Homer Nov 29 report

Ok...had to try it.  Left the house at 5am hoping to be there by 9am.  Uh, no.  Between the snow and the snow plows, it took me over 5 hours.  ARGH.  I hate this time of year for driving.

Well I could just say it sucked and be done with it.  But for those that might want a tad more info...

I had my chances.  I used green label herring for the first few hours.  Had two just major takedowns and fought one for 10 seconds.  Both good fish.  About 1pm, I switch over to the coho killer spoon.  Immediately began to catch one year kings about 20 inches long.  Tried till dark.  Had two additional takedowns that doubled the rod over.  Fought one for another 10 seconds long enough to know it was a good fish.  ARGH!!! DOUBLE ARGH!!!!!!

Kept one of the smaller shakers I skewered through the head.  The fish had HUGE sand lances in it. If there were AOTY points, it'd definitely be in the 200 class!!

The bummer of the day was I broke 100lbs spectra cranking up my down rigger ball.  I wasn't paying attention and right at the point I apply power reeling in the line the swivel hit the end and it was no problem breaking off the 100lbs spectra.  I had just retied it and you could tell I hit the crank just at the wrong moment.  That stuff is strong but it is VERY weak to sudden high impact "snaps" of the line.

The other interesting moment of the day was when I have the rod double over.  I grab it.  Nothing.  Then once again several good jerks and back comes 80lbs flourocarbon leader cut clean.  Dogfish? bigger?  I dunno.  Felt really good.  Like a BIG halibut. 

So...I'm not going to let my year end like this.  I don't mind not catching fish, but to go basically 0 for 5 and lose a downrigger ball?  I don't think so. Well that's the way I am explaining it to the GF. 

To make fishing even a tad more challenging, on Sunday I pack up the kids and we go try ice fishing for the first time this year.  Leaky Auger.  Steep Cliffs.  Wet kids.  ARGH...  But stile manage 7 or so nice rainbows and one Arctic Char in a bout 2 hours.  We will get it figured out and I am sure it will go much smoother next time. 

So I have video but most of it is me cursing so I'll look through and see if there is anything worth saving.  A couple of pics.

How challenging is it fishing around Homer?  Easy launch areas?  People keep telling me i'm an idiot for ocean kayaking there, that the risks are too high from multiple tides.  I have a feeling they have never tried...and that it's really not that bad if you take weather/tides into consideration.

It's easy. Minimal current. Protected from north, east, and south wind. Deep by the end of spit so any breakers are right on shore. 

I can fish there when kachemak bay is calling for 20knts and 5 feet as long as there is an east component for the wind.

If you have any concerns, watch the videos and look at the dates. Can't recall being blown off there yet.

Now farther north at Anchor pt to Deep cr, you better understand the tides. No concern out of Honer though.

Perfect!  Do you stick close to shore...or is it a 3-5 mile push to good fishing spots? 

20 yards till you drop line. The furthest I ever go from that spot is one Mile to the green can.  80% or more of my fishing is within a quarter mile of shore.
Start between the condos and hotel. Head north. About two thirds of the way up the condos, contour line swings west to green can.  Was fishing shallow. Ten to 30 ft down in 30 to 80 ft of water.

Last time out, about half the fish I marked were deeper. 40 ft  down in 90 to 100 ft of water.

https://sites.google.com/site/kayakfishingalaska/the-prey/king-chinook-salmon/homer-winter-feeder-king-fishery---how-to

I'll add there's very few pollock if you don't go out by the hotel so you can run downriggers and bait if you like. Green label herring catches bigger fish consistently but smaller lures like the needlefish hoochies or silver horde coho killers will get more action.

sounds like you had a great time, the water looked sublime! Did you go icefishing on marion lk?

Lol. Yup. That's the lake!

Thanks again for the starter tips.  It's nice to hear fishing is so close to shore...always safer that way. 

Me and the wife will have to take a trip to Homer soon to scope things out for next spring!

Thanks for linking that page...awesome detail on how to fish Homer!  Great job

sweet havent been there for a long time. nice to see other people fishing it. Good luck when u go again!