The fishing guides at Tower Rock Lodges are experts at fishing for silver salmon in Alaska. Here is their insight:
"Prone to leaping, the tenacious Silver Salmon are pound-for-pound the hardest-fighting salmon and best of all they are aggressive and readily strike lures and take baited hooks. Coho fishing on the Kenai is done with power boats on anchor. Using, a salmon egg loop rig filled with some cured roe. Bait bounced on the bottom can produce many Silver Salmon and some great laughs. For the more adventurists we bust out the Ovris fly rods and clouser flies. Hang On!"
Fishing Regulations
In late July or early August, the Silver Salmon, or Cohos, begin returning to both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. Adult Coho migrate up these Alaskan rivers primarily in August through September with most of the Silver fishing on the Kenai takes place in the lower river near tidewater. The limit is three per day. Many anglers choose to fish the Kenai during this time when the river is a little quieter than the busy King and Sockeye season. This is especially true in even-numbered years when millions of Pink Salmon flood into the Kenai; with both species present, there is loads of action. The fishery on both Kenai and Kasilof Rivers last through September however every Monday is closed to fishing on the Kenai River only.
The silver salmon run on the Kasilof River occurs around the same time as that on the Kenai River with some early fish beginning to arrive in late July. Coho fishing on the Kasilof is done with drift boats using medium-light tackle, lures, and salmon roe. Fishing is usually very steady throughout the months of August and September. Mondays the Kenai is closed to guided silver salmon fishing so we will often fish the Kasilof on that day. Anglers enjoy the switch to fishing from drift boats, dropping from hole to hole on a relatively undeveloped river right in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula.
Seward (three hours driving from the lodge) is famous for its Silver saltwater salmon fishing. The Seward Silver Salmon Derby takes place the second week in August and is the largest fishing derby in the state! Seward salmon fishing is where multiple hookups are the norm not the exception. The fish limit in the salt range from 3-6 per day, depending on the area. It is usually a slam-dunk during the peak season of August, and can provide non-stop excitement. Here Kings are sometimes caught while mooching for Silver. Not only does this make for quite a battle on the lighter Silver Salmon tackle, it loads the cooler fast!
Silver Salmon are also sometimes known as "blue-back" when caught before full maturity. They are the most popular game fish of the salmon family, as well as one of the most valuable commercial species. Most fish run around the same size of around 10 pounds. with larger ones at about 20 pounds. Feisty and acrobatic, Silvers also make great table fare. Offering a firm, mild flesh, they are considered by many to be the tastiest salmon species. They are excellent smoked, not oily, and have a pleasant texture. They are perfectly paired with a cold IPA!
Tower Rock Lodge an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge, Located in Kenai Alaska. Offering the best Alaska Fishing and Lodging in all of Alaska
