7/1-10/04

The use of bait is allowed beginning July 1 seasonally on the Kenai River. A slot limit, which protects the larger fish of the tributary returns comprising the first run of king salmon migrating through the Kenai River, ends June 30th below the Sterling Hwy bridge. The combination of king salmon anglers, red salmon sport fishers and Alaska residents participating in the personal use dip net fishery, make July the busiest month of the sport fishing season on the Kenai River.

There is a story in every charter I undertake. Often the tale lies in the paths taken that have brought this guide and that particular day's clients together. Other times the story is how we as guides entertain our clientele and maintain their enthusiasm when the fish aren't cooperating. Most often it is that which makes a particular day memorable, the scenic grandeur of the setting in which we recreate, the wildlife encountered, the sport fishing successes or the near misses, experienced or witnessed, which take place every day somewhere on the river. Tales retold, sometimes reinvented, in our residences, around the fire in campgrounds as the scent of burnt alder from countless smokers wafts in the breeze or between sets from the local troubadour singing songs of Alaska in one's favorite tavern. It is unfortunate that I do not have the time to tell every story but thanks to today's digital technology (and the fact that Sundays in July are a day off from guided activities in the freshwater fisheries I participate in), I am able to at least post photographs of some of the successes that have made the last few days very enjoyable for me.

We've caught, released and kept a few fish. Some of the kings pictured, while not monstrous by Kenai River standards, have generated the largest smiles and been trophies nonetheless. Others pictured have tested tackle and resolve, produced twitching muscles and muttered epithets while this amateur photographer fumbles with his cameras attempting to capture the moment. For two of my clients, the fish pictured truly have been legendary. They are pictured here.

My most memorable moment of the past 10 days occurred when 8 year old Drew from Southern California, his fishing rod braced between his legs and doubled over the gunwale, hanging on for dear life to a king we hadn't yet seen as we floated through the congregation of boats worshiping at Beaver Creek, and every boater as one, guide and private alike, hurried out of the way without reservation or pause to give this young angler an opportunity to land his fish. The fact that we eventually were able to net it is not only a testament to the professionalism of the industry I belong to but also a confirmation of how courteous the vast majority of guide and private boaters on the Kenai River are and an example of a level of cooperation between user groups without which it would have not been possible to take these pictures. Drew's catch is a "Fish of the Week".

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