Inaugural NWKA Whiskey Gulch Yak Classic - May 18th & 19th

Donations courtesy of Sweeney's Clothing here in Soldotna, AK!

Wow!  Very nice!!! Thanks Harry!!!!!!  Everyone cross your fingers and do the good weather dance!!! 

So if i fish between the marker and within a mile of the mouth i can only keep one a day? And thats why you guys like to launch at whiskey gulch? let me know i checked the regs and it said that inbetween the marker and the mouth is open may 18 -may 19 your aloud on 20" or longer a day. Im just a little confused appreciate any help. oh and any suggestions on plugs and flashers. Iv never fished for salmon other than bristol bay and we arent aloud bait only artificial lures so iv use lots of wiggle warts, spinners and k14 but i doubt that will work in cook inlet and im not really familar with mooching or using flashers. Again any help is appreciated!

Yes you are allowed one a day, 2 total the entire year. Whiskey gulch is pretty much between the two markers. So between those two markers we can fish anywhere. Past the markers you have to be a mile offshore.

You want to fish right along the shore. If your any deeper than 30 feet your out to far to catch a king as a rule of thumb there.

Setups are pretty simple. Just get a flasher ( I like konezone) but your not gonna get it local, then about 20" behind that rig a herring. I like to use the e-chip herring helmets. Some people cut plug them, others rig them whole.

In front of all that you will need at least a 10 oz banana weight. More would be better. The only place I have seen big banana weights is b&j's in anchorage.

What I would suggest is maybe a homemade down rigger. Just tie a down rigger ball ( i like the pancake style) on about 40 feet or so of line. Figure out some way to mark the line so you know how much you are putting out. Or it's about 6 feet across for the average mans outstretched arm length. Or you might be able to see the ball on the fish finder.

We could all get together Friday and put on a little class at the beach.

Show up with flashers, 5/0, 6/0 hooks, swivels (I like corkscrews and barrels).40lb test flourocrbon leader material, banana weights or bring a down rigger ball and clip, herring helmets and your herring. Get either red or green tray.

It would take me 2 minutes to show you in person what to do.

Ok.  Got the proof from the award shop. 

Couldn't decide over "first Place" champion, etc.  So it is what it is.  Hopefully as this grows, someone a heck of a lot more organized than I can make it better. 

I think the trophy is one of these.  Not sure exactly which.  Bluish tint, maybe 8 inches tall.


Lettered and logo'd with the following

So if i fish between the marker and within a mile of the mouth i can only keep one a day? And thats why you guys like to launch at whiskey gulch? let me know i checked the regs and it said that inbetween the marker and the mouth is open may 18 -may 19 your aloud on 20" or longer a day. Im just a little confused appreciate any help. oh and any suggestions on plugs and flashers. Iv never fished for salmon other than bristol bay and we arent aloud bait only artificial lures so iv use lots of wiggle warts, spinners and k14 but i doubt that will work in cook inlet and im not really familar with mooching or using flashers. Again any help is appreciated!

There are a thousand ways to do it "correctly".  I think it was the famoous polepole who recently said:

Give me a 4-6 ounce crescent sinker, 5 feet of leader to double 4/0 hooks with a plug cut herring on it, and I'll catch pretty much every species available in the northwest salt.  Troll it, Mooch it, Trooch (troll/mooch) it.  Just saying ...

-Allen

He is wise....

The only slght modification would be to double the sinker sizes to 8oz to 12 oz.

But I took some time to discuss how I try it.  Still figuring it out but go to www.alaskakayakfisher.com  and click on the sections for terminal gear, kings, and cook inlet. 

But as Rimfire mentioned, all of that reading can be explained in about 2 minutes on the shore.

Here is a recent thread on that topic:
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=10543.0

   That trophy is super cool......

   Good job Rudy.

So, was just wondering how you guys played the tides with Kayak's in Cook Inlet.

Are you launching at specific times regarding highs and lows, Fishing through the cycle or does it really matter?

With a 9:36am High tide on the 18th, I would want to be fishing by 8-8:30 traditionally. In the water by 7am I would think. Or is it better for trolling to be out during the most movement?

Just trying to game plan in my head when to make what move.

I know with the tractor launch I always tried to keep from coming back in during flood, but might be easier with self propulsion.

Thoughts?

And that trophy is Sweet!

Your thinking right. Saturday I will be in the water by 7am. Fishing will die off around noon. I've always had my bites on the incoming flood. 

Thanks for all the help i would definitely like to meet up friday for a crash course. My buddy and i plan on being there by around 7 to 8 pm friday definitely try and get out there early morning saturday. Maybe go for some halibut while im down there. So when we get to whiskey gulch what tent should i be looking for, the ones with the kayaks? haha

I'll be in a yellow arctic oven. Yak (yellow hobie ) will be out front. I should get there early enough to get a spot at the end if the road

And yeah bring halibut gear. They are pretty much always on the bite and offer a consolation prize if you don't get a king. I go out further for them. I like to get out as far as I can be confortably. 60 feet of water usually. That being said they can be right up to shore too.

Count me IN!  I play a metal show in Anchorage with my band Glass Halo for the last time on Friday, but I'll drive straight to Whiskey Gulch Friday night/Saturday morning to fish the Saturday tide and the Sunday tide as well.  See you there!

Jeez about the worst forecast I have seen! I might just leave Friday instead of Thursday. And I may not go Friday of this doesn't improve some.

Jeez about the worst forecast I have seen! I might just leave Friday instead of Thursday. And I may not go Friday of this doesn't improve some.

Yea, looking crappy for sure...

its flat today