eelgrass
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 31,437
We have a trip planned for Kenai next year.
Web posted Friday, June 8, 2007
Increasing salmon count leading to increased success
Kasilof king catch climbs
By JOSEPH ROBERTIA
Peninsula Clarion
The early run of king salmon is steadily increasing everywhere, and catch rates are corresponding with the increasing number of fish.
In the Kenai River, as of Tuesday, 2,714 kings have been counted cumulatively by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game?s sonar unit ? 8.6 miles from the mouth of the river. Of this cumulative number, 519 fish came in on Tuesday, up from 303 fish on Monday, and 277 fish on Tuesday.
On the Kasilof River, the large number of kings that had been staging in the salt water also began making their way into the river this week, and anglers have been having more success as a result.
?I don't think it's overspeaking to say this past week was phenomenal,? said Brennan Norden of Morning Bear Guide Service.
Norden said while huge kings are still few and far between, many moderate-sized fish are being caught consistently.
?I haven't seen much over 30 pounds, but there's been a lot of fish averaging around 22 pounds. They?ve been really steady down low in the tidal zones, but are starting to make their way up to Crooked Creek. The hatchery fish are starting to show now, too,? he said.
Jeff Brakefield, a Fish and Game sportfishery biologist, said kings of this size are the normal pattern for this time of year.
?For the early run, 18- to 22-pound fish are typical, with 30- to 35-pound fish being really nice. In years past we'll occasionally get a few 40-pounders, too, but that's large for (Crooked Creek),? he said.
Brakefield added that the late run, which brings kings that spawn in the main stem of the Kasilof River in July, will typically have larger fish.
Norden added that a few sockeye have made an appearance in the Kasilof River, as well.
?Bank fisherman are starting to pick them up,? he said.
This weekend will be anglers? last chance to fish for wild kings in the Ninilchik River, but a Fish and Game emergency order has opened the Ninilchik to continuous fishing for hatchery kings until July 15. Bait is allowed until Sept. 1, but anglers can use only one single-pointed hook until the July 15 deadline.
Deep Creek will be open for its last weekend king fishery starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and the Anchor River will be open only for two more weekends, including this weekend.
The sonar unit on the Anchor River ? 2 miles upstream from the mouth ? continues to record kings passing by in the hundreds.
On Wednesday, 252 kings were counted, down slightly from the 339 kings on Tuesday, and 393 on Monday.
As of Wednesday, 4,659 kings had been counted cumulatively.
Kings also are continuing to surge into the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer, and although this area remains closed to snagging until later in the month, fishing is reported to be good.
?The last couple of days it's picked up considerably,? said Carolyn Bunker, a clerk with the Fish and Game office in Homer.
Joseph Robertia can be reached at [email protected].
Web posted Friday, June 8, 2007
Increasing salmon count leading to increased success
Kasilof king catch climbs
By JOSEPH ROBERTIA
Peninsula Clarion
The early run of king salmon is steadily increasing everywhere, and catch rates are corresponding with the increasing number of fish.
In the Kenai River, as of Tuesday, 2,714 kings have been counted cumulatively by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game?s sonar unit ? 8.6 miles from the mouth of the river. Of this cumulative number, 519 fish came in on Tuesday, up from 303 fish on Monday, and 277 fish on Tuesday.
On the Kasilof River, the large number of kings that had been staging in the salt water also began making their way into the river this week, and anglers have been having more success as a result.
?I don't think it's overspeaking to say this past week was phenomenal,? said Brennan Norden of Morning Bear Guide Service.
Norden said while huge kings are still few and far between, many moderate-sized fish are being caught consistently.
?I haven't seen much over 30 pounds, but there's been a lot of fish averaging around 22 pounds. They?ve been really steady down low in the tidal zones, but are starting to make their way up to Crooked Creek. The hatchery fish are starting to show now, too,? he said.
Jeff Brakefield, a Fish and Game sportfishery biologist, said kings of this size are the normal pattern for this time of year.
?For the early run, 18- to 22-pound fish are typical, with 30- to 35-pound fish being really nice. In years past we'll occasionally get a few 40-pounders, too, but that's large for (Crooked Creek),? he said.
Brakefield added that the late run, which brings kings that spawn in the main stem of the Kasilof River in July, will typically have larger fish.
Norden added that a few sockeye have made an appearance in the Kasilof River, as well.
?Bank fisherman are starting to pick them up,? he said.
This weekend will be anglers? last chance to fish for wild kings in the Ninilchik River, but a Fish and Game emergency order has opened the Ninilchik to continuous fishing for hatchery kings until July 15. Bait is allowed until Sept. 1, but anglers can use only one single-pointed hook until the July 15 deadline.
Deep Creek will be open for its last weekend king fishery starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and the Anchor River will be open only for two more weekends, including this weekend.
The sonar unit on the Anchor River ? 2 miles upstream from the mouth ? continues to record kings passing by in the hundreds.
On Wednesday, 252 kings were counted, down slightly from the 339 kings on Tuesday, and 393 on Monday.
As of Wednesday, 4,659 kings had been counted cumulatively.
Kings also are continuing to surge into the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer, and although this area remains closed to snagging until later in the month, fishing is reported to be good.
?The last couple of days it's picked up considerably,? said Carolyn Bunker, a clerk with the Fish and Game office in Homer.
Joseph Robertia can be reached at [email protected].
) for the next 3-4 years. I have been driving for the past 4 days, and currently am writing this from the Quality Inn at Fort St. John, British Columbia, as I drive the Alaska Highway.
