King (Chinook) Salmon - The Prize Of Kenai River
Paul Mrocza
Nine of the ten record setting King (Chinook) Salmon were
caught in Alaska’s Kenai River. The average size of Kings in
Alaska is 20 pounds, but typically the Kenai yields 50-pound
Kings. King Salmon spend 2 to 5 years in the ocean before they
come back to spawn. Thus, the size of these fish can vary quite
a bit. The largest King caught on the Kenai weighed 97.25
pounds.
What makes the Kenai such a popular spot for fishing fanatics?
There are certainly other rivers in Alaska that host greater
numbers of salmon. (This isn’t to say that the number of salmon
in the river is small. There’s plenty to go around for all
wanting to have a great day, week, or month fishing.)
This river draws fishermen for three primary reasons—size of
the Kings, abundance of varieties of salmon, and the number of
runs for each type. Along with the King, the Kenai is stocked
with Sockeye (Red) Salmon and Coho (Silver) Salmon, with each
of the species having two runs between May and October. And
then there’s the size of the Kings. If you want the best chance
of landing a trophy Chinook Salmon, the Kenai River is the place
to be.
It’s a short jaunt from Anchorage to the 80-mile long Kenai.
The first time you see the river, you may simply be stunned.
With striking sapphire waters created by glacial melt, the
river is simply breathtaking. Conservation measures have been
instituted to preserve the natural beauty and nurturing
environment of the river for residents and visitors.
During fishing season, the Kenai supports thousands upon
thousands of salmon, making it relatively easy for many
fishermen, especially those working with licensed guides, to
catch their limit. Additionally, the river is home for
world-class rainbow trout, which are the envy of anglers
everywhere.
The Kenai is divided into three sections. The upper part is
30-miles long, flowing from Kenai Lake located on Cooper
Landing and going to Skilak Lake. Rafters, drift boaters and
other recreational and sport enthusiasts have easy access to
the river at Cooper Landing.
The upper part of the Kenai flows down to and ends at the
Russian River, a tributary that plays host to thousands of
Sockeye Salmon. Just down river from this tributary is the
Kenai River Ferry, which transports thousands of fishermen to
the river’s far bank. This section is popular with anglers and
it’s often packed.
Going down river, you’ll find many miles of beautiful views,
natural settings, and bountiful fishing. In this stretch
between the Russian River and Jim’s landing, despite the fact
that it’s bordered by the busy Sterling Highway, you will
experience isolation and peace due to the natural buffer
created by trees and thick vegetation.
The Kenai River meets Skilak Lake, forming the middle part of
the river, which goes to Soldotna Bridge. If you’re looking for
wildlife and true isolation, this section is for you. With a
ten-mile stretch that has no boat access and a variety of
animals, including moose, bear, and waterfowl, the Kenai
embraces the wild. To get to some prime fishing, you’ll need a
boat; however, some parts of the middle river can get too low
to navigate. Throughout the summer, the Kenai rises, allowing
boats easier passage.
In this remote section you’ll find some of the best trout and
Silver Salmon fishing on the river. Unlike the upper and lower
parts of the Kenai, this section has fewer sportsmen, guides,
and visitors on it.
Soldotna Bridge marks the end of the middle section and the
beginning of the lower part, which terminates at Cook’s Inlet.
Before the inlet, the river can get very busy. Its banks are
fairly crowded with businesses and homes. Along with being
congested, the river also has some sandbars and large rocks,
making it tough to navigate.
The second King run, in June and July, is the most popular with
anglers looking to land the next world record salmon. The lower
river has easy access and many of the approximately 400
registered guides can be found in this section.
The King (Chinook) Salmon can be as large as a man and as tough
to haul in as any sport fish. It’s the prize catch on any Kenai
River fishing trip. For anglers looking for some of the largest
salmon in the world, this section of the river offers the
greatest opportunity for hauling in the ultimate catch and
coming up with the biggest fish story.
About The Author: This article was written by Paul Mroczka
sponsored by http://www.alaskafishon.com/. Alaska Fish On is a
licensed and registered Kenai river fishing guide service
providing affordable packages for the novice or experienced
fisher. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must
include a link pointing back to
http://www.alaskafishon.com/
Find More Related Information
See Also:
Index of All Hunting & Fishing Articles
Index of All Sports Articles
