Kenai Kings

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Story & Photos
by  Greg Brush

The long faces in my boat told the story quite clearly: disappointment had set in, attitudes were faltering and my guests were mentally giving up. The sad fact was that we had covered over eight miles of river, fished for seven hours, only seen two king salmon landed all day and had had nary a bump. As a Kenai River guide with two decades of experience, I had been in this predicament before, yet there was little I could do to combat it now, other than deploy my standard exclamations of “It beats working” and “welcome to the Kenai!” [emember_protected custom_msg=’This content is available for subscribers only.’]

If I sound calloused, or if you think I don’t care about the success of my guests, you couldn’t be further from the truth. I know quite well that folks have high hopes, spend big bucks and count on their guide to put them on fish. In fact, I would have given anything to locate and entice a couple of monster kings for those clients that day, but my hands were tied and success was beyond my control. You see, the timeframe of this particular charter was mid-May,the early-run was just getting started, few fish were entering the river, and water conditions happened to be poor.

My guests had failed to do their homework, and they had neglected to contact me prior to booking their fishing vacation to inquire about their chosen timeframe, peak run-timing or “best odds” for Kenai River kings. Like so many other first-time salmon fisherman, they had heard the stories and seen the photos of behemoth salmon—fish that really do exist and are caught each year—and thus assumed that Kenai kings were always present in good numbers and that one only needed to show up, pay a fee and catch the fish of a lifetime.

Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, use this handy guide to educate yourself about the pros and cons of each timeframe. Once informed, you can develop realistic expectations and choose the perfect season to meet your king fishing needs. Read on and learn the good, the bad and the ugly of the Kenai.

MAY 1-15

The Good: Fishing pressure is at its lowest—in fact, you may be the only angler on the water. Breakup just occurred and the water level is very low, offering a nice drift-boat-only experience and reasonable opportunity for bank anglers who like to plunk. Reading the water is easy and good king holes are obvious. Any king hooked will be ocean-bright. An enjoyable time for those eager to get on the water, put the long winter behind you and fish peacefully.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed. Slot-limit regulation in effect. The early run of kings is just starting. Fish counts can be in the single digits. Water flows are so slow that decent holes are few and far between. Ice on the banks can make hiking and wading very tough.

The Ugly: Most launches still closed. Water too low for powerboats. Success rates at this time are as low as they get. Hope and pray for a strike, but count on going fishless. In fact, if you land a Kenai king now, consider yourself incredibly lucky and buy a lottery ticket.

MAY 16-31

The Good: Fishing pressure is minimal. The early run is building and usually fish numbers are increasing by the day. Fish will be bright and full of fight. Success rates are improving to the point where one can reasonably expect to hook a fish. Water levels are rising and creating more good spots and navigable water for those bold power boaters who know the river well or just have too many props! The world record was caught during this timeframe (May 17), providing inspiration, and many seasoned locals believe that a small push of truly huge fish occurs every year in late May.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed. Slot-limit regulation in effect. Water level is still too low for all but the more experienced power boaters. Boat launches can be tricky. These kings are usually traveling to their tributaries so fast that they don’t hold up anywhere—trying to chase them upstream is usually futile. Fish counts are still low, often only 25 to 50 per day. On some years, a large hooligan (smelt) run at this time can foul your lures repeatedly. Water is rising daily, sometimes washing humpy slime downstream on odd years, clogging swivels, divers and lures frequently.

The Ugly: Water conditions can go south quickly. Limited holes to fish due to low river levels. Success rates still low, so don’t be too surprised if you get skunked, as many anglers do at this time.

JUNE 1-15

The Good: Virtually all boat launches are open and the river is now fairly easy to navigate. Moderate water flows make holding a drift boat fairly easy. Peak of the early run occurs during this timeframe, so action is the rule rather than the exception. Reasonable odds of hooking multiple kings per boat. In fact, every year, the stars align and a few boats have super days where 4 to 10 kings are landed. Fish numbers are continuing to rise, as is the water, which spreads effort and boat pressure nicely. Some kings starting to pause and hold from Sunken Island to Killey River. This is an excellent time for those looking for a quality experience with reasonable fishing pressure. If the early-run escapement goal is met or projected to be met, the use of bait/scent may be suddenly allowed during this timeframe, offering superb fishing for holding fish for several days.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed (unless granted by Emergency Order). Slot-limit regulation in effect. A few darker fish starting to show towards mid-June. Fishing pressure increasing—you will not be alone. Bank fishing opportunity for kings diminishing as water rises. Grass and humpy slime still not entirely washed out yet.

The Ugly: Long days and warmer weather can sometimes raise the river at a rate it can’t handle, creating very poor water conditions.

JUNE 16-30

The Good: Plenty of water to launch and run boats. Fish spread out, in effect spreading boat pressure. Some huge kings show up at this time: a chance at a true hog is (arguably) as high as it gets all season. Over the years, this timeframe has produced 86, 85, 79 and dozens of fish from 76 to 70 pounds for the author’s clients. A favorite time for true trophy hunters looking for that one fish of a lifetime without the crazy crowds of July.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed (unless granted by Emergency Order). Slot-limit regulation in effect. The number of dark fish is increasing at this time. Success rates usually falling as the early run peaks and falls off.

The Ugly: King fishing now has the potential to be very slow, declining by the day. Some years, the early run ends abruptly, holding fish enter their natal tributaries and king fishing can be super slow. The last few days of June offer the very real possibility of hooking only one or none.

JULY 1-15

The Good: Bait and scent allowed (if not previously granted by Emergency Order). Slot-limit regulation no longer in effect. Second run starting and building by the day. Reasonable odds of hooking multiple kings per boat. More chrome-bright fish due to substantial pushes of new, aggressive salmon arriving with every tide—lower ten miles of river usually picks up at this time.

The Bad: Fishing pressure can suddenly be substantial, due in part to the allowance of bait, no slot limit, and red salmon fishing opportunity.

The Ugly: The first week of July often offers slow king fishing, as the early run is over and the late run sometimes takes its time arriving.

JULY 16-31

The Good: Bait and scent allowed. Slot-limit regulation no longer in effect. Peak of the late run occurs during this timeframe. Good king fishing coincides with good red salmon fishing. Multiple kings should be holding in every major hole on the lower river, with tides often bringing large quantities of aggressive fish.

The Bad: Expect extreme fishing pressure. More dark fish towards the end of the month.

The Ugly: You cannot get away from the boats! Boat operators should be experienced, as serious crowding occurs, aggressive fishing prevails and defensive driving is a must.

There you have it. The good, the bad and the ugly of each timeframe based on nearly ten thousand hours of guiding king salmon anglers on the Kenai. As you can see, every season has something to offer, as well as a downside, but now you can factor those in and better decide what period suits your personal needs, thereby avoiding unrealistic expectations and the disappointment that often accompany them. When you know what you are getting yourself into and know what to expect, you will be surprised how enjoyable this special river can be.

The author lives in Soldotna, Alaska, with his wife and two daughters, where they own and operate EZ Limit Guide Service. A twenty-year veteran guide, Greg spends much of his winters writing and conducting seminars on salmon fishing. For questions or comments, he can be reached through his website, www.ezlimit.com.

Story & Photos
by
Greg Brush

The long faces in my boat told the story quite clearly: disappointment had set in, attitudes were faltering and my guests were mentally giving up. The sad fact was that we had covered over eight miles of river, fished for seven hours, only seen two king salmon landed all day and had had nary a bump. As a Kenai River guide with two decades of experience, I had been in this predicament before, yet there was little I could do to combat it now, other than deploy my standard exclamations of “It beats working” and “welcome to the Kenai!”

If I sound calloused, or if you think I don’t care about the success of my guests, you couldn’t be further from the truth. I know quite well that folks have high hopes, spend big bucks and count on their guide to put them on fish. In fact, I would have given anything to locate and entice a couple of monster kings for those clients that day, but my hands were tied and success was beyond my control. You see, the timeframe of this particular charter was mid-May, the early-run was just getting started, few fish were entering the river, and water conditions happened to be poor.

My guests had failed to do their homework, and they had neglected to contact me prior to booking their fishing vacation to inquire about their chosen timeframe, peak run-timing or “best odds” for Kenai River kings. Like so many other first-time salmon fisherman, they had heard the stories and seen the photos of behemoth salmon—fish that really do exist and are caught each year—and thus assumed that Kenai kings were always present in good numbers and that one only needed to show up, pay a fee and catch the fish of a lifetime.

Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, use this handy guide to educate yourself about the pros and cons of each timeframe. Once informed, you can develop realistic expectations and choose the perfect season to meet your king fishing needs. Read on and learn the good, the bad and the ugly of the Kenai.

MAY 1-15

The Good: Fishing pressure is at its lowest—in fact, you may be the only angler on the water. Breakup just occurred and the water level is very low, offering a nice drift-boat-only experience and reasonable opportunity for bank anglers who like to plunk. Reading the water is easy and good king holes are obvious. Any king hooked will be ocean-bright. An enjoyable time for those eager to get on the water, put the long winter behind you and fish peacefully.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed. Slot-limit regulation in effect. The early runof kings is just starting. Fish counts can be in the single digits. Water flows are so slow that decent holes are few and far between. Ice on the banks can make hiking and wading very tough.

The Ugly: Most launches still closed. Water too low for powerboats. Success rates at this time are as low as they get. Hope and pray for a strike, but count on going fishless. In fact, if you land a Kenai king now, consider yourself incredibly lucky and buy a lottery ticket.

MAY 16-31

The Good: Fishing pressure is minimal. The early run is building and usually fish numbers are increasing by the day. Fish will be bright and full of fight. Success rates are improving to the point where one can reasonably expect to hook a fish. Water levels are rising and creating more good spots and navigable water for those bold power boaters who know the river well or just have too many props! The world record was caught during this timeframe (May 17), providing inspiration, and many seasoned locals believe that a small push of truly huge fish occurs every year in late May.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed. Slot-limit regulation in effect. Water level is still too low for all but the more experienced power boaters. Boat launches can be tricky. These kings are usually traveling to their tributaries so fast that they don’t hold up anywhere—trying to chase them upstream is usually futile. Fish counts are still low, often only 25 to 50 per day. On some years, a large hooligan (smelt) run at this time can foul your lures repeatedly. Water is rising daily, sometimes washing humpy slime downstream on odd years, clogging swivels, divers and lures frequently.

The Ugly: Water conditions can go south quickly. Limited holes to fish due to low river levels. Success rates still low, so don’t be too surprised if you get skunked, as many anglers do at this time.

JUNE 1-15

The Good: Virtually all boat launches are open and the river is now fairly easy to navigate. Moderate water flows make holding a drift boat fairly easy. Peak of the early run occurs during this timeframe, so action is the rule rather than the exception. Reasonable odds of hooking multiple kings per boat. In fact, every year, the stars align and a few boats have super days where 4 to 10 kings are landed. Fish numbers are continuing to rise, as is the water, which spreads effort and boat pressure nicely. Some kings starting to pause and hold from Sunken Island to Killey River. This is an excellent time for those looking for a quality experience with reasonable fishing pressure. If the early-run escapement goal is met or projected to be met, the use of bait/scent may be suddenly allowed during this timeframe, offering superb fishing for holding fish for several days.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed (unless granted by Emergency Order). Slot-limit regulation in effect. A few darker fish starting to show towards mid-June. Fishing pressure increasing—you will not be alone. Bank fishing opportunity for kings diminishing as water rises. Grass and humpy slime still not entirely washed out yet.

The Ugly: Long days and warmer weather can sometimes raise the river at a rate it can’t handle, creating very poor water conditions.

JUNE 16-30

The Good: Plenty of water to launch and run boats. Fish spread out, in effect spreading boat pressure. Some huge kings show up at this time: a chance at a true hog is (arguably) as high as it gets all season. Over the years, this timeframe has produced 86, 85, 79 and dozens of fish from 76 to 70 pounds for the author’s clients. A favorite time for true trophy hunters looking for that one fish of a lifetime without the crazy crowds of July.

The Bad: No bait or scent allowed (unless granted by Emergency Order). Slot-limit regulation in effect. The number of dark fish is increasing at this time. Success rates usually falling as the early run peaks and falls off.

The Ugly: King fishing now has the potential to be very slow, declining by the day. Some years, the early run ends abruptly, holding fish enter their natal tributaries and king fishing can be super slow. The last few days of June offer the very real possibility of hooking only one or none.

JULY 1-15

The Good: Bait and scent allowed (if not previously granted by Emergency Order). Slot-limit regulation no longer in effect. Second run starting and building by the day. Reasonable odds of hooking multiple kings per boat. More chrome-bright fish due to substantial pushes of new, aggressive salmon arriving with every tide—lower ten miles of river usually picks up at this time.

The Bad: Fishing pressure can suddenly be substantial, due in part to the allowance of bait, no slot limit, and red salmon fishing opportunity.

The Ugly: The first week of July often offers slow king fishing, as the early run is over and the late run sometimes takes its time arriving.

JULY 16-31

The Good: Bait and scent allowed. Slot-limit regulation no longer in effect. Peak of the late run occurs during this timeframe. Good king fishing coincides with good red salmon fishing. Multiple kings should be holding in every major hole on the lower river, with tides often bringing large quantities of aggressive fish.

The Bad: Expect extreme fishing pressure. More dark fish towards the end of the month.

The Ugly: You cannot get away from the boats! Boat operators should be experienced, as serious crowding occurs, aggressive fishing prevails and defensive driving is a must.

There you have it. The good, the bad and the ugly of each timeframe based on nearly ten thousand hours of guiding king salmon anglers on the Kenai. As you can see, every season has something to offer, as well as a downside, but now you can factor those in and better decide what period suits your personal needs, thereby avoiding unrealistic expectations and the disappointment that often accompany them. When you know what you are getting yourself into and know what to expect, you will be surprised how enjoyable this special river can be.

The author lives in Soldotna, Alaska, with his wife and two daughters, where they own and operate EZ Limit Guide Service. A twenty-year veteran guide, Greg spends much of his winters writing and conducting seminars on salmon fishing. For questions or comments, he can be reached through his website, www.ezlimit.com. [/emember_protected] [emember_protected scope=”not_logged_in_users_only”]

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