IZAAK WALTON BOAT LAUNCH

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO IZAAK WALTON BOAT LAUNCH IN STERLING, ALASKA View IZAAK WALTON OR MOOSE RIVER BOAT LAUNCH in a larger map Most trips meet here for Rainbow trout, Silver Salmon and sometimes King salmon fishing trips. Izzak Walton boat launch in located at the moose river bridge in Sterling Alaska. The Izzak walton boat launch and state park has a very nice campground, picnic tables, and outhouses.  This is one of my favorite state park facilities located on the Kenai river.  The Moose river dumps into the Kenai only a short distance from the boat launch.  It is a slow and shallow river and makes it very nice for launching a boat.  There is also some great silver salmon fishing here as well when they are running.  It is a toss up between meeting here or at bings landing.  It usually depends on how busy the boat launch is at bings.  If we are headed up river it takes about 15 minutes to pass bings launch up and head on to skilak lake.  This is worth it if the wait to launch at bings is very long. Guided Kenai River Trip Rate $250 per person *LARGE GROUPS WELCOME *LODGING PACKAGES AVAILABLE *EXCLUSIVE BOAT PACKAGES -2 PERSON EXCLUSIVE STARTING AT $750.00 A DAY -3 PERSON EXCLUSIVE STARTING AT $950.00 A DAY Hope this helps out and we are looking for ward to fishing with you this year! Scott Sager www.driftingonthefly.com scott@driftingonthefly.com (907)382-6808 [mappress mapid=”24″]

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!

RAINBOW TROUT FISHING THE KENAI RIVER

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. KENAI RIVER RAINBOW TROUT 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

GUIDED KASILOF RIVER KING SALMON FISHING

Guided Kasilof river King salmon fishing is officially over on the Kenai peninsula now.   The end of July marks the end of King salmon fishing on the Kenai peninsula.  Though it was a great season we are now geared up and focused on Silver Salmon, Sockeye salmon and rainbow trout fishing now.
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I had the pleasure of fishing with my family on the last day of King salmon season and this 53″ Buck took an orange spin and gloe with some cured salmon eggs.  We ended up landing this fish more than a mile from where it was hooked!! This is a very large King salmon caught on the Kasilof river and everyone is very proud of it.  Our boat has been fishing good and this is a great way to end the King salmon season here in Alaska.   Though king fishing season is over look for more pictures and info about king fishing with us in the future from us.   The  season is really not that far away so if you are interested in a prime date be sure to book early. The last three weeks in July on the Kenai Peninsula seem to book faster and faster each year. Guided kasilof or Kenai river King salmon fishing can be a great experience like my family had when you are with a guide that takes pride in his job Tight lines, Scott  

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

SILVER SALMON FISHING ON THE KENAI RIVER

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Silver Salmon fishing on the kenai river has been excellent this week.  The best proven fly has been a purple leach pattern for the water conditions that we have been fishing.   You might have to weed through a couple fish to put a chrome one in the boat.  This late in the season the fish that entered the system earlier are starting to stage to spawn.  When a silver salmon is hooked up it will take big runs and cartwheeling jumps it is all good.  I’ve found that a slightly upstream cast and a big mend with a very slow retrieve has got the most bites. Silver salmon can be aggressive but I find a slower presentation out fishes a fast sporadic presentation most days.   Anywhere on the Kenai river with a slow pocket should be holding silver salmon.

We will continue to take booking for silver salmon fishing on the kenai river until the end of October.  Weather conditions are sometimes colder and daylight hours are not as long but the fishing can be excellent in October for both silvers and rainbow trout! Contact us here for a silver salmon guide trip on the kenai river.

Tight Lines,

Scott Sager www.driftingonthefly.com

Alaska Top Water Rainbow Trout Fishing

Alaska rainbow trout fishing   Under the right conditions and timing you can find some great Alaska top water rainbow trout fishing.  From Dry flies in small streams and lakes to big mouse patterns on the Kenai and other rivers in the state.  June proves to be a good month on the Kenai Peninsula for this and I have some great streams in other parts of the state that can provide top water rainbow trout fishing. It is my goal to explore at least one new river every year. This year we chose Lake Creek to see if it was worth adding to the arsenal.  At the begining of the trip we were able to get plenty of rainbows taking mouse patterns which made the trip worth while right then and there. We had high muddy water for the whole trip and still the river produced a good number of rainbow trout, grayling, and silver salmon .  On our 60 mile adventure through white water, rocks and canyons. We found ourselves thinking that we need to show this to you.   If you are interested in a 6 day 5 night back country float I think we found a great adventure for you!  I can put this Alaska guide trip together and work closely with you to build a fishing trip of a lifetime. Tight lines, www.driftingonthefly.com

Silver Salmon Fly Fishing

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When I think of Salmon on the fly rod I think Silver Salmon fly fishing.  The fishing typically gets good by mid to late July on some of our fly out fishing and mid Aug. to the end of Oct. on the Kenai peninsula and the kenai river.  In the right conditions silver salmon will take the fly very aggressively.  I’ve even had many opportunities to take these fish on top water.  Bunny flies, articulated flies, marabou flies, leaches, spoon flies, etc. are just a few patterns that will work well for these fish.  I find a slow strip in slow water or swinging your flies in faster water draw the most strikes.  I prefer a strip set or scissor strike to set the hook.  This way if you miss the fish you don’t pull the streamer out of the strike zone and often the fish will come back to give you a second chance.  If you are fishing from a boat make sure you fish the fly all the way back to the boat.  I see fish chasing all the way to the boat for a last chance strike. If you are interested in matching your skills with these fish make sure you contact me at www.driftingonthefly.com and we’ll get you lined up on a alaska fishing guide tip. Thanks and tight lines Scott Sager Drifting On The Fly, LLC