Please excuse, I don't know where the northern report board is I've heard about? ... I haven't heard anything about the Alaskan runs of fish this summer yet. I have heard that the good runs down in WA & OR don't necessarily correlate to the runs in AK; which could also be better than normal, or just 'merely' excellant runs of big fish as usual. So Bob or anyone, how is it going up north so far this season? (Just curious what I'm missing out on - so if it's really super hot fishing then warn me to look away before I read the reply :), jk ). - RT

King fishing gets better along Kenai
SALMON: Conditions are improving just in time for the Kenai River Classic this weekend.

By Jon Little
Anchorage Daily News

(Published July 6, 2001)
By JON LITTLE

Anchorage Daily News

SOLDOTNA -- Kenai River king salmon fishing this summer has been an exercise in frustration for many fishermen, but conditions appear to be improving just in time for the Kenai River Classic.

The big-time, big-name, big-money tournament hosted by Sen. Ted Stevens and Gov. Tony Knowles raises money for salmon habitat protection and annually draws a slate of top government officials and business leaders to Alaska.

Water on the Kenai River has been extremely high, muddy and littered with line-snagging sticks and grass. But late-run kings are starting to swim upstream. More than 1,000 were counted coming into the river Tuesday. In addition, baited hooks became legal July 1.

"We're happy to see the river come down a little bit and the (Kenai Lake) fire go out," said Brett Huber, executive director of Kenai River Sportfishing Association Inc.

The organization sponsors the tourney each July Fourth weekend to benefit habitat restoration, fishery conservation and public education. This will be the eighth annual classic.

More fish and the use of bait should aid the senators, cabinet members and CEOs participating in today's fishing derby, said Tim McKinley, state fisheries biologist.

"It's been a lot better fishing the last few days than it was before we went to bait," he said.

Then again, just about anything would be an improvement over June. State surveys indicated that, on average, guided anglers had to spend 29 hours fishing to hook a king. And unguided anglers needed 97 hours to catch a fish.

The Classic will rely on 45 guide boats to help 180 participants fish the river today and Saturday. Entrants pay $6,000 each to fish; spouses come along for free. Winners get awards and bragging rights but not cash prizes.

In addition to Stevens and Knowles, the event will host four other U.S. senators, four members of the Bush cabinet and state officials like Senate President Rick Halford, House Speaker Brian Porter, and Fish and Game Commissioner Frank Rue.

The Classic has raised more than $2 million since it was launched in 1994. This year's event could net more than $500,000 for additional work along the river, according to the association.

Money is raised through sponsorship and an auction, Huber said. For instance, Thursday evening's kickoff dinner at the home of longtime sportfishing promoter Bob Penney was sponsored by Verizon Communications. Tonight's banquet is sponsored by AT&T Alascom, followed by an auction sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

The classic has become a big deal on the central Kenai Peninsula. Members of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will be up at 4 a.m. today and Saturday preparing a breakfast of bagels, lox, Spanish eggs, sausage and croissants for roughly 250 people, said Dan Mortenson, the chamber's past president. It will be served at the Harry Gaines fish camp in Soldotna.

Fishhead5

RT,

My wife and I have been going up to fish the Kasilof and other Kenai peninsula rivers every year in mid June for the last 7 years.
From what I've noticed, this year's 1st run of kings on the Kasilof were on average a little smaller than usual, and more of the fish were colored up than is typical for the middle of June. The early red run on the Russian river was better than average as far as fish numbers go, but the weather in late june really hampered the water levels in the Kenai, making fishing difficult. I also fished the Anchor river one day, and hooked a few more steelhead incidentally to the kings, than average. Hopefully this was a sign that the steelhead in the Anchor are doing well. Overall I would have to say that the fishing in the Kasilof is getting a little worse each year. I believe a lot of it has to do with the imprinting practices of the 1st run smolts, which are raised up in Anchorage, and just dumped into crooked creek. Rumor also has it, that the smolt numbers will be cut in half next year I believe. It appears that even Alaska isn't immune to the problems we face down here in WA an OR.

I wasn't aware of the fishing challenges in June up there, or I wouldn't have asked. I figured that it was going to be great since the ocean survival has been picking up the last couple of years. I am glad to hear that the fishing is getting better in July now.

RT

Hey RT ... here's my take on things this year:

Kasilof first-run kings: average run, fish a little smaller than normal. 4 salt, not sure where / how you fish, but things seem to be hangin' in there just fine. Crooked Creek confluence anglers are probably seeing less success over the past few years due to several factors: more boats as Kenai crowd has shifted over with poorer fishing / more regs; and more of the plants in Coal Creek vs. Crooked Creek meaning there aren't as many fish availble in that area. As I generally fish the tides in front of nearly all the river traffic, there seems to be just as many fish coming on each tide ... our catches haven't changed much. More fish are tidewashing though, and that may be the reason you are seeing more dark fish early. Other factors may include earlier / longer periods of personal use gillnetting at the mouth.

Kasilof reds ... bigger fish than normal, not as big of a run as in past years. Fine by us! Less reds=less netting=more kings in July

Russian reds ... don't fish it myself, but heard normal size and lots of 'em. A unique experience, Blue Creek squared!

Kenai first-run kings ... average numbers, but terrible water conditions conditions this year turned a trophy fishery (slow action, but possible monster size) into a graveyard for much of June.

It appears that the Kenai second run of kings is shaping up to be about normal. Reds may be running a little late as the saltwater gillnet index is starting to bump up ... we'll see how it pans out!