Last report for 2010.

Things are starting to get pretty tough out there. Coho fishing had been quite solid in Cowee Creek right through the first week of October, but as of October 10 the river pretty much was blown out and muddy. Montana Creek is the same story; high and off color. Not a whole lot going on anymore in the channel either. And with several big storms lined up in the Gulf of Alaska it looks like we will be getting heavy rain for the next week. Peterson is a possibility from Glacier Highway down to the Salt Chuck. The river level gets very high but usually doesn't turn to mud and there can be some late season hold outs. Try fishing a sink tip and slowly stripping flies along the bottom. 

The lakes, such as Windfall and Dredge, were producing nice cutts and as long as they don't get too muddied up they will keep fishing well for another month or until it gets really cold. 

Thanks for reading the report this year and we'll start them up again in April. Have a great winter. Brad

Fall has arrived on the Kenai and the fishing is still going strong. The river had been ultra-low in late September but rain in the headwaters brought the water levels way up. Even with this increased flow the clarity was quite good. This higher water ended up washing thousands of carcasses off the bank and into the river. It is a virtual flesh-fest right now. This in turn woke up Mr. Dolly in his full spawning colors. In some areas washed out flesh on the swing was the ticket. moal Rhoids, Barely Legals in Flesh Washed and S&B's in Flesh were all producers.

In other spots there was so much flesh rolling down the river that it was hard to get a grab on a flesh fly. If this is the case, switch over to 8mm or 10mm beads in Mottled Orange, Mottled Tangerine or Guide Model Beads #2 in Tangerine or Orange Clear. 

The Middle River had been fishing hot but a ton of silt from Skilak Lake got flushed into the river and clarity dropped way down. Grabs decreased proportionally. Until it clears fishing will be tough on the middle. The Killey River is pumping mud so anything below this trib is pretty much unfishable. 

Silver are still pushing in and can be found in the slower back eddies and pools. Try a Pink Hareball Leech or Black Starlite Leech with Green Head. 

It's not over yet! Get out and give it a last shot.

For the first time in weeks it is raining in Juneau. In September. Unbelievable.

Anyway, the record dry spell had creeks nearly dry and the coho that were in them were freaked out and unwilling to cooperate on a regular basis. The most reliable fishing was in the channel where a solid run has been going on all month. It has been very day-to-day on whether the fish were in the mood to grab, but anglers showing persistance were generally rewarded.

Now that it is raining again, cohos that had been hunkered down are on the move in a big way.  Reports of pools filling with fish and then an hour later emptying as the fish bolted upstream have been coming in.This weekend and next week will take some searching to find out where these fish decide to hold. Cowee and Montana will continue to be good bets.

We'll have to wait and see on the channel. A lot of the fish in the Lemon Creek area may decide to push across the bar and bee line for the hatchery. Hopefully there is another wave behind them to fill back in.

Time is getting short so get out and hit it!  Brad

The Upper Kenai River and Canyon are in full Fall swing. Reds in every state of the spawn are in this section of the river and more are moving up from Skilak Lake on a daily basis. As you might guess, it is a bead show. With some reds already dying off, others dropping fresh eggs, and still more getting ready to spawn, a wide variety of bead colors in 6mm and 8mm are working. Dead egg imitations such as Washed Pink as well as fresh egg colors are all producing. There are carcass piles here and there and a swung flesh fly can work around these heaps of dead protein.

The Middle Kenai is improving for trout fishing. The last of the crimson king salmon torpedos are barely hanging on and  a 10mm bead fished behind them can work. The sockeye are finally putting eggs down and this will really kick the fishery into gear.

Silver fishing is sporadic. They are mixed in with the sockeye and foul-hooking goat roap is a distinct possibility. Choose your targets with care or be prepared to lose some flies.

Quartz Creek has slowed way down and the Russian River is on and off. Those willing to hike up the Russian quite a ways are having some good days on beads and flesh.

Finally, keep your eyes peeled for the brown fuzzies. Now that the reds are paired up and in shallow water the brown bears are on the river in force. 

See you out there!