kgratteau

I just returned from a week in Alaska. Had expected to get King Salmon and Halibut but had small success.

First, full day out of Seward for Halibut on a six-pack. First drop, first person with bait dropped down to bottom and hooked up within minute or two. Turned out to be 111 lbs. The rest of us fished for a couple of hours with no luck. Moved to another spot where my brother-in-law, Dennie, was first in the water and he caught one slightly longer than the first but still weighed in at 111 lbs. The rest of us pulled in limits of "chickens" - about 20 lbs each.

Went to spot near Cooper's Landing on the Kenai, just south of Russian River confluence. Earlier in week brother-in-law had caught several Red Salmon and released a 30-inch trout at the same spot. We didn't get a single bite there though I saw other people with fish on their stringers. I did get a scare when a brown bear came into the water between me and the shore. Luckily he didn't seem at all interested in me, he was just poking through the shallows looking for something to eat.

I had a guide take me on the Kenai River out of Soldotna even though the reports had been pretty poor. He said he was pretty sure he could get at least one King (three in party) on the Kenai. It turned out we got zero. I released one rainbow trout about 24-inches and the guide later told Dennie that it was 31-inches (Dennie didn't go fishing that day) but I couldn't keep the lie going and had to fess up.

So, I didn't get any King Salmon. I shipped my Halibut and some of Dennie's so I will get something to put on the table. It was pretty disappointing to have such slow action. Hope others have better success.