 |
Alaska's King Salmon ~ Tackle and Technique
by Paul Mroczka
http://www.alaskafishon.com/
The Alaska King Salmon is the official state fish and
ultimate prize for any fisherman looking for the excitement
of landing a big one. King Salmon in the world famous Kenai
River are plentiful and huge. Sport fishermen in the Kenai
have caught trophy salmon weighing nearly 100-pounds, and
it's not unusual for anglers to haul in 40 and 50 pounders.
Thousands of people travel to the Kenai River and, with a
licensed river guide, pursue its most prized bounty-- the
King.
What do you use for bait? There are a few types of
rigs that are best for attracting Alaska King Salmon. Spin-
N-Glows, Vibrex Spinners, and plugs are three effective
lures that usually provide optimum results. Two common
fishing techniques used on guide boats on the Kenai are
back trolling and drifting; while a third and relatively
new method called back bouncing is also proving to be
effective.
Back trolling usually incorporates Spin-N-Glows and
salmon eggs or plugs. Some other effective lures for back
trolling are Magnum Wiggle Worts, Flashtrap Spinners,
Tadpollys, Kwikfish and Flatfish. In addition to the lure,
you may also, depending upon the current, depth of the
water, and location on the river, utilize divers, trolling
weights, and diving lures. Baits that move erratically and
rotate, especially those that create the illusion of a
water creature in distress, will help attract salmon.
When back trolling, the guide has the boat work
against the current, running the motor at the same speed or
a bit slower than the river. This helps hold the boat in
the same position on or to move slowly down the river. The
boat should be moving downstream slower than the current
while the lures are downstream ahead of the boat. Usually
the bait moves close to the bottom of the river with a
diver or weight attached 18 inches away from it to allow
for proper depth. You'll know you've got a King Salmon on
your line when the rod goes down and stays down.
Drifting is similar to back trolling except the
bait is allowed to gently bounce off the bottom of the
river while the boat drifts with the current. Weights are
used to keep the line at the correct depth. This technique
is difficult to master since it's not necessarily east to
differentiate between a fish taking the bait and your line
hitting off the bottom. A pause in the movement of the line
often indicates a hit.
With back bouncing, the bait is bounced off the
bottom as the boat is slowly backed over a hole. Sink-N-
Glows, a Vibrex spinner or similar lures when properly
weighted often yield good results. When fishing, if you
feel a tug set the hook chances are there is a salmon there.
~
~If using a plug, you'll want to utilize K-15's or K-
16's~you need something large. Divers work well to get the
plug to the right depth and colorful, gaudy colors are
recommended due to their ability to attract attention.
~If you're planning on fishing the Kenai River and
can't locate the right type of lure at home, don't worry.
Some of these items may not be accessible in your region of
the country but bait and tackle shops throughout the Kenai
have no lack of Spin-N-Glows, Vibrex spinners, Tadpollys,
Kwikfish and more.
If you elect to book your fishing trip through a
licensed guide, you'll find that their knowledge, skill,
and supplies will result in a less stressful and a more
productive trip. When you go fishing for the Alaska King
Salmon you want to exploit every opportunity you have to
make your limit, enjoying some of the best fishing on this
earth.
This article was written by Paul Mroczka sponsored by
http://www.alaskafishon.com/. Alaska Fish On is a licensed
and registered Kenai river Alaska fishing guide service
providing affordable packages for the novice or experienced
fisher. Let the experts at Alaska Fish On tailor a fishing
package suited to your needs for your next vacation.
Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must
include a link pointing back to
http://www.alaskafishon.com/.
Submit An Article
|
|  |
