Thread: TR: Kenai Peninsula with the Old Lady (Pic Heavy)

My wife and I have put off a lot of stuff the last few years with both of us finishing up our Masters and raising our son, so we figured a vacation was in store.

I've been to Alaska several times but my wife had never been. So I was a little shocked when she suggest it as a vacation destination (and yet another reason why I love my wife!!).

We flew into Anchorage on the 14th and headed over to Seward for the day.

A little local scenery.


Sea Otter enjoying the Alaska sun.


Grooming time.


On Friday we headed to Kenai where we rented a cabin for the week. We booked a few half-day trips for kings on the Kenai River. After I spent the better part of Friday night and Saturday morning explaining to my wife the chances of catching a Kenai King could be pretty low the first ten minutes of our trip she hooks up.

First Kenai King Battle


Not a huge fish, but a good way to break the ice.


Not wanting to be out done by the old lady, I figure I better get in on the action. I bounced out my first king of the trip in the Crossover.

Pic taken just after a epic jump that almost landed the chrome hen in the boat.


Ready for the release.


Not ten minutes after doing battle with my fish, my wife hooks up again.

Don't look now, but there are other people watching you fight this fish.


Scarred up hen getting ready to let go to do her thing.


Monday was our chance to get out on the Kasilof for the day. It was one of those days where all the action was in the first hour. I believe we had six solid take downs, but only two fish came to hand. Of course my wife has unbelievable luck and struck first. We didn't intend to keep any kings, but this hen was bleeding too bad to feel good about putting back.


We spent Tuesday doing a little sight seeing.

Not a bad view on the way down to Homer.


Thursday we were back on the Kenai and again the wife hooks up with a nice king.


Friday was my last shot at a hog and I tried my best. I ended up bouncing up this chromer hen out of the pasture on the incoming tide.





All in all it was a awesome trip. The weather couldn't have been better. We only had rain one day while we were there, the rest were sunny and warm.

I didn't get any pictures while red fishing, but lets just say it was absolutely ridiculous. Fish were holding out in the inlet and then Saturday night all hell broke loose. 230,000 reds ran that evening. Fishing was stupid easy and it lasted like that all week as long as you kept on them.

The king fishing was good in my opinion, but not great. We ended up catching seven kings on the Kenai which were all released and the one king on the Kasilof. Our guide was top notch. Despite the bitter looks we had from other boats while releasing fish, he was all for catch and release. It's a good feeling letting them swim off to do their thing. If you're ever in the area and want to hook up with a great guide on the Kenai, look up Keith Holtan and Beaver Creek Cabins and Guides.

Nothing wrong with that vacation!

Sweet trip HFB! Gotta love a wife that fishes.

I'm a catch and release guy too, but I love fresh salmon too much. I think I would have had to keep one or two- especially if there was a BBQ at your cabin!

!!!!Way to release those fish!!!!! Hope you brought home some reds! THose are some great great fish!

Thanks AKPM. I've read about and seen first hand the demise of the king salmon run on the Kenai. We thought we would try to do our part to help the cause. We brought home enough reds for a few good meals for us and our parents. You're lucky to live in an area with such resources. Don't take it for granted.

FKNA. Great TR. Can't wait to get up there some day.

Nice trip and killer stoke!

Those smiles say it all !!!

I can see my old "house" in that first pic.

Geesh!!!!

Cool shit bump.
Anybody know where Hfb is these days?
Been pmin in reguards to the Maria journal.
Last he posted was he and his dad were workin on a camp.
I haz little faith AKPM is going to do Lola
We need a new travelin fishin stick.