Charters and Guides

[bklimek]

I'm in the final stages of booking our family Alaska trip next year (July 2008) and can't wait. The two pieces I still have outstanding are the fishing trips I'd like to get booked ASAP. One of the trips I'd like to do is a full day trip out of Homer for halibut and maybe salmon. Does anybody have any good recommendations on a charter to book through? Also, I'm interested to hear what others think. Should I do a full day Halibut or do a combo Halibut/Salmon full day? The second trip I'd like to book is a drift either by drift or power boat down the Kenai river for some gigantic kings while taking in the scenery. Does anybody have any guide/outfitter suggestions here? The problem I'm finding is I have an odd number of people which is 5. What I'm running into is most guided floats accompany a maximum of 4. Can anybody offer any suggestions in this area as well? Should we do a drift, bank fish, etc.???? Who should I go through? Any help, advice, or info would be appreciated. If you want you can email me at [email protected]

Thanks everybody!

[traveler]

AK rocks:) You'll have a great time. I thought we were going to make it back up next year, but it looks like it'll have to wait till '09, sigh... For Homer, I don't have a good recommendation, as I like Seward better (which you should visit anyway, as long as you're on the peninsula), but I'd stick with halibut only; combo trips from Homer are spotty, and devoting the whole day to butts will increase your odds at quality fish. For the Kenai; well, it depends. If you're really after a bigger king, do the lower kenai powerboat thing. it's a zoo, not very scenic, but it's your best shot at the big girls. If you want better scenery and still a pretty good chance at good size kings, do a drift on the Kasilof (right down the road); it's prettier, quieter, and a good shot at kings to 30 or possibly bigger. Me, I do the kenai:) I can get peace and quiet in the BWCA! When in July are you going?? it can make a big difference, king-wise. For good kenai charters, especially in the second half of the month, some of the better charters will already be booked! And 5 anglers is a problem. Talk to a couple guides and see what they say, but most can only hold 4, and thier boats are set up that way. I expect you'll have to split up the party somehow. A couple good guides I've used several times; Mark Glassmaker or Fenton Brothers. Both have been around for a long time and really know thier fishing.

[bklimek]

Thanks for the info traveler! We are going July 10-22. Looking to fish Kings on the 17th and Halibut on the 19th. We are planning to make the Kenai penninsula loop. First going to Seward, make our way over to Homer, and then back to Anchorage. Really looking forward to it! I need to start calling places next week and talking to a few outfits.

[traveler]

no problem:) You might want to look at fishing the kenai as late in the trip as possible, depending on your itinerary. 2nd run kings tend to get better as the month progresses, with the last 10 days being best. The sonar counts can look great mid-month on, but as the run goes on, a fair # of the fish from earlier days pile up in the river, some staying in the lower river, so the catch ratios are usually better toward the end of the month. Also, if you can, do a couple 1/2 day mornings rather than a whole day. It's a little more $$, but I've had much better luck mornings. Tuesdays are normally the best day as theres no guided fishing sundays, and mon is drift only, so the river has had some down time as compared to the usual boat numbers. good luck, nothing like a big kenai king:)

[fishermann222]

Traveler gave you good advice. I don't personally fish on the peninsula, since i am in the bush I net my salmon for eating and then we go way up into the mountains for sport fishing. A few things you have to look forward to if you get into the hogs.

Here are some pics of last years king run. 102 kings caught and released in two days for three guys

Hope that gets your blood flowing a little bit