I'm back from AK!!!!!!!

[UBDSLO1]

Got back at the end of last week, boy was it fun. Didn't get that 60lb. plus King, so that means another trip next year back to the Kenai peninsula and the Kenai river. Got a ton of pics, will post some later on this week. All in all, it was a great trip, although the plane/air ride up there sucked. Oh, and chicago ohare sucks as well. I always get the "We have the plane but no crew" bs.:rant: My fish box was going on the max for the time allowed to keep the fish frozen, but it all worked out just fine.

Soldotna rocked as well as the Kenai peninsula. Went to Ninilchik, Anchor Point/Cold Creek(for halibut), Homer, and almost to Seward, but ran out of time for Seward. lands End is a tourist trap just a bunch of overpriced gift/crap shops. Senery is awesome, just awsome. No words to really describe it. After getting back, MI looks like a pancake.:o Saw moose everywhere, brownbear, eagles(everywhere) blackbear, and lots and lots of fish. And I mean tons O' fish.

I got so seasick on the Cook Inlet, I have never been that sick in my whole life. Since I was 8years old, I have been out in every kind of "rough water" on Lake MI, and have NEVER gotten sea-sick. But not on the Cook Inlet. With 14ft. rollers=barf. I did land the first halibut of day before I passed out. A nice fish. Current was crazy in the Inlet, we used 4lb lead balls to "keep" it on the bottom. Let me rephraze that, the line was straight out from the back of the boat. Halibut fishing is different. I hate to crank up a 100lber from the bottom though in that current.

Kenai King fishing was awesome as well. My buddy got a 40lb er, the biggest King he has caught. I just got some small jacks, nothing to brag about.

Flyout trip was great, probably enjoyed it the most. Saw brownbear UPclose, red (sockeye) fishing. Reds were everywhere too. We fished that day with the editor of the largest fishing mag available in Aussy Land. Couln't get used to that accent and the word, "mate.":D

I will be going back next year, but will go out to Washington(state) first, to chase those 20 and 30lb steelhead first.

Gas in Anchorage was 2.76 for 87.:rant: When I got back to traverse, it was 3.04.:rant: Food is high, peaches at Fred Meyer were on sale for 3.89 per lb.:tdo12: Fishing license was $55.00 for 7 days, then a 7 day King salmon stamp was $30.00. Makes MI fishing all species look like chump change.
Save some coin and cook your own food, that is what we did.(Only if you're on a budget) I'm cheap and didn't want to spend all my money on eatting out. Fresh grilled King=yum.:corkysm55

I'm sure that there is other stuff to add, I'll think of it later. If you have any questions, just ask in this thread or pm me. thanx for reading.
Pics to come later on.

[fishin addiction]

Sounds like a good trip. Cant wait to see the pics.

[Still Wait'n]

I would like to make that trip someday, it sounds like alot of fun! I would like to see Denali National Park also. I'll just keep dreaming for now. :)

[limige]

cool, i agree post some pics! even if they aren't monsters it's still nice to see them, a 40# king had to be great!

[UBDSLO1]

Ok, I can rebuild atrans, but can't post pics!:rant: If someone can go to my gallery here on this site, please post all 8 pics that I have so far. Or someone tell me how to do this, I'm pulling my hair out right now!!!!

[UBDSLO1]

ttt.
Anyone help? Anyone? thanks.

[gunrod]

Here they are:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_055.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_047.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_125.jpg

[gunrod]

Second set:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_120.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_113.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_066.jpg

[gunrod]

Final Two Pictures

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_071.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/Kenai06_042.jpg

[Dedge]

That last monsterous king scares the bejesus out of me.:yikes:



Dan

[Getaway]

Holy shat that's a big salmon.

Thanks for the pics!

[salmon_slayer06]

Now that King looks every bit of 40 pounds.

[Getaway]

Nah, I'd say 17# tops...:D

JUST KIDDING!

[kbkrause]

Sounds like a great trip! Waiting till my kids are older and then we'll head up... :)

[J - Rod]

Is that snagging pic on the spit in Homer? They have a lagoon there that they plant with salmon, for the sole purpose of providing a snagging "fishery". There is so many places to fish in AK with good scenery and wild fish, it amazes me that people would fish there.

Thanks for pics. It's a great place....so much to see there.

[STEINFISHSKI]

Sweet pix, thanks for sharing your story. This has got to be the dream trip for me.

[UBDSLO1]

gunrod, thanks for posting the pics for me. I'm posting now on my lunch hour. The big king was caught by my buddy who went with me on the trip. The fish hit a Kwikfish with a herring strip. the man in red was our guide, Greg Brush of EZ Limit. The guys in the halibut pic are me, and the guide, Wally(Wally's guide service) with the first mate, John.

[UBDSLO1]

Is that snagging pic on the spit in Homer? They have a lagoon there that they plant with salmon, for the sole purpose of providing a snagging "fishery". There is so many places to fish in AK with good scenery and wild fish, it amazes me that people would fish there.

Thanks for pics. It's a great place....so much to see there.
Yes, that's in Homer. We were kinda shocked to say the least, there were plenty of the "New York Lifters" and "MI Maulers" there, just a rippin.:rant:

[gunrod]

gunrod, thanks for posting the pics for me.

No Problem. Thanks for sharing.

[Big_P]

Very cool pics and thanks for sharing. Did anyone else notice the Brown Bears in the background or was it just me? VERY nice!!

[UBDSLO1]

Very cool pics and thanks for sharing. Did anyone else notice the Brown Bears in the background or was it just me? VERY nice!!
Those bears were swimming right in front of our boat. They were so close that you could reach down and smack them with your rod. I have them on video also.

[Mister ED]

Great trip!! Brings back memories of my trip there 12 years ago. I remember, I was so geaked that I couldn't sleep. So I left the wife in bed at the lodge and took the rental car out cruising around looking for moose ... this was like at 2am and yes it was still light enough to see.

How big was the biggest Halibut??? Look like deffinate shooters, pretty neat when you get a fish so big that they have to shoot it to bring it into the boat.:yikes: And that is some GREAT eating fish. If any of you get a chance to get up there ... don't miss the halibut fishing. It is unique and awsome.

Thanks for sharing!!

[UBDSLO1]

For anyone else that is going to the Kenai peninsula this year, we were told that it has been a cold year this year. Our first 2 days there, it was in the higher 50's and rainy. On the water of course, it felt much colder, and factor in not moving around much, felt like late fall or early winter steelhead fishing temps to me. Bring quality raingear, as nothing will ruin your trip quicker than getting wet and cold.
I had breathable waders with long BDU pants on, with heavy wool socks. A "fancy" Cabelas rain jacket with long sleeve thermal undershirt, sweatshirt, and a lighter jacket. Remember, you can always peel off what you don't need, but can't put on what you don't have. Better than to be too warm than cold. We saw people that spent hundreds on their guided trips, then didn't want to spend $20 dollars on a rain jacket or pants. One guy broke out the old "garbage bag jacket" during a downpour and wrapped himself in it.:dizzy: :lol: Others had tennis shoes and dockers on, a big nono for fishing. Wear at least some tall rubber boots or hip boots for gettin in and out of the boat and if you have the dreaded natures call.:o It will help with the muddy banks there as well.

[UBDSLO1]

Great trip!! Brings back memories of my trip there 12 years ago. I remember, I was so geaked that I couldn't sleep. So I left the wife in bed at the lodge and took the rental car out cruising around looking for moose ... this was like at 2am and yes it was still light enough to see.

How big was the biggest Halibut??? Look like deffinate shooters, pretty neat when you get a fish so big that they have to shoot it to bring it into the boat.:yikes: And that is some GREAT eating fish. If any of you get a chance to get up there ... don't miss the halibut fishing. It is unique and awsome.

Thanks for sharing!!
Yeah the sunlight soooo late messed with our sleep, the first nite there, I only got 2hrs sleep and I kept thinking that I wasn't going to hear the alarm clock go off at 4am to wake us.

Biggest halibut was 55lbs. All fish were gaffed into the boat, some of them put up some pretty good scraps when on the end of the gaff. One of the Aussy's we were fishing with, he was in the Queen Charlott's Islands and doing some halibut fishing there, and reeled up a 286lb fish.:tdo12: Wears me out just thinking about it.

[kingfisher2]

UB- thanks for sharing the trip. Before you head out to Washington, make sure you check the regs on Steelhead. This state micro manages every stretch of water and they all seem have different rules. Many bodys of water are closed most of the year and the regs change by the week in some cases. Although, we do have some big fish!

Drop me a line before you plan on coming. I'll let you know where's your best bet to put a 25# plus fish on your line.

Marc

[Inseine]

UB, Great pictures. I was in Kenia in June. The wife and I are moving there in April of next year. I have three buddies that have been guiding in that area for 12 years. They are independents and don't guide out of a lodge. Are plan is to build cabins for them to refer their clients to.
When I was there in June the biggest King I got was 48 lbs. I caught him in the salt (Cooks Inlet). I did land a 100 lb. Halibut. My buddies fish for Halibut a little different than the Halibut charters do. We would go out and troll the shore line for Kings until an hour before high tide, then run out to 90 ft. of water and anchor. We used jigs with 12 inch Mister Twister Tails. We would start out with 16 oz. jigs and drop to 12 oz. and at slack tide go to 8 oz. the tide would swing and we would work our way back up in weight until you couldn't keep a 16 oz. jig down. We did this four days in a row and got our limit everyday but one (that day we were 1 fish short). I've done that jigging with 2 and 4 lb. weights, it was a lot of work. I much prefer the 2 to 2 1/2 hours of jigging with the lighter weights during the slower tide. It's unbelievable the amount of water that moves in and out of that inlet.
I'm happy you had a great trip. I can't wait till next spring and we finally move there.

[UBDSLO1]

UB- thanks for sharing the trip. Before you head out to Washington, make sure you check the regs on Steelhead. This state micro manages every stretch of water and they all seem have different rules. Many bodys of water are closed most of the year and the regs change by the week in some cases. Although, we do have some big fish!

Drop me a line before you plan on coming. I'll let you know where's your best bet to put a 25# plus fish on your line.

Marc
Marc, will do. Thanks for the info.:)

[UBDSLO1]

UB, Great pictures. I was in Kenia in June. The wife and I are moving there in April of next year. I have three buddies that have been guiding in that area for 12 years. They are independents and don't guide out of a lodge. Are plan is to build cabins for them to refer their clients to.
When I was there in June the biggest King I got was 48 lbs. I caught him in the salt (Cooks Inlet). I did land a 100 lb. Halibut. My buddies fish for Halibut a little different than the Halibut charters do. We would go out and troll the shore line for Kings until an hour before high tide, then run out to 90 ft. of water and anchor. We used jigs with 12 inch Mister Twister Tails. We would start out with 16 oz. jigs and drop to 12 oz. and at slack tide go to 8 oz. the tide would swing and we would work our way back up in weight until you couldn't keep a 16 oz. jig down. We did this four days in a row and got our limit everyday but one (that day we were 1 fish short). I've done that jigging with 2 and 4 lb. weights, it was a lot of work. I much prefer the 2 to 2 1/2 hours of jigging with the lighter weights during the slower tide. It's unbelievable the amount of water that moves in and out of that inlet.
I'm happy you had a great trip. I can't wait till next spring and we finally move there.

Yeah, getting a fish that far of the bottom was some work. When we stopped in at Ken's Alaskan Tackle, the ladies there asked us if we had caught any halibut yet. I asked her what it was like, and she said it was like bringing in a pissed off piece of plywood off the bottom.:D Our guide was able to fish a little bit, and he used "lite" outfit, a G Loomis musky rod and reel. He had only a 1lb. weight on, and close to 950feet of line out(with the current):eek: We also went through a section that the guide called "Hells triangle."If I remember correctly, he said it was 3 or 4 currents in the Inlet all coming together. It was like taking a boat ride through a washing machine.:D
I can't wait to go back to Kenai Peninsula. So much to fish there and so little time. And money too.:(