Kenai Dollies at a Glance
Best Time: July – October
Open Season: January 1 – December 31
Fish Size: 10-24 in., up to 15 lbs.
Gear: Light/ultra-light rod/reel, 6-10 lb. line
Tackle: Spoons, spinners, plugs, attractors, flies
Techniques: Dead drifting, wet fly swing
Hot Spots: Lower/Middle/Upper Kenai River
DOLLY VARDEN IN THE KENAI RIVER
Like rainbow trout, the Dolly Varden is another equally prolific species with a wide range of distribution within the Kenai system, from tidewater to drainage headwaters, and are generally present throughout the year with seasonal abundance.
There are two main forms of Dolly Varden in the Kenai River; sea-run and resident. The sea-run form spends the winter in lakes and the mainstem of Lower Kenai, migrates to sea in spring to feed for the summer, and returns to the river in late summer and fall to spawn. Resident fish, however, are more common on the Upper Kenai and its tributaries where they spend their lives moving between lakes and mainstem river and streams to feed and spawn.
Description
Feeding Phase: Sea-run fish are black or dark greenish to blue on back, sides silvery with large but faint white or pink spots, and white belly. Resident fish somewhat darker, brown or black on back, sides silvery grey to yellowish brown with large pink spots. Flesh color is orange.
Spawning Phase: Dirty green or dark on back and upper sides, lower sides and belly bright orange or reddish. Large orange or red spots accent dark sides. Males develop a kype on lower jaw. Pectoral, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins have creamy white edges. Flesh color is yellowish white.
Timing: Dolly Varden are present year-round in the Kenai drainage, including the mainstem river. There is less of a presence during winter and spring on the upper river, number of fish only increasing dramatically by mid-summer. Lower Kenai, however, see a stronger early appearance due to ocean-bound char. Peak numbers typically occur in late summer and fall anywhere in the drainage where this species occurs.
Size: Mainstem Kenai Dollies average 10 to 20 inches with a good number of fish reaching 24 inches and 5 pounds. Trophy char to 28 inches and 10 pounds are not unusual with specimens into the teens possible. Maximum weight is 18 pounds.
FISHING FOR KENAI DOLLIES
The Dolly Varden may not be targeted exclusively given the huge numbers of rainbow trout present at the same time in the same places but are rather looked at as a very welcome catch providing variety for anglers drifting the river.
Catching up to a dozen or more char on a single outing is typical at the height of the season with some of the larger, trophy-sized fish usually reported in late summer and fall. Using drift boats or rafts to access prime areas is popular but another attractive option is to hike in from the highway along the Upper Kenai.
When & Where
Dolly Varden are present throughout the year in the mainstem Kenai but much more abundant and active from July to October. Anglers find all of the upper and middle sections of river very productive throughout much of the season while the lower part is best in mid-summer. Russian River is a relative hot spot with Quartz Creek being a long-time favorite, yet several other smaller tributaries offer strong fishing opportunities.
Timing
| Location (Area) | Rating | Best Time |
| Lower Kenai River (Kenai/Soldotna) | Excellent | mid-July – early September |
| Middle Kenai River (Sterling) | Excellent | early August – mid-October |
| Upper Kenai River (Cooper Landing) | Excellent | early August – early October |
Structure
You will find char in much of the same areas as rainbows, depending on time of season and available food sources. Pools, undercut banks, overhanging vegetation, and deep channels all attract fish. Dolly Varden are generally found near shore in the mainstem Kenai and in deeper parts of smaller tributaries, preferring a moderate to slow current. Not being particularly strong swimmers, avoid fast water.
As with all predatory fish, char are opportunistic and keyed in on the standard food sources of the river, including salmon and its byproducts (eggs, flesh, juvenile fish). Search out spawning salmon. Fish cleaning stations naturally draw Dolly Varden.
What & How
Dolly Varden are for the most part targeted by anglers using fly rods for maximum sport but can be taken on conventional gear just as easily. However, the techniques that are truly effective on char (and trout) are best applied using fly gear, such as dead drifting beads and flesh patterns, while the swing drift (wet fly swing) can be used with most any type of gear and perfect for sight fishing or using forage imitations.
Fly Gear and Patterns
If you are chasing char, trout are likely to show up on the end of the line as well; thus, the ideal system would be a 7-weight with floating line and 12-pound tippet in case of one of those big rainbows happens to inhale your offering.
Fly-Fishing: 6- to 8-weight, 9- to 10 ½-foot medium-fast action rod and medium trout class reel with smooth and reliable drag system and 100 to 150 yards of 20- to 30-pound backing, WF full floating, intermediate, or short sink tip Type III-IV/200-400 grain T-series lines, 7- to 9-foot tapered leader, and 8- to 14-pound tippet. Gear down a weight size with 4- to 8-pound tippet for smaller tributaries.
Best Flies: Early and late in the season use forage patterns replicating juvenile fish and aquatic insect, focusing on egg and flesh imitations when salmon are present. Battle Creek, Glo Bug, Egg Sucking Leech, Zonker, Dolly Llama, Woolly Bugger, Carcass Fly, and Bunny Fly are proven patterns (hook size 2-6), with a 6- to 10-mm bead egg (up to 12-mm around kings) fished with or without a strike indicator perhaps the number one choice. Other great seasonal patterns include Alaska Smolt, Hare’s Ear Nymph, Muddler Minnow, Leech, Sculpin, Babine Special, and Two Egg Sperm Fly.
Conventional Gear and Tackle
Although not as versatile as fly gear, a standard light or ultra-light spinning rod works just fine casting baitfish and drifting egg and flesh imitations. Choose a system that can handle larger trout or salmon as these fish will hit your offering as well.
Spin-/Bait-Casting: 7- to 9 ½-foot, medium-fast action trout rod and high performance freshwater spinning/bait-casting reel with 175 to 200 yards of 6- to 14-pound line.
Best Lures: Small- to medium-sized spoons, spinners, plugs, and attractors are favored. Spinners in sizes 2-3, such as Vibrax, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail, and plugs, including Kwikfish, Rapala, Flatfish, and Hot Shot in sizes 4-10. Plain silver or copper lures with or without a base of metallic blue or green are good baitfish imitators. Darker lures in brown or black make for good insect/forage imitations.
Techniques and Presentations
Anglers chasing Dolly Varden generally do not need to get as technical as when tempting trout with some more flexibility in techniques and offerings throughout the season. The very basic rules of stripping and drifting seasonal lures and flies apply here. Fish at dawn and dusk in summer. In cloudy or rainy conditions and in fall, action is more regular and consistent throughout the day.
Cast-and-Strip: A year-round application using forage imitations, providing proper structure or holding water. Anglers favor this before and after salmon runs.
Dead Drifting: When salmon are around, particularly in late summer and fall, this technique does great using beads and egg and flesh imitation flies.
Wet Fly Swing: Usually more eagerly than trout, char respond well to attractor, forage patterns, and at times egg and flesh imitations in conjunction with this technique.
Rules & Regulations
Lower Kenai River: Open season is January 1 through December 31. The daily bag limit is one (1) fish less than 16 inches.
Upper Kenai River: Open season is June 11 through April 30. The daily bag limit is one (1) fish less than 16 inches.