Im going to go to Kenai for a week either the first or second week of August. I have access to a vehicle and a driftboat. Whats going on up there at that time?

We have definite plans for some halibut fishing out of Homer for a couple days.

It's a great time to be up there. The crowd is gone and you really have a lot almost to yourself.
This is coho or silver time for the Kasilof River. The last time I fished there in August was about three years ago if I remember right so the limit on them may have changed. It was a three fish per day limit then and no yearly number. It is a blast using eggs with only an ounce or so of weight. These are big silvers and in shallow water its lots of runs and air time. You might want to book a guide once to show you how if you have not done this before. I think there is a run of Humpies in the Kenai River about this same time, however I seem to remember that they are an every other year fishery. If you e-mail Bob the really big one I'll bet he could tell you for sure. We used purple and white spoons on them. Good grief those are ugly lures or I wouldn't have remembered. As for the butt fishing, please don't take my comments the wrong way. Homer is a super fun place to fish out of but........
The run time out of Homer for halibut is getting longer and longer. Not a problem if you like to take long boat rides for butts. Deep Creek boats will give you a shorter ride to the fish.If you are not opposed to increasing the knowledge curve, or your plans aren't firm, I would recommend doing one of each. If the water is rough on Cook don't do the Deep Creek trip as they will not be able to get you out onto the better grounds. I think there is a little more rain in August but its not cold.
Hope this helps a little. Post how it goes. Oh, make sure you buy a derby ticket for silvers in Soldotna. I'm guessing they still have that derby. You may come home with a lot more money than when you left.

Thanks BigShark.

My plans are not firm at this point. All I know for sure is that I am going and there will be pinks in the rivers when I get there.

As for the Halibut fishing, we will be fishing on a private boat, We will be going out of Deep Creek or Homer. It just depends on the weather and such.

Willierower,

August is an excellent time on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. Silvers on both with millions of Humpies on the Kenai. Eggs are the bait of choice. Backbouncing the method that seems to work the best.

Deep Creek and Homer good if the weather is good. I limited yesterday from my drift boat for Halibut out of Deep Creek.

Clam tides good the 7th through the 14th.

Have a good time and make sure to give me a hollar and I'll update you if there is a hot spot.

Some Reds still around the upper Kenai but hard to get Chromers.

fp

Thanks fp.

I think we will shoot for the second week of August. Looks like Im gonna have to do some clamming while Im there.

What should I take in the way of spinners and plugs? Warts?........

If it were me Id say screw the salmon Id be lookin for Bows. The upper Keni has some monster Bows but I dont know what time of year is the best.

Willierower,

Any Wiggle Wart or spinner will take the Humpies from the Kenai. Again, eggs seem to be the best.
I have taken zillions of Humpies on Hot Shots but I just can't stand catching them.

It is pretty hard to get a Silver when the Humpies are there. Did I tell ya that I hate the Humpies???

Upper Kenai should be good for Dollies and Bows at that time. I don't fish them so I can't give ya a good report there.

fp aka www.bigboysfishing.com Call me when ya get here.

fp's right on with the eggs. Usually the Kasilof isn't as loaded with the humpies as the Kenai, a nice thing when you're trying to target something other than the 3 lb. brown and purple pancakes. Leave the plugs at home and think eggs!

In the second week of the month, you'll also have some fish available in the smaller stream to the south ... the hardware will work better there as they run much cleaner, but you have to hoof them as you can't get a drifter down them.

Have fun!

willie - if you end up fishing the upper Kenai for 'bows, leave the stooopid fly gear at home. Treat them like a steelhead (hey wait..they are!) and you'll outfish everyone on the river - guaranteed. Just drift fish the flesh or egg flies.

The Kid and I started to hit fish when we figured that out. The 1082 spinning rod rigged for steelhead outfished any and all fly rod attempts. Fish steelhead water and they will bite!

Man, if I could only do that float again. I'd put the hurt to those big fat steelhead...er...'bows!

The one thing I've learned about AK, is that no one up there (Ok, most I ran in to) really knows how to drift fish for steelhead. A good NW steelhead drift fisher will just put the hurt to the Kenai reds and 'bows.

Parker,
Thats why everybody who fly fishes for bows and dollies in Alaska for the most part that catches alot of fish uses split shot on their leader. Works good sometimes better than a drift rod and definately more productive than some other fly techs.

Drift fishin with a fly rod.