Chinook SSSF
11-17-2008, 02:55 PM
Stupid Fishing
Photos by Nick Braun and Matthew Clark
Story by Matthew Clark
Sounds to good to be true but its not, I am refering to the Kenai river pink salmon run that occures only on even years. In 2008 anglers saw a banner pink year that was described by guides as 'Stupid fishing' and I was fortunate to have had a small but lasting part in this memorable season. One of the local guides, Ed French offered to take us deep into the lower Kenai river during the incoming tide where literally tens of thousands of fresh pinks were staging daily for their upstream push.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks0.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks1.jpg
Pink Salmon are the smallest of the 5 species of Pacific salmon averaging only 3 to 5 lbs. They are known to be more aggressive then most other salmon and will eagerly strike anything flashy and moving.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks2.jpg
Most recognizable by their hump they are often seen in the lower river areas of countless numbers of Alaskan streams. they are typically the most numerous salmon found in Alaska.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks3.jpg
Mike Braun gears up the 7 weight with the 'Pink Hologram Explode' fly, as so coined by it's creator. Nick and myelf are fast into the fish on #4 hot pink R&B spinners. We fished the hardware on long 9'6" Lami Certified Pro's with 10 lb flourocarbon. The long arch in these limber rods gives you a very fun fly rod blank feel.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks4.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks6.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks7.jpg
We set up on anchor for a while and managed ourselves a 60 second break between take downs on wrapped flatfish. At this point with only one rod out for 4 guys I finally had time for a late lunch and to notice that the few other boats around the area also had constant action with nets always at the ready position.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks8.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks10.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks11.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks12.jpg
Ed had spent so much time as a guide doing what he calls his 'fish releasing job' that he had not caught any himself yet and since this was a film venture on his day off, someone else got to hold the fish for the camera for once. Glad we could help Ed!
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks13.jpg
Honestly this was the craziest salmon fishing I have ever experienced. Anyone who took a cast with anything caught something. A perfect place for the younger family members interested in fishing. Bank fishing up here is limited to a few small areas and because of this I honestly recommend the services of a local guide for any of the Kenai rivers fisheries. We will be back to visit Ed with our cameras again in 2010 for the great invasion known as 'stupid fishing'.......
.........
Big thanks to our friends and resources that help make posts like one this possible!
Nick Braun - Additional Photo and video Credits, great photos nick, thanks!
Ed French - Alaskan Fish Guides (http://www.alaskanfishguides.com/) 866-945-3474
R & B Lure (http://www.randblures.com/) - Company - Fairview Oregon
Lamiglas Rods (http://www.lamiglas.com/) - Woodland Washington
Photos by Nick Braun and Matthew Clark
Story by Matthew Clark
Sounds to good to be true but its not, I am refering to the Kenai river pink salmon run that occures only on even years. In 2008 anglers saw a banner pink year that was described by guides as 'Stupid fishing' and I was fortunate to have had a small but lasting part in this memorable season. One of the local guides, Ed French offered to take us deep into the lower Kenai river during the incoming tide where literally tens of thousands of fresh pinks were staging daily for their upstream push.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks0.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks1.jpg
Pink Salmon are the smallest of the 5 species of Pacific salmon averaging only 3 to 5 lbs. They are known to be more aggressive then most other salmon and will eagerly strike anything flashy and moving.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks2.jpg
Most recognizable by their hump they are often seen in the lower river areas of countless numbers of Alaskan streams. they are typically the most numerous salmon found in Alaska.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks3.jpg
Mike Braun gears up the 7 weight with the 'Pink Hologram Explode' fly, as so coined by it's creator. Nick and myelf are fast into the fish on #4 hot pink R&B spinners. We fished the hardware on long 9'6" Lami Certified Pro's with 10 lb flourocarbon. The long arch in these limber rods gives you a very fun fly rod blank feel.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks4.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks6.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks7.jpg
We set up on anchor for a while and managed ourselves a 60 second break between take downs on wrapped flatfish. At this point with only one rod out for 4 guys I finally had time for a late lunch and to notice that the few other boats around the area also had constant action with nets always at the ready position.
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks8.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks10.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks11.jpg
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks12.jpg
Ed had spent so much time as a guide doing what he calls his 'fish releasing job' that he had not caught any himself yet and since this was a film venture on his day off, someone else got to hold the fish for the camera for once. Glad we could help Ed!
http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/sssfimages/hostedimages08/akpinks13.jpg
Honestly this was the craziest salmon fishing I have ever experienced. Anyone who took a cast with anything caught something. A perfect place for the younger family members interested in fishing. Bank fishing up here is limited to a few small areas and because of this I honestly recommend the services of a local guide for any of the Kenai rivers fisheries. We will be back to visit Ed with our cameras again in 2010 for the great invasion known as 'stupid fishing'.......
.........
Big thanks to our friends and resources that help make posts like one this possible!
Nick Braun - Additional Photo and video Credits, great photos nick, thanks!
Ed French - Alaskan Fish Guides (http://www.alaskanfishguides.com/) 866-945-3474
R & B Lure (http://www.randblures.com/) - Company - Fairview Oregon
Lamiglas Rods (http://www.lamiglas.com/) - Woodland Washington