doing an Alaskan motorhome fishing trip any suggestions

skinzner · Jan 10, 2007

Theres a group of 4 of us going up to anchorage on july 7th and renting a motorhome until the 18th and were going to do a bunch of fishing and sightseeing. We plan on doing a guided trip on either the kenai or kasilof and doing some shore fishing also on the kasilof and russian. Does anybody have any suggestions for some other places to fish without getting a guide, some smaller streams or lakes for grayling, trout etc. Were going to be up there for 11 days and the pocketbook isnt thick enough for more than 2 guided trips.I'm also looking for a place that i can keep my fish at (soldotna area) i'm going to vacuum pack them i just need a spot to keep them frozen until the 18th any suggestions. thanks

kilowatt · Jan 11, 2007

Do a search for "bigmoosie" here on MM, he lives up there in that area now. Maybe he can give you some pointers etc.

Brian

spitz · Jan 11, 2007

I think you're in between the peak seasons. We went a few years back during the same stretch, rented a car though and stayed with some friends.

We spent money on a guided deep sea halibut trip and it was worth every penny. If I remember correctly the Kenai fishes better through June for the Kings on up into the fourth of july and then the silvers really came in along the other rivers in late July.

We traveled over to Valdez and had a blast also. The pinks were in thick and you could catch fish all day throwing spinners from the community piers. Great part was the 10 ft. haul through the air to bring them from the water to the pier.

BRWNBR · Jan 12, 2007

might try resurection creek at hope, the pinks might be in there, thats an hour and half south of anchorage, great fishing. a few reds might be in at the russian river, but like the other poster said you'll be hitting it right between runs. i'd suggest the deep sea charter instead of the kenai or kasilof, you'll catch wayyyyy more fish in the ocean than you will on the kenai and better eating fish as well. whittier, seward, valdez and even homer have good halibut and rock fish fishing. there might be salmon out in the ocean too.
good luck

GoatSlayer · Jan 12, 2007

Skinzner,

We fished up there this year. We went Caribou hunting with friends and got in a few days of fishing. On the Keni and stayed for a week in Soldotna. We fished for a few days with a guide and limited out everyday on Silvers. We were fishing later in the year. Sept. 11th and the Pinks were making their run.

We stayed at the motel right on the river and caught Pinks all day long behind the motel. We did get a Silver or two there but for the most part it was Pinks. We also took a halibut charter in Homer and had a great time doing that. They were closing down for the season so it was tough to find somebody to take us out. Sea was getting to rough.

The guide we went with was outstanding and as mentioned we caught our limit of Silvers daily. Also there is a fish place right across from the motel. I beleive it was called Koliskof Fish Company (not sure of spelling). But they packaged the fish and vacuumed packed the fish and it was very resonable. I am thinking it was like 40 cents per pound. My buddy also sent his home next day air and they packaged it and sent it to his house in Kansas for like $67.00.

If you want and send me a PM I will send you the guides name. We will for sure use him again when we go fishing in Alaska.

Goatslayer

eelgrass · Jan 12, 2007

The one thing I would highly recommend is getting the 2007 Alaska Milepost. It gives you a mile by mile description of all the roadways in Alaska with tons of info on things to see and do, and places to fish. Lots of maps too. I drove from Anchorage to Homer and a side trip to Seward. I would have missed half of it if it weren't for the Milepost. Most larger bookstores will have it, but here is a link to it. Just get one. You won't be sorry!

It has many advertisements in it too, listing many services along the way.

http://www.themilepost.com/

Eel

lvoakey · Jan 12, 2007

seward would recommend it. on the way i think its moose jaw? the water mill seen moose in the area. all alasks is good! have a good time. lvoakey

skinzner · Jan 12, 2007

thanks guys i'm really leaning toward a halibut trip out of ninilchick and doing a trip on the kenai for kings.I thought that pink fishing in hope would be fun but from what i can tell its an even year thing (anyone got any info on pinks). I've been in the area one other time with my brother and his family and had limited time to do stuff because of the transportation situation, but that wont be the case this time. thanks for the info everybody any tips are greatly appreciated.

eelgrass · Jan 14, 2007

You are right. Pinks (humpies) run on even numbered years. And they usually don't run until late July or August. The Halibut fishing should be great, and a good chance at Kings on Kenai or Kasilof rivers. There may also be Sockeyes in the rivers at that time, but it might be a little early.

Salt water Kings out of Ninilchick or Deep Creek can be better than the rivers at times too.

If you get some minus tides, don't overlook the great razor clam digging at Clam Gulch. I went up one time just for that. The limit is 60 a day and I brought a couple limits home. Out of this world eating!

Eel

TBinKodiak · Jan 14, 2007

Here's a site that shows the number of fish passing through each day. It may give you some idea of what's available.

http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/HTML/query.cfm

WYhunter · Jan 14, 2007

I've done the AK motorhome trip a dozen times & about half of them during the time slot you are going. The first couple of times we spent the whole 10 day trip on the Kenai peninsula doing all the things noted. It was fun but it is definately combat fishing due to the large crowds. The exception of course is the halibut fishing.

Then we switched to spending only about four days there and the rest of the time in the Glennallen area where there are not as many people. We fish for kings on the Gulkana & Klutina. The run is usually good during part of the time slot you will be up there. There are several holes you can fish without a guide and boat and if you hit the runs right the fish can be super. I also highly recommend a quick side trip down to Valdez. It is both scenic and the pinks can be easily caught that time of year from the shore of the bay on each high tide by casting pixies. The last few trips we didn't go to the Kenai due to the crowds. Any trip to Alaska is a great trip. Have fun.

bigmoosie · Jan 14, 2007

If I was coming to the Kenai I would come a week later. Sockeyes usually show up in big numbers starting around the 15th of July. Early July can be spotty for kings and reds.Hope usually has quite a few pinks even on odd years. I would definately fish the Russian for reds on your way to Soldotna everyone should see what combat fishing is like.There is also great trout fishing in the upper Russian all walk in usually lots of bears.Ninilchik is the place for halibut but a lot of guides are going out of Anchor River now closer to the good fishing.Lots of places to get your fish held and processed. PM me if you want and I can give you more ideas, going to Salt Lake next week for the big show hope to see me some UTARDS in person.

shortmag · Mar 23, 2007

Give the Chena river a try for river grayling. Late last June, we floated 10 miles and caught lots of grayling up to 20 inches. $110 for a guided trip plus $25 for transportation from Fairbanks. I forget the outfitter but he's the only one listed for grayling in rivers. It was so much fun.......I'm envious.

Oregon Fishing Guide · Mar 25, 2007

Hey Skinzner,

I have been up there more times then I can count. I have had some great trips and have been ripped off by a few. Send me an email and I would love to help you out. I know some private property on the Kenai you can get on and also a couple very good guides. I am a fishing guide and know what a good trip should look like. A lot of Alaska guides in that area have the attitude that you owe them and if you don't like it there are 100 people wanting your spot on the boat. You are going to a real busy place with lots of tourists but if a person has never been there everyone has to go atleast once. Anyway, give me a call or email and I can give you some tips.

God Bless and see you in the Outdoors,

Jon and Stacy Ball
1-877-347-4662
www.JonsOutdoors.com
Which consists of
Gimme A Go Fishing Adventures (Columbia River)
JS Outfitters (Hunting Wyoming)
Thorne Bay Lodge (Alaska)

ASUCoues · Jun 8, 2007

I spent every summer up there from when I was 9 until I was 19. We were mainly based out of Kenai. Plenty of fishing within 90 minutes of Kenai on any given day. If you are going to be on the Kenai peninsula (kenai, russian, kasilof, etc) you can also fish the 3 rivers between kenai and homer. I think they are deep creek, ninilchick and anchor. If there is a good slack tide you could also go clamming in that same general area (clam gulch). Also, halibut and king fishing in the ocean off from deep creek has become very popular. Finally, fishing from the shore down in Homer is an option. Remember you can snag in the ocean. When the tide goes out you can hit the tide pools with your leaded treble hook. Have fun and post some pics when you get back. Good luck. Chris.

skinzner · Jul 6, 2007

flying out in 10 hours, i cant wait. Hopefully i have some good pics to post when i get back. halibut combo trip out of homer on the 11th and a trip on the kenai the 9th or 10th and 8 more days of whatever else we want to fish for.

nruehmeier · Feb 13, 2008

If you want Grayling I would head north, if you want reds & Halibut(a must do)head down to the Kenai, if you want pinks head to Valdez. I spent 3 weeks and did the motorhome thing and loved every minute. Send me a pm and I can give you more info.

Later,
nrueh