Alaska Fishing Season

The Alaska fishing season is slowly getting here.  Alaska’s winters can be harsh and cold but home to some of the most stunning surroundings and events.  While we might be bundled up and not fishing every day, we are out enjoying our winter activities.  These include the world-famous Iditarod dog mushing race, snow machining, skiing, sledding, snow shoeing, and let’s not forget ice fishing!  While winter blankets our state with white snow and the northern lights brighten the dark skies, we are eagerly awaiting our summer!
 
The land comes alive and the waters break up, giving way to the schools of fish heading upstream.  We start the summer season out with a big bang!  Monstrous king salmon push their way upstream and everyone’s hope is for a king that may break the state record!  If you’re looking to use your upper body strength to reel one of these giants in, this is the time to jump on the boat!  King season continues on into mid summer with the season ending by the first of August.
 
By mid July the second run of sockeye salmon are usually in the river in big numbers.  From the boat or from shore, sockeye salmon are a fun fighting fish that can really keep you moving all day!  They are a great fish to catch for all ages, and a warm time of the year to fish too!
kenai river sockeye salmon fishing
 
 
Fall starts appearing in August, bringing golden leaves and silver salmon!  Silvers are the acrobatic salmon of Alaska’s waters.  Once hooked, silvers provide a battle of strength, will, and quite the show!
 
If your lucky to visit Alaska in an even year (2014!), your rod will double its chances at getting a fish!  Pink salmon reemerge into the Kenai river during even years and crowd the rivers alongside other salmon during these years.
 
September arrives with a chill in the air and Alaska is at its most glorious colors!  The hustle and bustle of summer fishing slows down and the calm and serene fall rainbow trout fishing is well upon us.  Rainbows can be caught all season long, however, the best time to catch trophy size trout is in the fall.
 
There are many other species of fish that are fun and plentiful to catch, such as Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling.  There is always a chance to catch one of these fish, and they are great for the kids to catch too!
 
If you’ve been to Alaska fishing before and are in need of returning, someone who just needs to get away, or if your new to visiting the beautiful state of Alaska, Drifting On The Fly is your guided fishing service to beautiful surroundings, a great day on the water with great fishing, and lots of stories to remember!  Give us a call to book your favorite date and lock it in today before all the dates are filled!  Booking or questions about fishing or Alaska in general?  Call (907) 382-6808 or send a message to scott@driftingonthefly.com.

Kenai Peninsula Salmon Charter

Is a Kenai Peninsula salmon charter on your agenda? We can get you hooked up!
Kasilof river king salmon fishing
Kasilof river king salmon fishing
We offer guided salmon charter fishing on the Kasilof river and the Kenai river.  Power boat or drift boat salmon fishing on the Kenai peninsula makes us diverse and ready to go where the fish are biting.  If you prefer fishing out of one boat to another we can accommodate that as well.  Kenai peninsula salmon charter day trips include all gear and tackle needed for the day, bait if being used, coffee, snacks, waders if needed, and rain gear if you don’t have your own.  Depending on the timing of your trip will decide which species of salmon that we will pursue.  If you have a certain species in mind we will give you the peak dates available to choose from. Kenai Peninsula Salmon Charters available, 2013 rates are 275.00$ plus tax per person for a King Salmon, Silver Salmon, or Sockeye Salmon fishing trip! Pick from any of the species and give us a call to see if we can get you hooked up for your next Alaska fishing vacation! Prime dates go fast so call early and get the date that best fits your vacation. Tight Lines Scott Sager, 907-382-6808 email us: scott@driftingonthefly.com

Kenai Peninsula Fishing Guides

  dsc_0815   Kenai peninsula fishing guides are on the river fishing hard every day.  We know the water and know the fish that we are pursuing.  When visiting the Kenai peninsula you can’t go wrong hiring a guide for a day or two to get some valuable information on local knowledge of the water you would like to fish.  I guide for a living and have for a long time now but whenever I go someplace new to fish I hire a guide for the first day or two to get some insight on what is going on.  There is nothing wrong with this and it will make you more successful on your trip.  Where ever you come from it is going to take quit a bit of traveling to get the Kenai Peninsula to go fishing.  A couple of planes and a few hours in a rental car if you are coming from out-of-state and possibly if you are traveling from in the state too!  Alaska is a huge state and there are many fishing opportunities so be prepared to make the best of the time invested in getting here. Fishing Trips on the kenai Peninsula that you may be interested in are rainbow trout, arctic grayling, king salmon, silver salmon, sockeye salmon, and or steelhead.  Timing your vacation for the species that most interests you is very important.  Give us a call today and we will set you up with a kenai peninsula fishing guides.

KENAI RIVER

 
WWW.DRIFTINGONTHEFLY.COM
WWW.DRIFTINGONTHEFLY.COM
The KENAI RIVER is a complex and dynamic system, providing excellent habitat for fisheries.  This excellent habitat helps produce lots of salmon, trout, and more.  All five species of Pacific salmon return to the Kenai River every year, including Chinook (king salmon), coho (silver salmon), chum, pink, and sockeye salmon.  Though the pink salmon only return in big numbers on even number years and there isn’t very many chum salmon that enter the Kenai River.  Other fish species in the Kenai river drainage include rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and arctic graylingAll of these species can be targeted in a guided fishing trip on the Kenai River or Kenai peninsula. Imagine floating down glacial blue waters, surrounded by snow capped mountains, forested lands, and possible wildlife around every bend of the river, all while waiting for the tremendous ‘take down’ on your rod by any one of the five salmon or other fish species. From peaceful and serene, to action packed and adrenaline rushing……this is what you will experience when your line goes down and everyone yells, “FISH ON!”.  Once the fish is brought to the boat, your guide will help you cherish the memory by taking pictures of your epic catch with a backdrop of glacial waters and mountains. Termination Dust above Kenai Lake Every trip down the Kenai River, whether it’s in a drift boat or powerboat, is one of comfort and space.  To help with those chilly mornings, your guide will have hot coffee to keep you warm.  If you’re looking for a relaxing and fun experience on the Kenai River to fish for a chance for a catch of a lifetime.  Give us a call to discuss your trip plans at 907-382-6808 and BOOK TODAY!  

Rainbow trout and silver salmon fishing

    October has been great rainbow trout and silver salmon fishing on the Kenai river. Water levels are good and the fish are on the bite. We have picked up a lot of rainbow trout and dolly Varden on flesh flies. 20121012-225213.jpg 20121012-225226.jpg 20121012-225238.jpg Jody has caught three fish today in the high 20’s and just can’t seem to break the 30 inch mark 20121012-225252.jpg Silver salmon (cohoe) fishing on the Kenai river has been very good. We stopped for just a few minutes to cast some streamers on a grass bank and Jody was able to pick up two salmon really fast. We quickly went back to trout fishing but I think we could have picked up a few more. 20121012-225550.jpg An Alaska fishing season is very short and I always hate to see freeze up in the near future but it is that time of year. The last few trips will be biter sweet in the way of some of the best rainbow trout and silver salmon fishing of the season but they are the last few trips. I enjoy showing people the rivers I know and if you have ever wanted to fish the Kenai peninsula keep in mind that we will be right back out there next season. Give us a call anytime and we will design a trip for the upcoming fishing season. Tight lines, Scott Sager

Lower Kenai river silver salmon fishing

Lower Kenai river silver salmon fishing has it’s rewards. The tides are not bringing a ton of fish in right now but we are putting a few in the boat. I look for fishing to improve any day for the second run of cohoe!  I enjoy fishing the lower Kenai river for silver salmon and this is where you will have the best opportunity to find the freshest fish.  Here we usually back troll quick fish or cured row and when the tide turns we will bounce lead off the bottom with a small spin and glow and eggs.  We call this back bouncing and it is a very effective way to entice cohoe into biting although I have seen flies out fish bait in this section quit a few times.  Hooking a fish close to the boat while back bouncing will be as much of an adrenaline rush as landing it!  Many times when you are bouncing eggs you will only be fishing in 3 feet of water.  Sitting on the lower kenai river silver salmon fishing is peaceful and generally there are not as many people out as there is during king salmon season.     The silver salmon of the day weighed in on the boga grip at 15 pounds. This is a very good silver salmon Tight lines Scott Sager Drifting on the fly 20120912-143638.jpg

Kenai river silver salmon fishing

Kenai river silver salmon fishing this morning. I truly love all fishing in Alaska but silver salmon have to be among the top of the list for many reasons.  They are a very aggressive fish under most circumstances and do put on a show once they are hooked.  I prefer to cast flies for them but many other techniques work as well.  You can catch silver salmon on spinners, hard plastic baits, bait and we have taken them on top water as well. This big Kenai river silver salmon was caught on a chrome hard plastic bait back trolling on the lower kenai river this morning. 20120911-124233.jpg Using rubber gloves helps keep scent off my lures and baits while I get them ready to fish.  I know scent washes off fast in the current but any edge I can give you on your kenai river silver salmon fishing trip I will try.   20120911-124922.jpg Drifting on the fly’s boat dog Tok getting some love while we wait on the next bite.  Tok doesn’t get to fish as much as he wants but when requested he loads up with enthusiasm every time.  Days we dedicate to back trolling are good days for him to hang out on the river with us.    

Alaska state fair

My guest yesterday morning showed up at the boat launch and we headed out silver salmon fishing for a half day trip. We had a few follows, a few spit the hook and caught some pink salmon but didn’t land any of the fish that we were pursuing. After a few minutes I had learned that this husband wife team was on tour with Alter bridge that had just performed at the Alaska state fair. Unfortunately they had to cancel their trip for today Because of another concert in philly. I enjoyed hearing their stories and look forward to having them back on the boat in the future. I’d like to go to the fair one year. After 10 years in Alaska I still haven’t been yet. Life in the fast lane I guess! Tight lines Scott Sager Drifting On The Fly 20120826-055320.jpg 20120826-055332.jpg

Kenai river silver salmon fly fishing

20120730-170409.jpg Tying flies and getting ready for the Kenai river silver salmon fly fishing this fall. Large fly boxes are great for the boat but remember to let them air out at night so that your hooks don’t rust. It could get really expensive if you have the box full of flies. 20120730-204929.jpg Umpqua’s large boat box is now equipped with anti rust technology. I hope that it helps in our harsh Alaska weather! silver salmon fishingSilver salmon on the Fly can be very productive.  I have seen the Fly out fish tackle many times.  It is a different presentation to the fish and with the right pattern and color can be deadly.  One of my favorite patterns is a dark brown leach.  I’m a huge fan of natural colors but there are days that bright colors will work best too.  I think this is one of my most favorite silver salmon fly fishing pictures.  It shows everything that i can’t tell you about fly fishing for silver salmon.  Like any fish we have to work for them harder some days others but if you are a proficient caster I believe we can get you into some fish. Tight lines, Scott Sager Www.driftingonthefly.com

LOWER SKILAK LAKE BOAT LAUNCH

Directions to the lower skilak lake boat launch View DIRECTIONS TO LOWER SKILAK LAKE BOAT LAUNCH in a larger map We launch here mainly for drift boat trips on the middle section of the Kenai River.  For most trips we will meet at Bing’s Landing and leave your rig there.  Then travel to Lower Skilak Lake boat launch together.  At the end of the day your rig will be at the take out.  We mainly fish Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Silver Salmon, and Sockeye Salmon on the Middle river float. Here there is camping and the lower skilak lake boat launch. We launch here mainly for drift boat trips on the middle section of the Kenai River.  For most trips we will meet at Bing’s Landing and leave your rig there.  Then travel to Lower Skilak Lake boat launch together.  From here we will cross 2 miles of skilak lake and enter the mouth of the Kenai river.  This is where we will start fishing for the day.  The middle Kenai river is on of my favorite floats.  The opportunity to catch a giant rainbow trout or limit on silver salmon is very high at different time of the year.  At the end of the day your rig will be at the take out. business phone: 907-382-6808 or send an inquiry here!