The 2009 Upper Kenai River opened up full force with one the biggest
runs of first run sockeye to hit the river since the glory days of
Quiet Riot! Fly fishing Sockeye has been fast and furious and the run
seems to just keep building. We have been spotting massive schools
throughout the entire river system. These fish are all bound for the
Russian River, a major clear water tributary of the Upper Kenai. This
Legendary run is producing tons of trout food in the form of filleted
carcasses, guts, and egg sacs. Big Skilak Lake rainbows and Dollies are
flooding into the upper Kenai to feast and anglers targeting trout are
going into the backing. Micro-Flesh patterns and beads are on fire and
the trout fishing on the upper Kenai should continue to get even better
as the week progresses.
Water conditions are exceptionally clear, and
pro trout anglers that are bending rods are running 12 foot leaders and
6-8lb fluorocarbon tippets. The trout fishing in the Middle Kenai River
below Skilak Lake has been insane as well. Trout anglers that are
concentrating in the deeper runs are hitting super-charged, smolt-eating
chrome rainbows in the 6-10 pound range all day. Big 4 inch sculpin
patterns in black and olive are producing magnum takedowns. As in the
Upper Kenai, the Middle Kenai is extremly clear and long leaders and
light tippets rule. There are still a lot of big spawning rainbows in
this section of river on the the shallow gravel bars and anglers should
show some respect to these legends and leave them be.
More reports to
follow as the week progresses on the Kenai.
Billy Couillette
