Fishing Report Week Ending 9/13/15

It was another good week of silver fishing.  Some days fast and furious, other days we had to put our time in.   Here's Matt, Marc, and Bryon with their limit.  This is the fourth time Matt has fished silvers with me and he's always got his limit (and he's been the first to do it every time).  I told him don't tell everyone that's the way the Kenai is because not everyone does that. Anyway, great fishing, great stories, and we were all back in time for an early lunch.

Since Dan and Mary Meyer cut their vacation short, I had a couple of days off which allowed me to catch up on a number of things I've had to postpone this summer.  Namely, sleep. As a fairly rested guide I participated in Senator Lisa Murkowski's Womens Classic on Friday and Saturday.  It's always a pleasure to be part of this event.

The "swag bag" that the women get for this event is always the best. Pink rain coats, and life jackets were just a couple of things that the participants received.

This is Gina holding her first Kenai salmon.  Talk about a small world. Gina and I both attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the same time.  We actually had a few classes together. Neither of us has changed in over 30 years!

The ladies know how to do it up right. Moose's Loose donuts, a variety of snacks, and Orange Mimosa's were flowing freely.  By the way, that's a 6 pack of champagne on the side storage tray. Also, take a look at the rubber boots that Laurie wore (on the right). Those are a cheetah print cowgirl rubber boots.  I'll say this about the Women's Classic, for all the years I've been involved with this event, fishing has been the least important part of fishing. For them, it's all about the camaraderie on the Kenai River.

Yesterday evening I was able to take out Eric Taylor's son Colton, and Eric's cousin, John. Eric was aboard as well but unfortunately he wasn't able to catch one and decided he wouldn't be in the picture. John, you may remember from one of my reports back in July, caught a very nice king salmon.  He told me he's still shaking when he thinks about that fish.

Today, Roma and Roger were able to scratch out a limit of silvers. Always fun to put people on their first Alaska salmon. How about that hat Roma is wearing?  Classic.

Next week my fishing calendar is light.  I have a few trips, but when I'm not guiding I plan to be out there with Jane. Not sure what I'll find but ADFG says the middle of September is the peak of the second run.  Come back to this site next week to see if they're correct.




Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service 

Fishing Report Week Ending 9/6/15 (Actually 9/7/15)

There are only two Mondays that I'm allowed to guide on the Kenai: Memorial Day and Labor Day. I apologize to those who were expecting a report yesterday, but I was just too busy to write a report. To paraphrase our local poet laureate Hobo Jim, "I'm doing all right, I've just been fishing....".

How was the week?  It started out on fire. On September 1st, Bob, Judy, Rick, Bill, and Mike got their three fish limit of silvers.

That was followed up the next day with another boat limit.  The Beaver Creek All Stars included Dan and Mary Meyer, and Bob and Judy Kingsbury.  The Pink Parka rules again!  Judy said she will lease it out if anyone is interested.

Had to include the photo of the Kit Kat double.  Good to know the magic still works Mary.

Towards the end of the week the bite slowed down.  Here's Bob Laflamme starting the trip off right.   Todd doesn't look too embarrassed for his dad and his celebration pose.

That fish was followed up by the biggest silver of the day.  Janet Laflamme had a much larger fish on and unfortunately lost it by the boat.  Still, not a bad way to spend your birthday.

We finished up the week by catching a few silvers on Labor Day.  We spent three hours on the water, caught four and missed just as many. I don't know who was happier. Todd, being on the water with his parents, or Bob and Janet showing off their catch. These guys sure make my job easy.

For the week ahead I expect the fishing to be steady to steady slow. The key will be patience and timing.  I was scheduled to fish every day but a family emergency had Dan and Mary Meyer returning to Illinois. My thoughts and prayers are with the both of you.  Maybe see you before freeze up????




Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service  

Fishing Report Week Ending 8/30/15

It was a week of excellent fishing and beautiful sunrises.  Everyone that wanted a limit of silvers, caught a limit of silvers.

Here's Sandy and John with their limit on the first day they fished with me. The next two trips that they had they decided they wanted to catch and release silver salmon. They said they loved being on the water and they had plenty of fish to bring back to New Hampshire. No problemo.

Here's one of many fish released unharmed.

And here's another.   John set a record for my boat for the most silver salmon caught in one trip. Believe it or not, he brought in 15 for the day.

Here's Cherilyn, Raime, and Stephanie with a limit of silvers and a couple of bonus red salmon.  It's been a strange year for the reds.  All week long we we've been catching them.  Some were fresh, some where not, but it was all good fun to reel them in.

Here's Travis, Garret, Milo, and Justin with their limits.  Thanks, Milo, for getting me off the river with 8 minutes to spare!

What a fabulous way to end the week.  Long time readers of the blog will recognize these four. That's Dan and Mary Meyer on the left, Judy and Bob Kingsbury on the right.  No doubt, the women definitely showed the men how it was done.  But the men had patience and it finally paid off with two silvers at quitting time.

So, for the week ahead.  According to the biologists we are in a transition period from the first run of silvers to the second run of silvers.  What that means is the numbers are down until the middle of September.  I believe we'll be able to scratch out 3 fish limits beginning on September 1st.  Not sure everyone will get all their fish, but some will.  Find out next week how we did.  See you then.

Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Fishing Report Week Ending 8/23/15

....It's another Kenai sunrise....

It was an excellent week.  Family, friends, and fish.  Hard to beat that in my world.

In the beginning of the week it was the Rafael Schnitzler show.  Raf was up in July with his dad but decided he needed to get his fix of silvers, reds and trout before taking a new job. If he wasn't sleeping or eating, he was out on the water fishing.  He probably wouldn't like me sharing this but if anyone finds a Gloomis fly rod attached to a monster red salmon some where in the vicinity of Bing's Landing, Raf would like his gear back.

Here's Mike and Mary with their limit. They had a productive week catching silvers with me, and fishing for red salmon on their own.

Here's Ted, Vincent and Mark with a few silvers.  These guys were staying in Homer and when their halibut trip was cancelled they called to see if I could get them out for a few hours in the afternoon. Not always the best time to fish for silvers but these guys weren't complaining (as they all said, it sure beats sitting in a hotel room all day).

Here's Chris with his son Jacob, Rick and Mary. All I can say is I would hire 8 year old Jacob to guide for me anytime.

Another family with their limit of silvers. Jacob, Grandpa Laverne, Spencer, and Chris.

Here's the "my" family part of last week. My baby sister Heidi, and Christa came up for the week. They were here to hang out, see the peninsula, and work in an afternoon of silver fishing.  It was great to get caught up, especially with Christa. Jane use to babysit her and I've known her since she was a teenager.  Jane and I hope to see you both on an annual basis.

Mary, Rick (again!), Rich and Ken with a limit of silvers.  It was fun to visit with all of these guys, especially Mary. Turns out we have a mutual friend so it was good to swap stories about him.

One of the only hiccups this past week. Here's Grandpa Leroy, Adam, and Michael posing with the days catch.  Not a bad haul if it were just the three of them.  What you don't see in this photo are the two uncles who were fishless. Hey, we'll get 'em next time, boys....

We ended the week with the fastest limit of silvers so far this season.  I often struggle with ending the day so soon. But, with fishing, you never know what can happen and these guys were okay with being back at the cabins for a hot breakfast.  On the left is April and Mike from Big Lake, MN.  On the right is Judy and Arne from Moose Lake, MN.

I'm not as confident predicting the week ahead like I was in my last post.  I think the fishing will still be good, but hard to say what the daily tides will bring.  I do know with absolute certainty that I will be out everyday chasing 'em. See you next week.



Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Fishing Report Week Ending 8/16/15

The beginning of the week was a lot like the previous week.  Fishing was a bit slow.  Sure we caught some silvers, but there was a lot of time in between bites. In the local newspaper our area fish and game biologist said there were plenty of silvers in the river, more than we realize, but with the nice weather the fish had "lockjaw."  Kind of interesting how the bite picked up towards the end of the week when the commercial fisherman stopped fishing for the year.  Anyway, that's Kate pictured above with the first silver of the week.

Here's Phoenix with her first silver salmon ever.

And here's her husband, Tom, with a silver as well.  Tom fished with me a couple of years ago so I can't say this was the biggest or the most fish he's ever caught.

Wednesday afternoon I was guide/participant in Senator Lisa Murkowski's Junior Classic.  This event is held for the children of military personnel from Joint Base Elmendorf/Richardson.   Fishing wasn't so hot but the kids had a wonderful time on the water.

Here's Alexis with her first ever silver salmon.  This girl sure knows how to fish and it would be fun to watch her wrestle with a king salmon.

What's not to like about this photo?  Not only did Jacob catch this beautiful silver salmon, he caught a red salmon before anyone else could get their lines in. Fishing is definitely in his DNA.

This is Team Chesney.  Jacob, his dad Chris, Grandma Linda, and Grandpa Marty.  We had a nice steady bite and quite the mixed bag of salmon.   We caught reds, silvers, and a pink.  The only salmon we didn't catch was a king. Jacob was sure hoping we'd get the Kenai Grand Slam but it just wasn't meant to be.

I ended the week fishing with my old friends, Bob, Janet, and Todd Laflamme. Never a dull moment when these guys are in the boat. One of the many highlights included getting a double. Now Dean-O knows why I carry two nets....

For the week ahead I expect excellent fishing.  This is because we are at the historical peak of the run and the commercial fishing season has ended for the year. Make sure to come back next week to see how we did.




Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service

Fishing Report Week Ending 8/9/15

Jane and I had the pleasure of hosting the Bloch family this past week.  The group was here to celebrate Bob and Ruth's 50th wedding anniversary.    From Grandpa Bob and Grandma Ruth to 18 month old grand daughter Mara, the entire clan, except Nate who was seriously injured prior to the trip, piled into our cabins and boat for a week of adventure.

Five minutes into our first morning of silver fishing, Kim showed everyone how it's done.

It didn't take too long for Bob to show the grand kids he still had the touch.   Ruth did too but unfortunately I didn't get a boat photo with her catch.

Allison proudly holding a 12 pound silver.

Bob, Ruth, Andrew, Ben, Allison, Mason, and Brody

Results of day 1 between my boat and Jeff King's boat.  A very nice start to their fishing adventure.

Day 2 proved to be more challenging. Here's Audria and Melana with the days catch.

Day 3 was much like day 2.  Silver fishing was slow but with perseverance we were able to put a few in the box. The highlight of the day was five year old Kayla picking out a pink mag lip lure and then catching this silver.  Can you guess what her favorite color is?   

Here's Daniel, Kayla, Allison, Dan and Michael with the results of day 3.  

Bob and Dan

On their final day of fishing it was still on the slow side.  We caught 3 silvers and missed just as many. The unfortunate highlight of the day happened when I reeled in Melana's line and Dan was standing to my side.  The kwikfish lure came flying out of the water and hit Dan in a rather sensitive area.  If this was the National Hockey League, the injury report would read "lower body injury". So you can imagine what Dan did the next time I reeled in Melana's line.  Glad she had her phone out to capture this defensive pose.....

The "catching" this past week wasn't exactly red hot, but spending time with the Bloch's made me think of the sign that's in Will Jahrig's shop:  The least important part of fishing is fishing.  What a terrific family.   Lot's of love, laughter, and caring.  Something that was good for my soul at this juncture of the season.   I look forward to fishing with Nate on their next visit.

In the week ahead I'll be busy on the water and hopefully a big pile of silvers will find their way into the river.

See you next week.

Beaver Creek Cabins & Guide Service