Happy opener!!

It’s finally here! We have all worked long and hard to get everything ready on our end so that we can get out there and do what we love to do! And today, we are on the water doing just that.

Our first run sockeye have already started coming in and are into the Russian River already. We are having some luck out there catching then on the Kenai today though you have be willing to put in your time. They are the beautiful little silver bullets we love to see though.

Trout fishing is open of course today though I don’t have a report back on that yet I’m sure after the break the river has seen that too should be great. More on that later when the boats come off the river.

This is what we love to see!

Starting the New Year with remembrance

We can’t move on into the New Year until we take a moment and reflect back on this last year and give credit where credit is due.

November 21st we lost a legend, Darwin Peterson, the original founder of Kenai River Fly Fishing. He and his wife of almost 52 years traveled up from Montana in 1987 and found their home in our little town of Cooper Landing where they continued to live and raise their two sons.  They bought property near the Russian River and built the first tackle shop in town which they faithfully ran for 16 years before “retiring” up to their house overlooking Kenai Lake.  Anyone who has ever crossed paths with Darwin and Geneese will know that they have made this town a richer place with their presence. Through many a poker game, a warm meal or a visit over coffee they have welcomed many people into their lives and provided a family for many of the guides who wandered into Cooper and decided to call it home.  Being fortunate enough to be part of that family, we would just like to say a big thank you on behalf of all of us.  Darwin will truly be missed.  His unique sense of humor and legendary stories will forever live on amongst all of his friends and family.

We felt honored when given the opportunity to continue managing the business, the roots run deep and are very powerful.  We will continue giving the respect and hard work that was always given by Darwin and Geneese making it the successful family business it is today. Thank you.

Darwin Peterson
Founder of Kenai River Fly Fishing

Welcoming August

As it turns out it’s August! We’ve all made it through another big July push and the weather makes it feel like fall is breathing down our necks. With that being said, bring on the Trout fishing!!!

We are still seeing a surprising strong run of Sockeye coming up the river and though you may need to be patient and pick and choose which ones you are keeping, it’s still been worth the time and effort to be out there.  There are still quite a few chromers in the Upper Kenai River.  We are currently up to 1,339,876 second run Sockeye in the drainage and are seeing a pretty consistent ~ 8-9,000 nosing up daily.

The Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden fishing has been picking up nicely as they set up waiting for the Sockeye spawn to turn on.  We’ve had some amazing days out on the water lately fishing a “mixed bag” of both Sockeye and Rainbow Trout/Dolly Varden.  It’s a nice time to be out on the water with the number of people slowing down, you can feel the ease of fall setting in.

Bret Curry: Sockeye Slayer

 

Great Sockeye Salmon caught by Bret Curry on a fly rod.

I love to fish… It’s a passion, hobby, habit and if I’m rigorously honest…an addiction! Each trip to the water brings the wonderment and uncertainty of catch. Each angling moment provides a rewarding spiritual connectivity to something larger than life. Could be a “hunter & gatherer” component in my DNA. May be because fishing is my primary safe harbor from the daily grind and rat race. Whatever the case, I’m so blessed to have opportunities to fish dozens of days per year…and mainly with a fly rod.

I recently added a new geographical location to my fly-fishing experiences. This time in Alaska! If you are an individual with fly-fishing in your blood you have got to experience a grappling sockeye salmon who’s mission is to spawn…not to be caught. If the thought of angling a pit-bull on the end of your fly-line gets your juices flowing, then give Jen a call at Kenai River Fly Fishing.

After hours of pre-trip online research and local referrals my choice was KRFF. And boy did I make the right decision. Jen paired me up with T.J., Master and Professional Guide. Simply put, T.J. is the man! And a consummate host! Clearly an accomplished fisherman himself, he put me onto the fish in no time. His refinement tips were courteously delivered and produced results. He’s a master with the drift-boat and very safety-conscience.  Not only did we net several sockeyes, we landed Rainbow and Dolly Varden as well.

Sockeyes on a stringer

An often-used word in Cajun country is “lagniappe” which means a little something extra.  And how Alaska provides those bonuses. We saw bear, moose and eagles galore. T.J.’s keen eye and sharing the experience was icing on the cake.

So if you are bug-eyed from perusing the Internet for the right guide service, simply give KRFF a call. Oh yea, be sure to include the “canyon” float into your schedule, you won’t be sorry.

Bret Curry

Little Rock, Arkansas

June 2013

Patience and perseverance pays off for this group as they hold up the days catch

TJ safely guiding them across Skilak Lake, beautiful way to end a great trip.

Bret Curry with a resident Dolly Varden.