ICE FISHING SKILAK LAKE

We are headed out ice fishing Skilak lake today and Here are a couple of pictures just to the left of the boat launch at Skilak.  We launch our boats many days throughout the season here.  For those who have been here in the summer you may not recognize Skilak lake in the winter.  Now it provides access for ice fisherman until it thaws. skilak-lake-2 skilak-lake12 If there is something that you would like to see on the blog, let us know. You can find us at www.driftingonthefly.com give us a call if you would like to book a fishing trip on Skilak lake, kenai river or a remote trip in alaska. Tight lines scott sager

WINTER WEATHER

With extremely cold winter weather hanging around it is hard to find any moving water at all.  I usually can find windows of opportunity to fish year round on the kenai river and this year it is looking like fishing will be over for a while. We saw -25 today at the house in anchorage. burrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I think it is even to cold to ski and way to cold for Rainbow trout fishing but we will see what happens next week.   Tight lines Scott www.driftingonthefly.com

Happy New Year!

We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and a great 2009 kenai river fishing season.  I would like to thank everyone for your interest and support from this past season and we look forward to the 2009 season alaksa fishing season. Thanks again and we wish you the best for 2009. Scott Sager www.driftingonthefly.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US AT DRIFTING ON THE FLY. WE WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON! The perfect gift for the outdoorsman in your life is a kenai river guided fishing trip.  Hook it up today TIGHT LINES, SCOTT AND KIM SAGER WWW.DRIFTINGONTHEFLY.COM

Pre Tied Leaders

Pre tied leaders are a must for the serious fisherman.  Having them on hand will keep you in the strike zone longer than if you have to tie them on the river.  I recommend a pips box for holding my tippets  that I tie in the winter each year. It will make you more efficient and you will catch more fish.  

I find for the kenai river bead rig I can get about a hundred pre tied tippets in one pips box.  This saves me A lot of time on the water. For my standord Kenai river leaders I will start with 2-3 foot of 25-30 pound for a but sections.  Amnesia works well for this. Then work down from there in leader material size.  Depending on the water level of the river I will use a 9-11 foot leader.

We wish everyone to have a great holiday season and look forward to the start of 2009 Alaska fishing season. Here at Drifting on the Fly we are settled into our cabin and are enjoying the winter season.  Dec. 21st is a day to mention, we start gaining a little sunlight each day now until June.  It will not make much of a difference for a month or so but it is nice to think about.

Tight lines, Scott Sager www.driftingonthefly.com

Fly Tying For Alaska

Fly Tying for Alaska fishing trips can be a great way to keep your mind on the fun trip ahead.  Tying flies that will produce more Rainbow trout and salmon for your trip will save you money. The first entry will deal with putting together an articulated hook system.  Articulated flies work well imitating leaches, minnows, other fish.  I enjoy fishing them but tying for example an articulated leach takes some time. No Matter what hooks you use and where you make your articulation the steps are basically the same.  On this particular fly I made the head articulated to the shoulder of the fly.  This is different way to make an egg sucking leach.   1)  put your front hook in the vise (cut at the shank or not) and make a few wraps with you bobbin and thread. 2) take your Dacron or other rope like material and loop it through the eye of the trailer hook. 3) Now you can take the tag ends of the Dacron and tie it to the front hook.  3 or 4 wraps to start and pull straight down to lock it into place.  then continue forward with wraps up the shank of the front hook. 4) Once you are 3/4’s of the way up the shank fold the material back towards the bend of the hook and wrap back over the tags.  This will lock in the material and it shouldn’t be able to pull off the front hook.  I always add super glue between any step in the process.  It’s cheep and it also adds strength to your fly. For this fly I prefer the head to be weighted with lead eyes to achieve the action I want. To add lead eyes I first add super glue where the eyes will be laying on the hook then with many figure 8 wraps lock the eyes on.   Tying flies can be fun, it allows you to be creative and it also passes the time in the cold winter months.  I highly recommend it and if you have an idea and would like me to share it on my blog, don’t hesitate to let me know through my website at www.driftingonthefly.com Thanks and tight lines

FLY TYING FOR ALASKA SILVER SALMON

  silver salmon fishing Fly tying for Alaska silver salmon fishing is a great way to pass the cold winter months.  Filling your fly boxes in the winter can save you lots of time when the bite is on.  There is nothing that can slow a great day of fishing down more than running out of your favorite pattern.  I start with silver salmon flies first.  After I get my bead boxes back in good shape, tying bright, flashy, big patterns keeps me interested and motivated.  Articulated flies are always good to have in your box.  Purple, Dark brown, chartreuse, pink and black are all good colors to start with when you are filling your box.  There are many new materials available to us for fly tying and coming up with your own variations of fly’s is always fun.  It is also more rewarding to me when I catch a fish on a fly that I have put together.  Give it a try if you haven’t already and I would be happy to give any advice that I can.  Give us a call and we can talk about patterns that you might need for your next fishing trip to Alaska.   Stay tuned and check in on the website at www.driftingonthefly.com for more information.

Winter Kenai River Rainbow Trout Fishing

  A few things to keep in mind for Winter Kenai River Rainbow Trout Fishing. 1, watch the weather patterns and fronts that are moving through.  If it is calling for a high of 30 degrees it is probably going to be warm enough to keep the ice off the guides for a few hours. 2, fish slow and thorough concentrating in good, producing runs.  Fish will concentrate and follow the food source. 3, stay warm,  Slow down and take the time to keep yourself warm.  Sometimes I find myself wade fishing too long and needing more time to warm up. 4, be smart,  carry extra cloths, first aid kit, extra hand warmers and lots of extra gloves.  Wet hands  will make your whole body cold, try a hook and release tool to keep your hands dry. Remember that removing fish from the water in below freezing temperatures will freeze there gills almost immediately.  I know that I have been bad for this in years past like many folks but it is something that is very important and is our responsibility in helping protect our resource. If you are interested in booking a 2009 trip or just have a question feel free to contact me at www.driftingonthefly.com Tight lines, Scott Sager

LITTLE SUSITNA RIVER FLY FISHING

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Little Susitna river fly fishing can be very productive.  We have hooked many king salmon, silver salmon, and rainbow trout on the fly in this system.  Here is a picture of a king salmon hooked up on the fly rod.  This fish took a purple articulated leech on the swing.  Thanks to John Colmen and Jeff Murray for making the 2008 little Susitna trip a success.  John and Jeff moved the camp boat, set up camp and cooked every day.  Enjoying a great trip and just having them in camp added that much more to a great experience.  You can catch up with these guys deep in the Shenandoah national park fishing for spooky brook trout or on the Shenandoah rivers fly casting for small mouth bass.  If you would enjoy this or if it is close to your neck of the woods look them up at www.murraysflyshop.com.

Thanks again guys and good fishing, Scott Sager Drifting On The Fly, LLC

KENAI PENINSULA GUIDED FISHING

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Kenai peninsula guided fishing for Trophy Rainbow trout fishing combined with sockeye salmon fishing makes for a fun day.  Kenai river king salmon fishing is also available at this time of year. The Sockeye Salmon fishing should pick up again near the end of the  first week of July and be good through the second week of Aug.  That has been the norm for the last few years.  These are hard fighting fish with a built in instinct to trash gear you can plan on some excitement.  If you plan to chase these fish on your own make sure that you put a little extra in your gear so the odds of getting them to shore gets a little better. The  Rainbow trout bite has been very good while fly fishing leeches and minnow imitations.  I like to fish a down and across drift right now with a sink tip line.  The water has been very clear but is now coming up with just a little color. In the bigger water the larger leech patterns show up better and produce the most strikes.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me at www.driftingonthefly.com for your next guided kenai river trip. Thanks and tight lines Scott Sager