river Archives - Drifting On The Fly

RAINBOW TROUT FISHING THE KENAI RIVER

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Drifting-admin

Rainbow trout fishing the Kenai river is always something I look forward too, even on day 100 I still find the motivation to get gear together and make my way to the river. It is always helpful to see the river when the water is very low. At Cooper Landing the Flow was around 600 CFS and below Skilak lake it was flowing around 840 CFS. This gives me a lot of information for the following guide season on where rainbow trout might be holding. We picked up a few rainbow trout around Princess rapids on the upper Kenai River. The temperature was in the low 20’s all morning and eventually came up to were we could fish without freezing up to bad. Thanks to the Jet-boil we were able to take a break and have some hot coffee.

Not removing the fish from the water on very cold days is a great idea, plus it’s much better for your hands! I’m sure that leeches and flesh flies would have picked a few fish up but there were a lot of silver salmon spawning. We knew that we would be fighting almost dead silvers all day were we were fishing if we used streamers. Egg patterns seemed to be the ticket and we didn’t pick up many silvers at all. Both dead egg patterns and fresh egg patterns picked up a few rainbow trout and dolly varden. TIGHT LINES, SCOTT SAGER 907-382-6808

ALASKA KENAI RIVER FLYFISHING

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Drifting-admin

Alaska Kenai river flyfishing in the Spring is a great time of year to get your streamer fix. Fishing on the Kenai river is way different than it is during the summer months. Most of the silver salmon are done spawning by now but there are a few fish still in the river. I only noticed about a half dozen fish last weekend in the area I was fishing. I chose to swing leeches and minnow patterns on this outing. An olive leech caught the only fish of the day.

I was by myself when this nice Kenai river rainbow trout slammed my leech pattern. When the water is this low and clear I spend more time looking for rainbows than I do casting. These fish are spooky and if you can spot a fish and cast to it you are more likely to catch it than just slinging line blindly in the water. Look for flashes, dark shapes, spooked bait fish, spawning salmon, etc. Once you train your eye, spotting fish becomes easier than you would think. Spring and the kenai river guide season is well on its way now! Scott www.driftingonthefly.com 907-382-6808

KENAI RIVER FLY FISHING

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Drifting-admin

Every spring while I’m out KENAI RIVER FLY FISHING I look for Terns gathering on the river. Finding terns hoovering over the river more than likely means Parr Salmon have made the transformation to smolt and are heading out to sea. In the spring Parr salmon undergo a chemical change that lets them adapt from freshwater to the saltwater where they will spend the next few years of their life. These large moving balls of smolt trigger feeding frenzies for fish and birds too. Look for smolt in April, May, and early June and get ready for some exciting Rainbow trout fishing experiences. For Salmon Parr I like to use a small white deceiver in a size 6 or 8 streamer hook and for the smolt I like to use a blue and white deceiver in tied on a 4 or 6 streamer hook.

This pattern works well for Parr imitations. Tied with: 4 small white saddle hackles tied in first. White buck tail tied in on the top side of the shank 2 strands of copper flash on each side of the body 4 pieces of peacock tied in on top of that A black sharpie will give you the parr markings that you want on the body I chose to give this fly an epoxy head with big silver eyes. If you have any questions or would like to book an KENAI RIVER fly fishing guide trip feel free to contact me at www.driftingonthefly.com