Southcentral

Hello all - anyone get out on the water this past weekend? I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the single digit overnight temps.

So drysuit arrived - in some ways not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. Next on the list is a real PFD and a few safety items I do not already have.

Have been thinking about what should be my first trip in May. I know you guys have suggested an upcoming derby, but I really dislike tournaments, particularly events not geared towards kayaks - last thing I want to do is be out on the water with several hundred boats (same for fishing out of a boat - crowds are not my thing).

Anyway, any specific suggestions for an intro trip? Guess I'm looking for an easy launch, not too far of a paddle, and tides/currents that are not too big of a deal to manage.

Hope I'm not being too redundant with my requests - thanks in advance!

Well whiskey gulch should be a good bet here pretty quick. Last year I did good on may 11 out of that area. Fishing is good right off the shore. Launch is easy as long as the surf is down.

I'll probably give it a go here in a couple weeks!

I'll be bringing a tent wit a heater. Last year it was pretty cold at night

Sadly, I didn't get out this weekend. In these cold weather conditions, I've promised my mate that I won't venture out solo, and I didn't hear back from my most likely companion in time for a Saturday float on the Upper Kenai. Rats! But not to worry -- reports confirmed my guess that cold water has the rainbows still holding in the lake and not yet venturing into the river in higher numbers yet. Two more weeks remain before the spawning closure on May 1. 

I completely understand your aversion to derbies and crowds, and I share it for the most part. The Anchor Point derby is tiny and when launching from Whiskey Gulch there were very few power boats plying the same water as the four kayaks that assembled last year to give it a try.  If there were 20 power boats out there, I'd have been surprised. Nothing close to the hundreds of vessels that participate in the Homer winter king derby. 

A trip to recommend to get you started, and one that doesn't start you out contending with the tides of Cook Inlet, is out of Seward.  Do you know the launch at Lowell Point? Check Rudy's kayak fishing site for details.  What I'd recommend is an early morning start (and not if the wind is out of the north even then) heading from Lowell Point southward toward the mouth of Resurrection Bay -- but only about a mile and a half.  Tonsina Creek flows into the bay and there's a nice drop about a quarter of a mile off the creek run-out. It's pretty shallow close in -- and I like to fish all along the drop.  In early May, you can pick up Dollies milling around out there -- especially as the melt starts and the volume of water coming out of Tonsina is on the rise.  Excellent fly fishing with any kind of smolt pattern you've got handy, as a good start.  I don't have the hardware fishing fully dialed in for this one, but I'm making good progess! No major tides or currents to contend with, and you can stay close in shore while you get accustomed to fishing in that dry suit.

Let's see. Easy launch? Check. Not too far of a paddle? Check. No big tides/currents to manage? Check.

Post something if you're heading out and you might find yourself with company -- always good for safety's sake. Don't worry about asking lots of questions; we're all learning and teaching along the way.

Arghh..still battling flu like symptoms. 

But weather is looking crazy good for Cook Inlet.  The forecast never holds like this but I don't think I have ever seen 5 knts and 1ft in the spot forecast for cook inlet.  In fact I have never seen 5knts.  Always "light and variable" or something like that when below 10knts.  Must be something new.

Looks like very little tidal exchange.  It's a tad early but we caught small halibut and cod at the end of April two years ago.  The reports I am seeing are kings are by the bluff.  So you still have a shot at those. 

Cook Inlet can be as safe as anywhere else under the right conditions.  Then its a matter of how long you want to push it.  It's a no-brainer but the father you go from the lauunch, the greater the possibility of at least walking the beach a few miles.  But with this weeks small tide, you could easily fish a 4 hour span between the tide exchanges and the current won't be any worse than in other spots.  Keep in mind the King Conservation zones and closed areas around river mouths.  You can fish directly off of Whiskey Gulch, but if you launch from Deep Creek, you are going to have to drive a few miles down the beach or paddle it.

I think my plan is to head to Whiskey Gulch or Deep Creek.  If that doesn't work, I might just go all the way to Homer and try the dollies off the spit on ultralight tackle.  I hate catching bait size fish for all the drive but it would be something to document. 

And as far as that powerboat thing goes, I personally welcome them.  It's a safety issue for me.  I consider their presence a safer environment, not worse.  Jammer might disagree with me after his encounter but that was on a river.    I've fished the Homer Derby and Seward Silver Salmon derby, the two craziest derbies in Alaska.  LOTS of powerboats around us, but its never been an issue.  Very rarely will boats go ripping by you.  When they are close they are just putting along at 2 to 3 knts just ike you will be.  I find myself more often wishing there was a powerboat in sight rather than the other way around. 

Also keep in miind when you read the marine forecast it is quoting WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

Which means near shore and depending on wind direction, it is often very do-able even if they are calling for a 20knts 5ft sea forecast for the "zone".  They now have point forecasts you should play with. 

Here's what I show for Cook Inlet this weekend.  Spot forecast for 3 miles or so offshore of Anchor Point.

Friday: NNE wind 15 to 20 kt. Mostly sunny. Seas 3 to 5 ft.

Friday Night: NNE wind around 10 kt. Mostly cloudy. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Saturday: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Seas around 1 ft.

Saturday Night: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Partly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

Sunday: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly cloudy. Seas around 1 ft.

rimfirematt - let me know if/when you are headed out of Whiskey Gulch and are looking for some company. I did get the green light for mother's day weekend, so am good to go (my birthday as well, which made it a little easier to sell to the wife).

akfishergal - great suggestion and really appreciate the detail - EXACTLY what I need! Let me know if you are hitting the Kenai again this weekend - looked fairly placid, so think I can handle it. Will need some help to prep for the actual fishing - clueless. Thanks in advance!

kardinal_84 - totally see your point regarding powerboats. Hate to keep referencing experiences in FL, most of which do not seem to apply to AK, but boaters down south are a menace to kayakers and to be avoided at all costs. Even folks who are fishing, guides especially - they'll run you down trying to get their clients to "their" spots.

I would really like to pick your brain about current/tides/wind/weather, especially the best places to get info (have had good luck with NOAA sites) and how to put it all together. Obviously time in the boat is going to help, but any pointers to get me started would be appreciated.

Thanks again - look forward to meeting all of you.