Cat and Mouse: The Evolution of the PhD Pig

Kenai River trout pigs are becoming more elusive, with fewer large catches due to increased fishing pressure and evolving trout behavior. Learn how author Nick Ohlrich is adjusting his fishing techniques for success. 

Story by Nick Ohlrich – Photos by Nick Ohlrich, Alaska Drift Away Fishing, and Jason Simmons

I’ve often heard longtime Middle Kenai anglers say there are less big fish than there were 20 years ago. What could it be? Over-loving the resource? Is it even true?

Less Big Fish

I think we lose a fair number of big fish during the sockeye season. I personally have seen plenty of 10-pound-plus rainbows floating dead during this time, but anglers lining the banks of the Kenai for sockeyes are nothing new. There was a period back around 2008 where accessibility to Kenai River pigs was easy and we possibly lost some strong breeding stock during this time frame. To the best of my knowledge no studies on populations to quantify how many “big” ‘bows are in the system has been done. I ponder how effective it would be. I will agree that consistently hooking pigs is harder, but we are still doing it. Maybe the big ones are getting smarter, they are resident fish, and would rather not get a hook jabbed in their face for our enjoyment. Could it be our increased interest in and pursuit of these epic beings?

My experience leads me to a theory: Trout react adversely to power-boat noise and pressure.

Evolution of Angler and Trout Dynamics

During the past two decades guiding trout on the Middle Kenai, I have witnessed an incredible evolution of cat-and-mouse between angler and trout. To understand the present, it is prudent to begin with the past.

My first Kenai rainbow was caught in Cooper Landing during the summer of 2002. I was immediately addicted. Back then, the common thought was if you wanted trout, you fished in Cooper Landing; if you wanted salmon, you went to the Lower River. The Middle seemed to have a question mark hanging over it. I’m fully aware people were indeed fishing and guiding this section for trout and salmon during this time, but nowhere near as much as they are now.

My first experience with the Middle was September of 2003. We motored our drift boat into the Dunes via the Lower Skilak boat launch and spent the day plowing big, dumb ‘bows with a half dozen other drift boats. Back then, many guides hunting trout on the Middle were Cooper Landing drift-boat guides. It took about 10 minutes of fishing to realize this was a secret gem hiding in plain sight and “fight-club rules” were the unsaid law. Understandably, the few guides who had been in the mix were not overly stoked about seeing newcomers. We were told to take photos of fish with the drift boat as the background and say they were caught in the canyon. We completely understood and passed the same rule down to others who came after us. The Middle, during this time, was arguably the best trout fishery on the planet.

Shift in Fishing Practices and Increased Pressure

The following winter and spring loafed by as my froth to get back to the Middle consumed my brain. I thought my mind had melted that last fall; I was very wrong. The full melt happened in the fall of 2004 when we gained access to a power boat. One day sticks out, and for good reason. I was fishing with Jason and Jefferson Simmons. It was my turn to run the drift, and halfway down Upper Torpedo they each hooked a three-foot bow. Yes, six feet of rainbow trout proceeded to destroy us. Jefferson’s broke off while we were able to get Jason’s in the net. We tangled with several other fish in the mid- to high-20-inch range that day, but after taping out a 35-incher, those seemed okayish. I was permanently ruined. Besides epic fishing, we did not see another boat.

Drift boat guides didn’t always float to Bings. They didn’t need to. The Dunes to Upper Super Hole was more than enough water to have a banner day. It was easier to motor back out to Skilak and skip the shuttle. I have fond memories of motoring back to Skilak with a handful of drift-boat guides, all of us with shit-eating grins, feeling like we got away with bank robbery.

The Rise of the Middle Kenai Popularity

A roadside fishery this epic does not stay quiet for long. Somewhere around 2008 the cat got out of the bag and almost overnight the Middle was the place to be. Some say this time is when the middle lost quite a few big ‘bows (genetics). The reasoning is anglers didn’t need to be experienced to hook into massive fish, and improper handling and poor catch-and-release practices could have led to a high morality. Round and orange were the prerequisites for beads to catch fish.

There was also a sketchy regulation—a loophole—allowing folks to target Dolly Varden below Skilak Lake before the trout opener of June 11. To the disgust of many, private sport anglers, and worse, guides, were having a great time wrecking big, spawning rainbows as they were aggressive and easy to find on the shallow bars while spawning.

Impact of Increased Pressure on Trout Behavior

The combination of increased pressure during the legit season to target ‘bows and the harassment of spawning trout led some to believe this took a toll on big fish. At the time I believed this as well. From 2008- to 2010, many trout guides began getting power boats. In my opinion, this is when the education for big fish to become very particular began. Power-lapping a hole back then was what we all did because we could. Trout had not put the sound of a power boat and fish getting hooked together—yet. It was possible to fish a zone for hours and hook 10-pound fish almost every drift.

Big ‘bows began fighting differently during this transitional period, too. For argument’s sake, let’s say this was pre-2010. Big fish would take you to your backing several times before offering a net shot, and getting spooled was a thing. Today the fish fight smart, the big ones may take you to your backing, but mostly hang near the boat, diving under it, buzzing the prop, and making small runs. It appears they patiently wait for the angler to do something dumb versus just going ballistic the entire fight. For more info on fighting big trout, check out the “Dances with Pigs” article I wrote in the Aug/Sep 2023 issue of Fish Alaska.

Adjusting Fishing Techniques for Success

By 2012, our business (Alaska Drift Away Fishing) decided to not hammer zones like we had been because we started seeing big-fish bites dying by the third lap. We still caught fish, but not the size we wanted.

Fast forward to the present, and the Middle Kenai is a tough fishery. Our egg patterns are very sophisticated and currently we have over 130 patterns which all catch big fish depending on time of year and conditions. The greatest big-fish bead will not catch Walter if you find yourself mingling with the herd. Big-fish bites are also much more sensitive to pressure and the one- or two peak times a day can be thwarted if the herd (all the other boats) is grazing in your pig pen (the hole where Walter should be), so to speak.

It seems fish 23 inches and smaller are not as sensitive to pressure, but they are also younger. As an adult, hopefully you are not repeating the dumb things you did as a teenager. Catching mid- to small fish is enough to keep many anglers interested and lapping holes, causing increased pressure, noise, and Walter to not feed.

Importance of Timing and Noise Reduction

About 30 minutes of chill is needed to reset a big-fish zone before you can pull out another pig. What I imagine happening is once a big fish is hooked, their friends of the same caliber stop feeding. During the fall, so much food is flowing downriver they don’t have to feed if pressured. I believe pressure also equals power-boat noise to big ‘bows as most anglers run power boats now. An individual pig in a group does not need to be hooked to spook the rest. An increase of noise and smaller fish in the area getting hooked is plenty to kill the big-fish bite.

Most rules have exceptions, and the one I found was last fall during the very high-water event. Above the Dunes looked like a version of king fishing the Lower River in July back when the Kenai king fishery was in its heyday; boats were everywhere. Big fish were caught right in the middle of the herd! Why? My guess is the depth of the water. This area was between 15- and 25 feet deep. Further down river, mingling in the herd where water depth was shallower did not yield the same consistent results.

The Future of Kenai Trout Fishing

While opportunities for the slab of the day become trickier, something can be said for the fortitude of our quarry. The trout of the Middle Kenai have become PHDs of pattern, presentation, and pressure, just like the ninja pigs of the Upper Kenai. The game has changed and will continue to evolve. The mastery of a subject is what propels us to outwit our objective and the prey will continue to adapt to the pressure of the predator.

These ideas are entirely my opinion and have zero scientific backing, however, my froth for consistently hooking big ‘bows led me to this position and will continue to be my modus operandi until I find something to disprove this theory. Happy hunting.

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Nick Ohlrich is co-owner/guide of Alaska Drift Away Fishing and contributing editor of Fish Alaska magazine. For more information check out our website and guidekenairiver.com and kenairainbowtrout.com.