Scott Sager Archives - Page 3 of 21

Lower Kenai river silver salmon fishing

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Drifting-admin

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

Kenai river silver salmon fishing

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Drifting-admin

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.

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.

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.

Kenai river fly fishing

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Drifting-admin

It was a beautiful fall day to be on the Kenai River fly fishing. The morning started off below freezing then Quickly warmed up to almost 60 degrees. There was not to much wind and almost not a cloud in the sky. The rainbow trout fishing was good but the dolly Varden seemed to be on the bit the most today. Salmon carcasses are starting to pile up on the gravel bars and this is the time of year I wait to run some of my best flesh fly patterns. When the Dolly varden wont seem to let the egg pattern alone switch to a flesh fly and you will see your rainbow trout catch start to go up and we did! I don’t discriminate against Dollies but when they are aggressively feeding on eggs its hard to find a trout bite sometimes. Dolly Varden are hard runners and head shakers you can almost tell instantly the difference between them and a rainbow trout when you hook up.

The 2011 season is quickly coming to an end. If you are still thinking of taking a Rainbow Trout, silver salmon or steelhead fishing trip feel free to give us a call anytime at 907-382-6808 or email us Tight lines Scott Sager!

KingFisher Restaurant

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Drifting-admin

After a good day of fishing the upper Kenai river fishing for rainbow trout and dolly Varden we decided to have dinner at the kingfisher restaurant. The KingFisher restaurant is located just above the waters edge on Kenai lake, excellent food and one of the best views of any restaurant I’ve been to. Plus I really enjoy the IPA that is on tap.

Leaving the kingfisher full and ready to hit the water after sleeping off a large meal.

Paddle boarding is getting popular on the kenai peninsula. Although I did see a group going down the kenai river the other day and with the boat traffic I don’t know that I would recommend that or not? Probably not!

While at dinner we had a table over looking Kenai Lake and this brilliant rainbow appeared. I’ve seen this view many times but the rainbow had me gazing out over the lake like it was the first time again. All in all I think that if you are in or passing through Cooper Landing Alaska the KingFisher Restaurant is well worth making time for.

dolly Varden fishing on the Kenai river

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Drifting-admin

Dolly varden fishing on the kenai river can be excellent. Along with the rainbow trout fishing you will find that these hard fighting fish can really be a good variety to your day. The guys taking time for family photos on the Kenai river and soaking in the experience. The high bank I am on is a great place to eat lunch and view the river and mountain range behind skilak lake.

The rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing was really good in the morning and tapered off a little by the afternoon. We still managed to find pockets of fish that were willing to feed. After I dropped my guest off I picked up a buddy and my dog at the dock and hung out on the river for another couple hours. It makes for a long day but winter is coming fast and this is the time of year I love the most.

If you are interested in a day on the water this year I still have days available for the in September and october this year. Give us a call at 907-382-6808 or click here Tight lines Scott Sager

Kenai river rainbow trout fishing

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Drifting-admin

A few eagles feeding along the Kenai river, we also saw a brown bear fishing along the river as well. I was able to maneuver the boat close enough for my guest to get some great photos. Wildlife along the Kenai river is abundant and you never know what you might see on a day trip with us.

This young Alaska brown bear was really trying hard to catch a fish and finally did. I think he will winter just fine.

Kenai river Rainbow trout fishing was good today again and I hope it continues through the whole fall. Our fish have enough of a food source to hold them over for a long time this year with the pink salmon in the river. Pink salmon show up on the kenai river on even numbered years.

The guys caught lots of fish today and managed to hang a very large fish but didn’t land it. The opportunity to catch a world class rainbow trout is very high on the kenai river with fish caught daily 24-28 inches and an occasional 30 inch plus fish. Tight lines Scott Sager Book a trip here

Alaska fishing and hunting

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Drifting-admin

Alaska fishing and hunting on the Kasilof river! Yesterday morning my friend Brian Richards of wilderness way in Soldotna Alaska and i set out on a day trip that would end up for us to tell our kids about one day. We put my private boat in the river with 5 rods one shotgun and a good dog for an 18 mile venture. By the end of the trip we had taken 5 ducks, caught silver salmon, dolly vardon and hooked a steelhead. Any person that takes a day trip in the outdoors can appreciate this kind of adventure. The best part of our day was watching Tok my black lab do what he lives to do!! ( hunt ). After a year of being cooped up he flawlessly retrieved all the birds and three of them I know we would have never found without him!

He is not the best bird dog but it’s great to see him after the start of his second hunting season really pull it together. I love to fish but live to hunt and to share it with him is a whole new experience.

He can be so lazy too!! Check us out at Drifting on the Fly for some great Alaska fishing information or at wilderness way for your out door gear needs. Tight lines Scott Sager Remember when you head out on an Alaska river trip that the tides near the inlets can be huge. A high tide and a little wind can hold you up for hours if you aren’t prepared for it. Plan on an outgoing tide if you don’t have a little kicker to help you out.

Wilderness Way

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Drifting-admin

Wilderness Way has a new look to the store front

Wilderness way is located in Soldotna Alaska in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula. If you are on the Kenai peninsula and are looking for a great shop to find all your fly fishing and clothing needs wilderness way will take care of you. Along with fly tying supplies and fishing equipment they also carry a variety of Sims, Patagonia, mountain hardware an many other clothing options for the harsh Alaska environment. You can also put an order in with them and they will have your order together and waiting for you when you arrive in town. Give us a call and we will be happy to get your order together for you. The most important thing to me in a store is customer service and the employees here are friendly and willing to help all they can. Today’s rainbow trout report is good. We have been fishing every day and have been dialed in on whats happening on the kenai river. Guide trips with us are still available until freeze up so don’t hesitate to book your trip today. Tight lines Scott Sager Www.driftingonthefly.com

Willow creek chum salmon

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Drifting-admin

This large Willow creek chum salmon was caught on a fly off parks highway last week. Chum salmon are a hard fighting salmon, They are very aggressive and will fight to the end. Thrashing gear and running you up and down the river hoping not to get spooled. As you can see this fish put up such a fight that the line cut his mouth in multiple places he wasn’t coming to hand with any ease. There is no way to avoid this, it’s like hooking a locomotive and trying to stop it. This fish was released and handled properly once to hand. It will continue its journey and end it’s life on a spawning bed in just a week or so. There are many fishing opportunities for chum salmon and if you are interested in targeting these fish we will be happy to help you out. Chum salmon are not as desirable to eat as other salmon but for a sport angler they may be as great of a fish to catch as any! I recommend a 8-9 weight fly rod for these fish and wouldn’t hesitate to use a 10 weight to bring the fish in a little faster. Tight lines Scott Sager book a trip here

Kenai river rainbow trout

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Drifting-admin

Kenai river rainbow trout fishing continues to be off the hook. I am noticing the change from the kenai river rainbow trout following the king salmon spawn to following the pink salmon spawn now. Our technique will not change but our fishing locations are switched up a bit when this happens. Keeping in tune with what is going on with the river keeps you into fish. Bent rods means happy clients and that is our main goal here at Drifting on the Fly.

Drift boat fishing is a great way to fish kenai river rainbow trout but when the river is big the power boats are legal it is a great option for reworking productive runs.

Keep a large rubber net under every fish I intend on releasing help in keeping them from ending up in the floor of the boat.

Taking a break from a great morning to have a little lunch. The fishing is good because these anglers refuse to eat or drink if their arms are not sore at lunch time. I love the experience that fishing gives to people. The camaraderie and sportsmanship that plays out almost everyday I am at work makes my job not work at all. Tight lines Scott Sager contact us here