure what you are planning…I have never done it but the technique is to snatch the salmon with a bare hook and weight two to three feet up the line. There is no casting with the fly rod. And there is no bait. Just empty hook and lead. The cast is more of a “sling” the hook out and keep a tight line while sweeping the rod backwards.
The goal is for the line to get caught between the upper/lower jaw as the salmon is breathing while swimming up stream. The hook hopefully catches the jaw.
I cant decide if its something I would enjoy. Its an expensive trip but one I would do if I knew more about what to expect.
Let us know how it goes!
M
I went to Anchorage about 8-9 years ago and fished the Kenai. I’m familiar with the technique, and I agree with you, it’s not exactly what I would expect. But their “fish” their rules. Ill play along. I’m excited to go to a different part of the state. We have a week there, right now it’s just four of us with the entire emphasis on fishing, catching, and eating as much fresh salmon as possible.
That tecnique is called flossing.Use a 9 or 10 weight rod and 20 lb.leader. put a trolling sinker ahead of a 5 or 6 ft. leader.4 or 5/0 hook tied with an egg knot and put a piece of preferably red yarn 1 1/2 inch long thru the egg loop. this makes it a fly,which makes it legal.a bare hook constitutes snagging.reasoning is REDS (sockeye) ,do not eat on their spawn run.As you learn the feel,as the Kenai river is swift,the line will in factenter the fishes open mouth and you set the hook. there are so many fish coming upriver that when you set the hook you may inadvertantly snag another fish somewhere other than in the mouth. this constitutes snagging which is illeagal and the fish must be released. There are many King (chinook) salmon and super large Rainbows caught in the Kenai by traditional fly fishing methods as well as drifting egg pattern flies.The absolute most fun is the PINK salmon. unlike the others they come up every other year. ON even numbered years there areso many you will actually get tired of catching.yhey will be caught traditionally using anything red or green (fly or spinner).Be sure to take a good camera,because you can burn up a cheap one trying to get from Anchorage to Soldotna or wherever you deside to fish. Also you can fish the river while in Anchorage and catch Kings,pinks, and nice rainbows as well.If you’ve never been,the wildlife is amazing and stop at Beluga Point just out fron Anchorage and watch the Beluga whales come in with the tide .
I have fished the Kenai, rivers around Katmai peninsula like the Brooks River and in the Arctic but not recently.
A few years ago, my son did a week at Aniak River Lodge. Mostly fishing for rainbows but also kings. Great trip for him.
Catching sockeye on a fly is definitely possible. Most people snag them because it is amazingly easy during heavy runs. Little shrimp pattern flies work for sockeye. Just a traditional wet fly drift and patience. You may snag some, but you learn to tell the difference between a take and bump.
Anything you can reach by road will not be good, in my opinion. Float or gravel bar landing planes or long runs by boat are a requirement to get to the good places. I did not enjoy the Kenai, not the Alaska wilderness experience.
We have used the “Fly Shop” travel services with good success for fishing areas new to us. A friend from Montana worked with them for years and they actually fish, know the fishing operations and seasons. The Fly Shop organized my son’s trip to Aniak River Lodge, his college graduation present.
Another friend from Montana, Don Thomas (E. Donnall Thomas is the name he writes under) recently wrote an article for Gray’s Sporting Journal on “Meat Fishing” in Southeast Alaska that seemed to fit what you were looking for. Might take a look at that.
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