July 10, 2010
I want to first apologize for not having published anything for a bit of time. I had a family emergency that required that I leave Alaska and travel back to Kentucky. All is well now and I am back in my beloved Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula.
Lets start with the Kenai River. The river has jumped up about 13 inches and is again a mess. Lots of flotsam and jetsum floating down the river, including large logs, and smaller things. While the King Salmon run is progressing as it should the catching of salmon is way off. This is due to the really nasty water on the Kenai. So far this month, we are averaging over 1000 kings a day. This is about normal to slightly above normal over the past 10 years.
Not having been here this week, I am not sure of the cause of the dirty water in the Kenai River. It is coming from upstream of the Moose River. Either a large amount of rain has hit the Killey River drainage or there has been a serious amount of rain in the Kenai around Coopers Landing or above the lake. Since all 3 of the Ice Dams broke last year, it is unlikely that another dam has broken this year, but that is also a possibility I guess... all be it unheard of.
The Kenai River Red Salmon count is way ahead of last year at this time, and we have some good tides for salmon this week. As of the 8th of July over 50,000 fish have come up the river. This is about 40% more than at the same time last year. Predictions of an off year on red salmon do not seem to be accurate EXCEPT on the Russian River which is having a below average season, and which in my opinion should have had more restrictions put on it.
The Russian River has hit the 23,000 mark, but the weird thing is no one who has gone to the falls has seen any fish up there to speak of. Either the fish are going immediately up the ladder or the falls, or the fish are not making it there. The older fishermen, are totally confused by this as they can not figure out how you get 23,000 fish above the wier, and end up with no fish at the falls, either in the pool, or jumping the falls as you would expect.
The Kasilof River has already hit its escapement goals for the season, so the set netters have been told to hit the river. Over 80 thousand of the reds have managed to get up the river so far this year. This is about the same as last year, but ahead of schedule a bit.
Halibut fishing last week was fair, and while I was gone Captain Barry of Saltwater Adventures had a customer hook and land a 365 pound Halibut out of Deep Creek. You can reach Barry at http://www.saltwateradventures.biz if you are interested in a trip. Captain Mark on the Northern Lights is also catching some good fish with quite a few in the 50 to 60 pound range and the biggest this year so far is 160 pounds. You can reach Capt. Mark at www.AuroraSportFishing.net
I am working this summer at Funny Moose Lodge. If you are looking for a great week of fishing, we have plenty of openings for the rest of the season. Give us a call at 907-262-3701 and ask for George. Tell him you read about him in the Enquirer...
Jim Dicken
Camp Manager Funny Moose Lodge
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