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[K69]King Salmon Kenai River

by Paul Mrocza, Pau

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.

You're about to have your dream come true. You're going fishing on the Kenai River - Alaska's salmon magnet. The great thing is you actually have two windows of opportunity for each major species - Chinook (King) Salmon, Sockeye (Red) Salmon, and Coho (Silver) Salmon. Having three run times for three types of salmon is unique, making the Kenai River one of the richest sport fishing waterways on the globe.

Chinook (King) Salmon Run Times

Run times tend to vary a bit from year to year, but they do follow the same basic pattern each year. The initial run of Kings occurs from mid-May to early July and the last starts in early July and ends on July 31. However, as early as April you'll find King Salmon coming into the Kenai River. Although not nearly as plentiful as they will be by the middle of May, Kings are often hooked as early as late April.

This initial run is the smaller of the two, but because the water levels are lower, some people prefer this time of year. The world record for Chinook Salmon was set on the Kenai River during the first run in May. That could be reason enough to plan a trip for the initial migration of Kings.

The second run is focused on the lower part of the river where the salmon have spawned. July first is the designated date for the beginning of the final King run of the season, with large numbers of fish in the river by the end of the first week. Mid-July finds a huge quantity of salmon concentrated in the lower part of the primary channel and attracting a maximum number of sportsmen. Although the river can become crowded with guide boats and fishermen, the Kenai tends to be a very civil place with a party-like atmosphere. It's actually a great time to be on the river with a community of anglers having the time of their lives.

Sockeye (Red) Salmon Run Times

You'll find the first Red Salmon run starting in late May as they swim through the lower and middle sections of the Kenai on their way to the Russian River, a tributary of the Kenai. The Reds become plentiful right around June tenth, peaking sometime between the fifteenth and twentieth of the month. They continue their commute, however in fewer numbers, until the end of the month. Sockeyes are most plentiful in the upper regions of the Kenai.

Beginning in mid-July, the second run of the Reds entices fishermen to take to the banks, standing in crowds 15-20 thick. The Sockeye reach their highest numbers by the third week and then start to dwindle until their migration is over by the end of the month. This atmosphere, when fishermen are virtually packed together angling from a pool of thousands of Reds, is called "combat fishing." It can be a great time for trading fish stories, filling your stringer, and enjoying your sport with fellow enthusiasts.

Coho (Silver) Salmon Run Times

In late July, the Coho Salmon are starting their journey up the Kenai to spawn. By early August, the Silvers are abundant and fishing is fantastic. The run continues through the month with angling abating in the fourth week of August. Just a week or so later in early September, the second and final migration of Silver Salmon begins. Large numbers work their way up the river until, at the end of September, the salmon season is officially over.

It's a wild four-and-a-half months on the Kenai with fishermen from across the globe enjoying some of the finest salmon runs they'll ever find. Expert guides adept at helping sports fishermen get the most out of their time on the river help make each visitor's experience something they'll remember and relish for years to come.

Going salmon fishing? You can't beat the Kenai River in Alaska.

Article Source : Sports Medicine New Jersey

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Both Paul Mrocza & Paul-mroczka are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Paul Mrocza has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Fishing and Recreation and Sports. This article was written by Paul Mroczka sponsored by . Alaska Fish On is a licensed and registered Kenai river fishing guide service provid. Paul Mrocza's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.

Paul-mroczka has sinced written about articles on various topics from . 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. Let the experts at Alaska. Paul-mroczka's top article . to your Favourites.