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King Salmon in Alaska
by Paul Mroczka
http://www.alaskafishon.com/
You're looking forward to the ultimate salmon fishing
experience along Alaska's Kenai River. Famous for
providing anglers with the opportunity to hook trophy
Chinook (King) Salmon, feisty, fighting Sockeye (Red)
Salmon, and multitudes of Coho (Silver) Salmon, the Kenai
is a magnate for sport fishermen.
Of course, you want your fishing expedition to be
the best it can possibly be, which means if you're going to
enlist a charter service you should make sure they know
what they're doing. Here are a few tips on how to go about
finding the river guide that is best for you.
You'll need to determine a few things before you
even start to consider what service you may want to hire.
You'll need to find out how much you are willing to spend
on the trip, including transportation and lodging. You'll
also want to think about what species of fish you'd like to
catch. Finally, you will have to weigh variables concerning
value, perks, and essentials. After you've consider all of
this and come up with some answers, you can then start to
refine your search for the charter service that's perfect
for you.
In finding the answers to the considerations posed,
you'll need to perform some basic research. The Internet is
the perfect place to start your investigation. You'll find
a range of fishing services being offered by various
companies and businesses. When reading through web pages
make note of any type of specialization offered by each
company, what their packages include, and their range of
prices.
One thing you'll find is that the price for a
charter service when Kings first start to run is less
expensive than when those fish are at the peak of their
migration. That's because peak migration times are when
people really want to fish the Kenai, which means spaces
are limited and, yet, desperately wanted, which, in turn,
results in a higher price (supply and demand).
Once you've collected enough information to make
you confused and confounded, start comparing different
companies, analyzing the value of their services, any
extras they might include, and the basic services for which
you're looking.
Narrow your search down to three to five charter
services and in doing so make sure each is a registered
guide for the Kenai River, which means they are certified
in safety procedures, meet insurance requirements, and are
licensed by the State of Alaska. It is illegal to employ
someone as a guide who does not have a permit for
commercial use. The vessel used by the service must also
display a three-digit registration number and there should
be a Kenai River guide I.D. card onboard. (Violations
should be reported to or questions may be addressed to the
Alaska State Parks service at (909) 262-5581.)
In investigating possible guide services, you
should take a few routes by speaking with the service
provider, people who have recently used his/her services,
and the Park Service to determine if any complaints have
been filed.
Also, ask anyone you know~friends, family, and
associates at work~if they've ever fished the Kenai River.
You may live four thousand miles away from Alaska, but you
may work with someone who used to live near the Kenai or
whose son or daughter was a guide, or who has fished the
river numerous times. Getting insight into the experience
from people who have been there can be invaluable. If they
used a guide, find out who they employed and what they
liked and did not like about the service.
Here are some considerations to contemplate when
choosing a river guide.
How Good is the Guide?
It's difficult to determine how good someone is
from photos on the web, published testimony, and company
descriptions. Here are a few things you can do:
Ask the guide if they fish and how long they've
been in the business. You want someone who knows the river
and what's happening with the fish on a daily basis.
Ask the guide about the run times for salmon, what
baits they use, what techniques they employ for certain
fish, etc. Compare their answers to published information
and evaluate how knowledgeable they are.
Is the guide a part-timer or are they out on the
river all the time? You want a full-time service; they
should have a better sense of fishing patterns, changes in
the river, and techniques that are currently successful
than someone who goes out a few days a week.
Ask for references and check out those references,
asking plenty of questions about their experience with the
service.
Make sure the service provider is fully licensed
and up-to-date with authorities.
What Services Do They Offer?
Determine how many hours you'll actually be on the
river fishing.
Do they only focus on salmon fishing or do they
mix it up by going for halibut or trout?
Are they simply a charter service or do they also
provide instruction?
Do they offer lodging or are they connected with
someone who offers these services? What type of
accommodations are they?
What Equipment do They Provide?
f this is your first time, consider how much money
you want to spend on gear. If you'd rather not invest in
equipment look for a service that provides everything (many
do).
Is equipment an add-on and how much extra does it
cost?
Do they provide drinks and food when out on the
river?
What type of boat does the service use and how old
is it? Does it meet all safety regulations? Are there
photos of the boat on the web page?
Guide and Fisherman Compatibility
Call the charter service and speak with the guide.
Do you two hit it off? Is there anything in the
conversation that makes you uneasy?
Do they answer your questions directly and clearly?
Do you find them to be non-communicative and do you dislike
this trait?
Do they sound like they're service oriented and are
they willing to spend some time on the phone answering your
questions.
Do they sound more concerned about numbers of
clients rather than numbers and size of fish caught? How
many people do they take out on the river at a time?
You're going to travel to one of the finest fishing
grounds in the world for salmon. You want this expedition
to be something you'll fondly remember, so take your time
and perform due diligence in locating the charter service
that is right for you. Research in various areas and using
numerous sources should help make your trip to the Kenai
River an exceptional experience.
This article was written by Paul Mroczka sponsored by
http://www.alaskafishon.com/. Alaska Fish On is a licensed
and registered Kenai river fishing guide service providing
affordable packages for the novice or experienced fisher.
Let the experts at Alaska Fish On tailor the best Alaska
salmon 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/.
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