Trophy Rainbow Trout Season is Here!

The World Series of giant Rainbow Trout on the Kenai River is upon us!  Nowhere else in the world will you find bigger Rainbow Trout, especially on a Pink year.  What is a Pink year?  The even years (i.e. 2012 the Kenai River receives a large run of Pink Salmon)  This means more food, more food = really fat Trout.  If you are going to catch a 20+lb Rainbow the chances are it's going to be September on a Pink year.  
The beginning of August produced some big Bows and high numbers of Trout caught (30+ Rainbows/person a day!).  As we reach the end of August the King Salmon and Red Salmon are spawing, as well as a few Pinks.  The rest of August though September should be varying degrees of amazing.  The Rainbows will go into a feeding frenzy as they prepare for winter, the Pinks will supply the bulk of their diet.  For up to date news from the river follow us on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/Alaska.Drift.Away.Fishing

King Salmon Fishing Update: The Kenai and Kasilof Rivers will be open for catch and release fishing only starting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 10.

The purpose of this action is allowing more King Salmon to survive to spawn. The more King Salmon that spawn, the more King Salmon that will return to the river system in the future. We support this move because we would like to see King Salmon in the river when we are old and grey.

We support this ADF&G decision. Are the salt water fisherman willing to do their part to protect the future of our mutual King Salmon fishery?

Spring King Salmon fishing in Alaska is truly a special phenomenon.  The distance snow capped mountains still hold the recent memories of winter,  in the low country trees and plants are begging to bud, and the rivers are starting to fill with the first run of King Salmon.

The Kenai and Kasilof rivers of the Kenai Peninsula is our stomping grounds for Kings.  Late May - June this is the place to have your best luck at road-access 1st run King fishing.  One of the greatest points about spring Kings is the challenge.  Low and cold water keep Kings on the  finicky side of life.  The salt water is typically around 50 degrees once the Kings begin moving into the rivers they run into water temps in the low 40's.  This rude awakening sends most back out to the river mouth, the brave ones that do continue up river become lethargic. But, if you can get a plug on some eggs in front of their mouth, hold on!  The once docile King turns into a ball of fury.  Fighting a King in shallow water is an exciting experience, they can't swim down, so their only option is everywhere else.

What do you use for 1st run Kings?  Think small.  Plugs, cheaters, and spin'n glo's are the staple for 1st and 2nd run Kings always.  Since we are dealing with low water and finicky fish we need to downsize.  k-13, Mag Worts, and small cheaters/spin n glos is the ticket.  Chartreuse and orange in various arrangements are my favorite.   Cheater leaders should be about 18" or so, and hard lined with a diver.  Plug leaders should be about 4'.  Check out the photos of my favorite plugs and cheater for early season.  Good luck!

Nigel's new drift boat for the 2012 season.

Here is Jaha's new Willie Classic. These pics are kinda like an ultrasound, we'll post more as the "baby" develops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHz18a5xwrk&list=UU-LosyIttOAFjlDdz5cVSvA&index=1&feature=plcp
Check out this 40lb chromer going airborne on the Kasilof River!

http://www.youtube.com/user/GuideKenaiRiverVids?feature=guide
We created a new you tube page so our guests can see footage that was shot during our adventures together on the river. If you have any footage you would like to share, please send it to us!

Alaska Rainbow Trout Fishing: Fly Fishing and Float Fishing, Kenai River

Here is our 2011 Kenai River Rainbow Trout season video! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkejjt1beho&list=UU-c5xjX-m0sySLs9XfJqKnw&feature=plcp

Alaska King Salmon Poki!

Here is how you do it: Cut 1lb raw king salmon fillet into 1/2 -3/4 inch square chunks. Make a brine of soy sauce, sesame oil, hot sauce, minced green onion, minced garlic. Mix brine with raw salmon and let sit for 1 hour before serving. Use enough brine (not too much) where all pieces of salmon are coated evenly.

Enjoy this tasty dish while you share with your friends!

News Letter

Hello Friends of Alaska Drift Away Fishing,


Hope everyone is having a great winter and you all have fishing on your
minds! We are very excited for the upcoming season, especially as we think
back to our awesome season last year!


The 2011 season began with good first run King Salmon action. The Kings
entered the Kasilof in late May and the run peaked in mid-June. Some Kings
over 50 pounds were landed in late June and July. The second run of Sockeye
Salmon on the Kenai River was amazing. Clients were pulling limits almost
every day during the peak of the run. The Silver Salmon fishing on the
Kenai and Kasilof Rivers provided consistent action in August. The Rainbow
Trout fishing was productive, despite the fluctuating water levels and
limited food source. Drift Away also stayed busy managing Sprucewood Lodge
last season. Thanks again to Andrea, Cindy, Mia, Brigette, Carson and
Colton for all of the hard work and long hours they put in so that the
lodge ran smoothly.

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*Check Out Our New King Salmon Video and Our Featured Article in Fish
Alaska Magazine!*

- 2011 King Salmon Highlights Video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GuideKenaiRiver


- Fish Alaska Featured Article: *
http://www.fishalaskamagazine.com/archives/2012/112_traveler.html*

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*Now looking forward to the 2012 season…*


*NEWSLETTER SPECIAL...WE ARE RUNNING A 10% OFF SPECIAL FOR JUNE 2012 FOR
ALL GUIDED FISHING DAY TRIPS and FISHING & LODGING PACKAGES. TO BE PART OF
THIS DISCOUNT YOU MUST CONTACT US BEFORE FEBRUARY 15TH AND MENTION THIS
LETTER! *

*King Salmon Fishing is an awesome way to spend the day on the water from
late May to the end of June*. Whether on the Kenai or Kasilof, the 1st run
of King Salmon offers tons of excitement. At this time of year, the water
is just starting to rise, and when your rod cranks over you better be ready
for a fight you will remember forever! Hunting down Kenai River Kings
before the July rush gives you a chance at catching a world class King
Salmon without dealing with the crowds, and often results in fish in the
boat at the end of the day. The first run on the Kasilof River has both
native and hatchery King Salmon, and provides lots of action in a drift
boat-only setting.*

Rainbow Trout* *Season opens on June 11th.* This is one of the best times
of year to fly fish, float fish, or spin fish for Trophy Kenai River
Rainbow Trout! Typically we fish the Middle Kenai River from Skilak Lake
outlet down to Bings Landing. After the trout start to move downstream, we
follow them down to their summer feeding grounds. From the end of August
until October, we come back up to Middle Kenai River to finish the trout
season. If you have never fished for rainbow trout, June is a great time of
the year to do it!

* *

*FACEBOOK FANS: "LIKE US" to help Alaska Drift Away Fishing reach 1,200
fans by March!
*

- Like us here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AK-Drift-Away-Fishing/220655223176


- Like us tab on our website: http://guidekenairiver.com/

Before we know it, we’ll be pulling out the boats and prepping our gear for
the upcoming season! Call or email and we can get you lined out with a
great day trip or fishing & lodging package for the 2012 Alaska Fishing
Season!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Jeremy, Nick, Nigel, Andrea, and Cindy

2011 King Salmon Highlight Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJrv5y3VLF8&list=UU-c5xjX-m0sySLs9XfJqKnw&index=1&feature=plcp

We finally have our 2011 King Salmon highlight vid done! Check it out, let us know what you think!