This section explains or illustrates the most common methods, techniques, and setups used by anglers on the Kenai River and are consistent with those preferred by salmon and trout anglers in the Pacific Northwest.
GENERAL FISHING TECHNIQUES
Casting
Use spoons, spinners, and flies with a slow but steady retrieve/strip. In spots with minimal to no current, this simple motion is all it takes. Just cast out, let the offering sink for a second or two, and then commence a slow and steady retrieve/strip. Hooks silvers, pinks, rainbows, and dollies, on occasion kings. Not effective on reds.
Drifting
A simple and proven technique targeting fish holding or moving through an area of current. Cast straight out or slightly upstream, let the lure, fly, or bait sink through the layers of water, and allow the offering to bounce downstream along the bottom. As you reach the end of the drift, reel in and cast again. Enough weight must be used to feel a tap along the bottom every few feet; adjust as necessary according to current velocity and depth. Drift fishing will take all salmon species as well as trout and char.
Flipping
This is the most common technique used for red salmon and takes its share of silvers and pinks too. Developed from the drift application described above, the angler works a much shorter line (15 to 20 feet), enough to be controlled by the length of the arm and rod. Flipping is perfect targeting salmon migrating or holding near shore as is the case along much of the mainstem Kenai River and Russian River.
Plunking
A tried and true technique involving the use of bait fished alone or with an attractor for added visibility. A cluster of salmon roe is preferred; go smaller if used with an attractor. Put this setup to use in slow moving current or slackwater areas. Great for silvers and will sometimes take other salmon species.
BOAT FISHING METHODS
Back-Trolling
Pointing upstream, the boat is powered slightly slower than the speed of the current, thus slipping slowly downstream, enabling anglers to cover a lot of area and place lure in front of fish for extended periods of time. One of the best methods for kings but will also hook silvers, pinks, rainbows, and the occasional red.
Terminal Gear: Spinners, plugs, attractors, and bait.
Drifting
Anglers drift with the current, allowing lure or fly to bounce along the bottom at the speed of the current. An effective method for all of Kenai’s game fish. Used extensively for kings, reds, rainbows, and dollies, catches silvers and pinks as well.
Terminal Gear: Spinners, attractors, flies, and bait.
Back-Bouncing
Boat is constantly under power and slowly backed down the river. As the boat backs through a hole or drift, the angler bounces the lure in a jigging motion along the bottom of the river. A favorite method for kings and silvers especially.
Terminal Gear: Attractor and bait combinations.
Anchoring
Boat is kept stationary by employing an anchor. This method is done in areas with slow to moderate current. Not a recommended method during king season in congested high-traffic areas. Common techniques in conjunction with anchoring include casting and plunking for silvers and pinks and drifting for trout and char.
Terminal Gear: Spoons, spinners, plugs, attractors, and bait.
Power-Trolling
A method applied in areas with minimal to no current flow. Boat moves at very slow speed up and down the river following deep-water channels, the lure and/or bait fluttering behind the boat. Will catch kings, silvers, and pinks.
Terminal Gear: Spoons, spinners, plugs, attractors, and bait.
TROUT & CHAR TECHNIQUES
The following techniques are standard applications anglers use for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden in the mainstem Kenai River and tributary rivers and streams. Variations of these techniques or ones that are not described here may be more effective for lake resident fish or such species as lake trout and arctic char.
Dead Drifting
The most effective technique for presenting egg and flesh imitations. Also known as “high-sticking,” the angler casts at an angle upstream and, keeping the rod tip high, allows the fly/bead to assume a perfectly natural drift by holding several feet of line in one hand and feeding out the line as the fly/bead works its way downstream without creating a “sweep.” The angler can even wade along the shoreline, following the fly/bead as it drifts unhindered with the current. Many anglers prefer to use a strike indicator with this technique.
Wet Fly Swing
An efficient technique applied in most any current. The presentation is cast at an angle upstream and, while holding the line tight, allowed to be swept downstream along or near the bottom at the speed of the current before the angler retrieves and repeats the procedure. This creates a “sweep” that covers a lot of area and works just as well with lures as with flies.