Help with Kenai Silver Trip

[KROY]

I was hoping some of you Kenai experts might give me some pointers on catching silvers on the lower Kenai. My buddies and I are planning to spend a week on the Kenai for the second run of silvers this September. A friend of ours has a vacation house with boat and truck that they use for the king run. I’ve used it in the past to catch kings and wanted to try the silver run this year. What’s the best technique? We also plan on taking a halibut charter and digging some clams at Clam Gulch. Any other advice on things to do would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken

[Kim Katsion]

Hey Kroy, Why don't you e-mail you and I can get you in touch with one of the best Kenai guys there is, I know he would be willing to share information. I can help you with tide information at Clam Gulch and get you in touch with a great Halibut guy also. I know you will have a blast up there. Kim

[rags]

I have been on the Kenai several times for Silvers in September. Backbounce eggs! You will hammer the fish. Find a good hole and anchor. I have also caught several off the bank just casting #5 fox spinners. You will have a blast. Good time of the year to go on the upper river for Rainbows. 5 to 10 pound fish are the average.

[Wally]

I would also recommend you check out the Swanson River. It's about an hour away from Soldotna. My father has a place on the Kenai so I have spent quite a bit of time up there and fished most every run. The Kenai is a fabulous river but it can get to be a real zoo at times. Fishing for Silvers on the Swanson is about the most fun I have ever had fishing. E-mail me off line if you want the skinny.

[fishbait]

Have flown across to the main land and fished the Kuskitan (sp)cus-K-tan to get away for so many people. We absolutely pounded the silvers. Small chews of eggs and spinners. I would need to look in my records, but i think this was last week of Aug or first few days of September. I just called the Soldotna airport looking for a pilot. Definately worth the money to get away from the pressure if thats what you want. I am soooooo jelous. You will have such a great time. The hardest thing to do your first couple of trips is sleep, so much daylight, so many fish....... If you want a boat on the Keni, rent one from Smitty's. right on the river, very low agg or RW might have boats to rent. I have seen some posts from him. His camp is just downstream from Smitties. I have never used a guide on the lower Keni, it's just not necessary if you are comfortable running the boat and self guiding, save yourself some money. Have fun

[ChuckDog]

I've spent quite a bit of time fishing for silvers on a river 60 miles south of Juneau during the month of September. I make my own lures/flys which I use 95% of the time, however, on occasions, bait (eggs) can be deadly. Keep in mind that alot of rivers and streams are closed to the use of bait or limited to when it can be used.
If lure fishing, Mepps Aglia, Vibrax, Panther Martin and Pixies all work in blade sizes 3 to 5 (4's are a good all around choice). Color doesn't really seem to matter much in my experience, although I always have faith in my . I've thrown a size 4 silver spinner in a fresh stretch and have hooked a fish after fish. My friend standing upstream of me is using a size 3 brass spinner and catching just as many.
My theory - you're in Alaska, the fish your are fishing for more than likely haven't been fished for EVER. They're silvers in fresh water; if they're holding they'll hit any spinner presented to them. If they're on the move in fresh water it's alot tougher.
Same goes with dolly varden. If you find a slot where they are holding, it doesn't matter what spinner you are using - they will usually hammer it. One after the other.
When flyfishing, I've always done well using what is called an 'Alaskabou', which is a streamer tied with primarily pink,orange and purple marabou with a little flashabou thrown in. One fly usually last on a half dozen dollies or so before the maribou is wasted or torn out. They love em'. Silvers do to if you can keep the dollies off.
Anyhoo, my .02
Good luck!

[Deleted User]

One of the best ways to fish the cold colored waters of the north is slow backtrolling with Hot N Tot and eggs/spin n glo. The trend has been to paint the HnT flat black and use about a 50" leader. It's hard to beat good egg clusters up there. Unless you wrap a real small piece of sardine filet on the Mag HnT belly too, and put a siwash hook on the belly eye with the leader and then rubber band them together to avoid tangling. Use the standard size for shallower runs. Of course ....

.... there are some good secrets to this method; and I just hate to give them out. But it's my calling. Oh well, I will give you the secrets in 'jibberish'. If you can't decipher them, just print a copy and let any young fan of rapper "M&M" interpret it for you. ...


It's konay to seuay a eenergay TnH versiday. Know-what-I-mean-man? Dude's got it ratcunay, OK? If you a homey man, ontpay the overlay, no-what-I-mean. Nad longickshnay the eeaderloden when the moisture is urkymus. Clear? Then englothen eeaderloden bout a moot pt. inusmyman or so. Be cool right there! Don't etimus het ookshany forplay it down dude! Then whamus-shnaydicon ickshnay otno! That's all ya need man. You gottit dude. O'My''' right on X 2, or more.

[KROY]

Thanks everyone! Wally, what's your e-mail address?
RT, Whattttttttt? Since my kids are only up to DR. Seuss rap I'm going to need some help with that one.

[Deleted User]

OK, I'll try to help you out with that KROY. Loosely interpreted it says that green is also a very good color. In fact it may show up less than the black silouette on the Hot N Tots in average water color. If you use the swiash trick try the chartuse glo with kelly green stipes pattern HnT for backtrolling eggs on the Kenai (check bait regs). "lonickshnay" means that you don't need the trend toward longer 50" leaders in the Kenai, or any rivers with a lot of color (urkymus). Try them from 36" to 42" to have the vibration/noise closer to your bait. Also, when you are going to fish a combo of deep and shallower runs, use about a 10" dropper off a slidder above the mainline swivel to hook your Mag sized HnT's. It get's plenty deep for most all water on the Kenai R. and it becomes like a backbouncr in the shallower water (although you should rell in some line then). That setup is phat ... ah, good. Don't set the hook too soon, let the fish take it down and then wham-set. That should get you your limit and more. Good luck KROY. - RT

[Deleted User]

Kroy,

Never fished the Kenia for Silvers .... only Kings in july.

The absolute best Silver fishing I have done in my life was at Seward in late August. If you are not sure about the Silvers on the Kenia.....You can be sure about the Silvers in Seward in late August and I can reccomend an excellent guide if it fits your schedule to go in the last part of August instead of September.

BWB

[Chris Sessions]

Hi Ken,
Slilvers start up the Kenai in late July so by September they are well distributed in the system. You might want to try the upper river, drift boat or bank, as well. In the lower river, small clusters of salmon eggs on a slider, back-bounced or plunked behind an anchored boat at the edge of the river is hard to beat. If the fishing is hot, and you want to fish for more than a couple hours, you may not want to use this method, as you will limit too quickly. On the Kenai, the limit last year was 2 silvers per day per person and once you reach your limit you are done fishing the Kenai for the rest of that day. This can happen quickly as the fish move through in “waves” following the tide. You can catch and release but if you use good eggs you are going to hook many of these aggressive biters deeply making releasing the fish unharmed difficult or impossible. Try using small spinglows, 1/0 hook and yarn with a little sardine oil and you will hook almost as many salmon and usually non-fatally. Small plugs, spoons and spinners work as well. Also, be ready to quick release from your anchor as you won’t believe the size and power of some of these salmon....hard to release an 18 – 20 lber! Hope this helps and if you need more info, restaurants, lodging, entertainment, feel free to contact me.
Chris S

[Deleted User]

Kenai is good but don't rule out Resurection bay at Seward. You can keep 6 fish per day and the fishing is really hot. I did it last year with some guy named skunk or something like that and after I showed him what to do we did very well! Best time to go is last 2 weeks of August....You won't be sorry! If you are interested I can give you the name of a guide.

BWB