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If I told you that on every even year for about a month-long period 100+ salmon are caught on my boat virtually every day, you’d probably shout “sign me up!” faster than a politician can make a promise on election day. Well, it’s true. Every even year when pink salmon, or “humpies” are running strong, we catch this aggressive and plentiful species of salmon on nearly every cast! But believe it or not some anglers actually turn their noses up at, and even dread, humpy years. Sure, they’re not as good-eating as sockeye salmon, and they don’t fight quite as hard as a silver salmon, but humpies have a lot of endearing qualities, and personally, I LOVE humpy years on the Kenai…. Here’s why: When hooked in the lower stretches of...

When is the Best Time to Visit Alaska?

Posted on February 19, 2016

"When is the best time to be there?" This is probably the most common question I get from prospective visitors. It seems like such a simple question, and one would likely expect a very simple answer… No such luck. There are positives and negatives to every time of the year on the Kenai Peninsula, with dozens of factors to consider before finalizing your decision. Below I have outlined what I believe are the 5 major factors to consider before you purchase those airline tickets to head north but click here before you try. What Species of Fish Do You Want to Catch? - The species that are available varies dramatically throughout the season. If you’ve always dreamed of coming to Alaska and catching a King Salmon on the Kenai Peninsula, for example,...

Never Leave Your Bugs at Home

Posted on February 8, 2016

On a recent fishing trip to the middle Kenai River, I was reminded of a lesson I learned many years ago. This lesson though, is one that most Alaskan anglers have yet to learn for themselves. Don’t ever leave your bugs at home! Alaska has a healthy reputation for being a bead and flesh fishery when it comes to trout, and for good reason. One of the main reasons Alaskan trout grow to the ridiculous proportions that they do has very much to do with the all-you-can-eat protein buffet they receive every year in the form of salmon eggs and salmon flesh littering the river. This food source is available for a good portion of the year as the different species and runs of salmon cycle through the river systems, leaving behind...

Net or no Net? That is the Question.

Posted on January 23, 2016

Landing nets have evolved quite a bit over the years, originating in the Stone Age as a simple entrapment made from willow branches, evolving into the wide range of styles used today. No matter how simple or fancy the landing net, the concept remains basically the same; it’s a quicker, easier way to land a fish…. Or is it? Now we could start a debate about the effect of nets on fish when your intention is to catch and release that fish, but I don’t even want to go there right now. This blog is all about capturing a fish that you intend on keeping as quickly and effectively as possible. With that in mind, I would argue that a landing net is vital for the vast majority of freshwater species...

Measuring BIG Kenai River Trout

Posted on January 15, 2016

Measuring boards have a history here on the Kenai River, and that history is due to one simple fact… our trout get HUGE. We are so spoiled by our spectacular trout fishery that fish up to 20+ inches barely get acknowledged at all, and you can forget about taking the time to actually measure each and every one of them. But a trout in the 25-30+ inch range, those are the fish that get a Kenai trout fisherman’s attention! When a special fish like this graces us with its presence and provides us an opportunity to take a closer look, we want to capture every last detail possible. We want to know the length, the girth, the unique spotting pattern, the intensity of the stripe, and we definitely want to get...

The Indicator Swing

Posted on January 7, 2016

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Remember like 5 or 10 years ago when you knew that one dude that had a Spey rod and he kind-of knew how to cast it, and every time you witnessed him pull off a Snap-T it was like you had just witnessed the most amazing thing anyone has ever seen? Remember that? Well, times have changed over the last decade. Whereas Spey or Switch rods were once a rarity reserved mainly for the most elite & advanced of fly anglers, they are now very common in many parts of the country, and a great number of fly fishermen either dabble with the techniques or have become full-fledged experts by now. The reason it has gained so much popularity is debatable, but I tend to believe it has something to...

5 New Year’s Resolutions That’ll Make you a Better Person, and Fisherman

Posted on December 31, 2015

Fish some spots you've never fished before - We all have a tendency to stick to what we know, and there's a reason for that, but that habit is probably inhibiting you from enhancing your angling skills and experiencing new places and things. The value of a new experience is obvious, and just the experience itself has an inherent value that we can all agree is priceless, but when you broaden your horizons you subconsciously and unintentionally add so much valuable information that can be applied to a variety of scenarios, including information that may very well be extremely beneficial to you when fishing the waters you're more familiar with. So while setting up your fishing itinerary for the coming new year, rather than going on auto-pilot, resist the urge to...

7 Last Minute Christmas Gifts For The Fishermen In Your Life

Posted on December 19, 2015

1. Simms Limited Edition G3 WQW Waders – There are so many great reasons to get these waders. First of all, they’re really nice waders with all of Simms standard features including well positioned storage pockets, micro-fleece lining, a patented design that reinforces seams while still allowing for great comfort and mobility, etc. Secondly, they’re awfully stylish with a unique camouflage accent on the bib and belt loops to impress all your envious fishermen friends. And finally, when you purchase these waders Simms makes a donation to the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation, an organization that helps reintegrate traumatically combat-wounded U.S veterans and active duty service members from recent combat back into society. Take a look at these unique and stylish waders here: http://www.simmsfishing.com/shop/waders/g3-guide-stockingfoot-wqw.html 2. Loop Fly Rods – Loop may not occupy quite the same...

Welcome To The Blog

Posted on December 14, 2015

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