The fishing guides at Tower Rock Lodges are experts at fishing for Kings in Alaska. Here is their insight:
"There are really only two consistent ways to put these fish on the hook; one is back-trolling and the other is back bouncing. Back-trolling consists of sending out diving baits (plugs, salmon eggs) and holding the boat in the current so that the baits dive down against the river's flows. The boat is positioned above the hole then slowly slides down until the gear gets into the money spot. Wait until the rod buries and the line peels before striking the fish.
Drifting (back bouncing) is totally different. This involves attaching a fair amount of weight to your line and sending a freshly cured (our own secret brine) chunk of king roe, combined with a large spin n' glow down to the river's gravel bottom where it drifts in unison with the river current until an unusual bounce conveys that the King Salmon is bumping the bait. When the fish bites, lower the rod and then HAMMER the fish! It is the most widely preferred method used by our boat guides and hangs a lot of huge fish."
Fishing Regulations
The first run of King Salmon appears by early May when the Kenai River is low and very clear. The low level of the river during this period tends to concentrate the fish in deep holes in the Tower Rock Lodge area, and each tide will bring another group of fish into the river. The river's early King Salmon average between 30 and 40 pounds with occasional catches of fish to 60 or 70 pounds. The current world record (97 1/4 pounder) was taken from the May-June early run.
The size of this run is smaller than the second run, but with fewer anglers and boats participating in this fishery the experience can be much more pleasant with less competition on the water. The tranquility of the river during May and June provides our anglers the chance to view wildlife such as moose, caribou, bald eagles and waterfowl. This run usually peaks during the middle of June but remains strong in daily counts until the second run of kings begins to appear at the end of June.
The late run that begins on July 1 averages about 40,000 fish and unlike the early run, bait is always allowed. Lower River spawners below the Soldotna Bridge will take eggs or a "pork chop" which is a quick fish with a sardine wrap. Use a #40 main line, #80 leaders, #20 Jet planer and back troll. Wait until the rod totally buries, then double strike with no thumbs and reel like a badger out of hell.
Because this second run of Kenai kings occurs in the middle of summer, it is the most popular with anglers. Although there are two to three times more fish in this run than the early run there are also more anglers & boats so competition increases. This fishery allows the use of bait beginning July 1 so we use a variety of techniques and tackle to catch these monsters. Artificial lures, laced with sardine or salmon roe, back-trolled, back-bounced, or drifted are the methods our guides use. This run actually begins to arrive during the last week of June and continues to the end of July when the king season closes. Numbers of kings can amount to several thousand per day during the peak of the run in mid July. Fish in this run average a bit larger than the early run but there are many trophies as well. Trophy hunters should remember that there are plenty of wallhangers taken from both runs.
Located just 12 miles down the road from Soldotna is the glacier-fed Kasilof River which continues from Tustumena Lake to Cook Inlet. This river has a remarkable king salmon run that has become a favorite of many of our clients. Due to the shallow, rocky nature of this river it is navigated by drift boats. It is a peaceful adventure down a pristine river filled with lots of fishing action.
Fishing Regulations
This king salmon run begins at the same time as the early king run on the Kenai River. From mid-May through June anglers are most successful fishing from our guided drift boats. Bait is also allowed in this fishery. Multiple hook-ups are frequent. Kids really enjoy it because most days see enough action to keep them thoroughly focused on catching fish. This is a great experience on Sundays and Mondays when the Kenai River is closed to guided anglers.
Same as above except:
The Kasilof has an entirely wild return of late run native Kings. This late run of Kings in the Kasilof is a big, hard fighting fish often exceeding 40 pounds. Fighting these big Kings with no motor in extremely fast current is a very challenging and memorable experience.
Kasilof River is a tidal-affected river only 17 miles drive from Tower Rock Lodge. This shallow river begins at the glacier-fed Tustumena Lake and flows 22 miles northwest to Cook Inlet near the town of Kasilof, which was an original Russian trading post. The early run on the Kenai also coincides with an early run of Kasilof fish both hatchery and wild. 4 people per drift boat only. Fishing the Kasilof is a different experience than fishing the Kenai because motors are not allowed on this river during salmon season, making a trip down the Kasilof a very quiet yet exciting journey. Early run Kasilof kings average 20 pounds and late run fish can grow to over 50 pounds. It isn't unusual to catch and release a steelhead or a few Dolly Varden during a drift down the Kasilof and of course the Reds and Silvers are plentiful during the correct season.
Tower Rock Lodge an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge, Located in Kenai Alaska. Offering the best Alaska Fishing and Lodging in all of Alaska
