Bead season in Alaska

[AKnook]

Finally got out this last weekend and fished beads at the Kenai and Russian rivers. Bead fishing is open all year on the Kenai but doesn't open up on the Russian until August 21st. This was the first time bead fishing this year for me. Both rivers were plugged with spawning sockeyes as expected with the record runs we have had this year.

8mm mottled beads were the ticket in both rivers. Some areas of the Kenai were so plugged with sockeyes that I wouldn't even drop my line while we floated in fear of snagging a few salmon. The wind and rain was horrible on Saturday as we floated the Kenai. We got into a bunch of fish and had a good time none the less. Only one rainbow was caught on the kenai while the rest of the fish were dolly Varden.

On the final gravel bar/island we fished there were two brown bears on the other side of the bank about 50 feet from my buddy and I. They were standing up on there hind legs looking down at the water looking for salmon. They would dive and come up with a sockeye and munch away. Pretty cool being that close fishing and watching these huge animals do what they do best. Nothing more wild Alaskan than that.

Sunday we hit the Russian river. Bear sign everywhere with tracks and half eaten salmon on the banks but luckily we didn't run into one. The Russian river is closed in on both sides by forest. Unlike the Kenai that is open, it is easier to run into a bear without knowing. My buddy and I had a pretty epic day with at least 50 fish between the two of us. I lost the biggest rainbow I have ever hooked into at the Russian. Bummer! But I caught a pretty nice sized dolly varden near the end of the day.

Just thought I would share as this is my favorite time of year to fish. I know this is not an Ontario fishing report but I still like to share my experiences here. Even though I have not done the fishing I would like to in Ontario (yet), It is still my home province and cannot wait to catch a trout/salmon there. Enjoy the pics!

Kenai Dolly Varden




Russian river Dolly Varden

 

[grubman]

Awesome report and pics. You really know how to make me envious. Record runs of sockeyes, they must taste incredible fresh and not from a can.

Ontario or not, I for one enjoy your report. Don't worry you're not missing much here, the salmon are not running yet.

Thanks for the great report and pics.

 

[float^drifter]

enjoy your reports as well, keep on posting :grin:

 

[DanForte]

beautiful pictures AKnook.. what do you do for precautions when fishing when bears are around?

 

[AKnook]

The sockeye when fresh cannot be beat for dinner fare. As they become blush they are good for the smoker. As they become fully spawned, or as we call them here, tomatoes, they are a nuisence. They hit anything you throw out when going for trout.

Klutina River chrome sockeye salmon


Chrome Kenai River Sockey salmon (also one of the only days hot enough to remove your shirt this year)


Almost a full tomato


A full blown tomato



Later in the run you have a mix of first run and second run sockeye. The chrome fish will be amongst the tomatoes making it hard to target the chromers. You hook up a lot with the tomatoes trying for the chrome.

 

[AKnook]

beautiful pictures AKnook.. what do you do for precautions when fishing when bears are around?

I personally carry a .44mag. Bear spray or a gun is a must here. I personally rather carry my .44 because I know that when I pull that trigger it is going to fire. I have fired it many times. I don't know if the bear spray I have is a defective one and won't spray. Thats just me. We already had one bear fatality here because the guy didn't carry anything. So far I have never unholstered my gun. I have had a bear stand up about 10 feet away from me from the bushes and look right into my eyes at the Russian river. I grabbed my gun and backed up but never unholstered it.

You see many fisherman with guns or bear spray. One or the other, not without here. Everyone knows bears are big animals, but when they are close it is unreal. You truley feel like you are not on the top of the food chain when you are out and have to constantly look over your shoulder to investigate every sound. Always being vigilant to keep a clean camp. You just have to.

I am always careful when out fishing but I am always nervous when fishing the Russian river. This last trip was the first time in 4 years that I haven't seen a brown bear. You are surrounded by forest. Tall trees, grasses, devil's club......you have no where to go but up or down river depending where the bear is. With the sound of the river you don't even hear them until you see them right near you.

Being in the woods doesn't have to ever be scary. It doesn't stop me from doing what I enjoy. You just have to cautious and be prepared. I always carry when I go fishing in certain rivers.

 

[Rain-Bow]

Interesting. Have you ever heard stories of Sasquatch encounters there in Alaska?

 

[DanForte]

Being in the woods doesn't have to ever be scary. It doesn't stop me from doing what I enjoy. You just have to cautious and be prepared. I always carry when I go fishing in certain rivers.

I love this well said.

Thats very intense but i agree do what is the most safe for sure.

 

[AKnook]

Interesting. Have you ever heard stories of Sasquatch encounters there in Alaska?

Yes, I have heard of a few. Mainly in south eastern Alaska. But where haven't there been sightings of sasquatch? lol. River monsters even did a show here about the lake iliamna monster. Turns out it was a huge sturgeon.

 

[Rain-Bow]

Well, southeastern Alaska might just be the best part of Alaska to see one lol. There is a DNA study that's being carried out by Oxford University right now on purported DNA samples and I believe results will be published sometime around December if they get any.

 

[FishingNoob]

That is a great report! Those fish are huge and truly beautiful! What type of salmon is the red ones with the huge hooked jaw and hump?? Those are my favourite!

 

[AKnook]

That is a great report! Those fish are huge and truly beautiful! What type of salmon is the red ones with the huge hooked jaw and hump?? Those are my favourite!

Those are all sockeye salmon. They are chrome silver when they are fresh from the ocean arriving in the rivers. They then start to turn red with green heads and have humped backs with hooked jaws as they prepare to spawn in the rivers. Pretty awesome sight to see in the rivers. Some areas they stage in are blood red with the amount of them schooled up.

 

[AKnook]

Well, southeastern Alaska might just be the best part of Alaska to see one lol. There is a DNA study that's being carried out by Oxford University right now on purported DNA samples and I believe results will be published sometime around December if they get any.

If there is a place in Alaska to spot one I would put my money on South eastern Alaska. The rainforests there are amazing. Massive trees covered in moss. Everything is covered in moss. Its like you are in prehistoric times just waiting to see a t-rex come out of a bush. Very beautiful. I was in Yakutat this last May and i Have never seen forests like that in my life.

 

[rocheleauc]

Great report and beautiful fish.

I hope one day I can catch one of those "tomatos" :mrgreen:

 

[ChaseChrome]

Just thought I would share as this is my favorite time of year to fish. I know this is not an Ontario fishing report but I still like to share my experiences here. Even though I have not done the fishing I would like to in Ontario (yet), It is still my home province and cannot wait to catch a trout/salmon there. Enjoy the pics!

Not an Ontario report--who cares brother!! Nice pics and report--awesome fish. I'm loving that mint-green water...
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[hightechdecks]

those dolly varden are a pretty fish arent they

 

[ChaseChrome]

How long you been away?? Ontario is home??

 

[AKnook]

How long you been away?? Ontario is home??

I was born and raised in Toronto. I fished here and there but never got into it as hardcore as I am now. I moved to South Central Alaska in 2005. The love of the sport has grown to unprecedented proportions.

 

[Dozer]

Fantastic, looking forward to more pictures A great variety of fish and spectacular rivers.

 

[ChaseChrome]

I was born and raised in Toronto. I fished here and there but never got into it as hardcore as I am now. I moved to South Central Alaska in 2005. The love of the sport has grown to unprecedented proportions.

Yeah I hear that...if we ever see you in these parts, and guns don't dissuade you from returning to TO, we'll be sure to square you away with a good therapist....

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