Homer Winter King Derby March 21 !!!!! IT IS TIME!!!!!

Do you stay together in a yak group? Do the boats generally run far out?

Fish wherever and however you like!  No, it wouldn't hurt. Especially if there are waves and we fish right by the spit.

If we get great Intel Id consider water taxi or four wheeling up the bluffs. That's something to talk about.

Ok.  PITA on the phone. 

So as I was saying.  Nothing says we have to fish in a group.  Having said that, I will openly discuss my line of thought but I got to tell ya, I suck as a fishing partner.  I change course on a whim, I don't like meet ups because I freak if I am late, I can be hard to get a hold of, and finally given my job and family, I am downright unreliable.

So with that disclosure....

If you have flags and strobes, you might want them.  I don't use them because frankly my net is higher and bigger than any of my flags.  If it's dusk, dawn, or darkish, I do take my lighted flag.  I would have all the required gear.  I should really double check for things like signaling devices and such from a kayak.  I sort of gotten a little lax on that.  Not good.  Not recommended. 

So the default plan is to fish right of the end of the spit like I always of.  BUT understand that area is known for holding smaller fish.  If you were a powerboat, you wold be deciding whether to fish the Seldovia area that holds a lot more fish but they are generally smaller.  Or the bluffs.  Fewer fish but a majority of the derby winners have come from this area from what I am told.  The Islands have produced a winner and a second place or two I think but rarely does anyone fish there unless everyone fishes there due to the weather.

The first year Kenai Guy Rimfire Matt and I took four and six wheelers 7 miles north of Homer and launched.  We were in the thick of the powerboats bit we didn't catch anything.  Then again very few catch them.  Second year I went with Michilutiiq and his wife and we hit the Islands.  Had a few good takedowns and saw fish caught but skunked again.  Islands are good for Kayaks because its reliable good weather.  But if I am going to fish there, I  would rather fish by the spit where I have some history. 

Later in the year, most of the guys I talk to say bait outproduces lures.  Also smaller is typically better than larger.  I run red label herring.  Smaller if I can find it.  The typical setup is down riggers fishing right on the bottom.  Although if you can get down to 30 or 40 ft, you are in business. Big Deep Six divers or banana sinkers in the 12 to 16 oz range will get you there. Typical spots will be 80 to 120 ft deep though I run more like 30 to 100 ft if fishing by the spit.  But also have a way to get down 15 to 20 ft but not have the bait running directly under your kayak.  That typically means sinkers in 4 to 8 oz range depending on speed and flasher size and material. 

Keep in mind I have NEVER caught a king in March so take my advice for what it's worth.  And yeah, though I have caught a bunch the other times of year, this is likely going to be a whole different ball game.  keep your options open and if you think you got an idea, don't be afraid to give it a try.  For example, when the action was better and also in the spring time when there is halibut, I "power mooch."  Slap on a 8 to 16 oz sinker and gear just like trolling.  Slowly go forward and let out line so you don't tangle.  Go as deep as you like even all the way to the bottom.  Then just alternate between trolling and stopping and letting it flutter down.  it will help explore all depths. As long as you have a little line angle, you shouldn't tangle things up.  Having said that, 90% of my fish come on a normal troll. 

There are a lot of things a kayaker with a single line can do that a powerboat running four lines can't or won't for a variety of reasons including being lazy.  Turning hard.  Changing speeds, stopping.  etc. 

So we can discuss gear and tactics.  If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try and answer them.  But this is really an untapped fishery..especially from a kayak.  I wouldn't rule anything out!

Two videos from out trio out to the bluffs during the 2013 derby.  Last year the islands were super nice and sunny and flat for the most part. 



In kayak perspective

Rudy, thanks for all the good info. I think I'll just hang around the Spit area unless the big ones are jumpin in the boats further out. I'll get the dodgers and weights and Deep Sixes in order and look for some little herring I think all I have are the bigger ones. I don't think I'll mess with a downrigger. Everything is subject to change however. I better make sure I have the stuff the USCG will be looking for on-board. If my wife is in Homer prior to the event I'll make it for a trial run.

Rudy -- Michilutiiq and Uuqutiiq are in for the Derby. We've already been emailing with the coordinator and plan to register. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. So, they'll be 3 kayak fisherman/woman at least. Although I'm hoping more than the same from last year join in! I'll talk with the Hubby about whether or not we'll fish near the spit with you or do our own thing. We haven't begun to devise our plan, we just know that we're going again this year.

More later!

I think I'm going to do the 20-21 so that I can have a scouting day.

Rudy -- Michilutiiq and Uuqutiiq are in for the Derby. We've already been emailing with the coordinator and plan to register. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. So, they'll be 3 kayak fisherman/woman at least. Although I'm hoping more than the same from last year join in! I'll talk with the Hubby about whether or not we'll fish near the spit with you or do our own thing. We haven't begun to devise our plan, we just know that we're going again this year.

More later!

Awesome!!!!! Sounds good. We like!!!!!

I think I'm going to do the 20-21 so that I can have a scouting day.

Of March?  I may try and free up an extra day ahead of time to give it a try and scope the waters out.  The problem is that late in the game, you basically either catch fish or learn you aren't going to early.  lol.  Hard to change strategy one day out.

That's awesome Uuqutiiq and Michiutiiq will be there.  They are veterans from last year's derby. 

Here's a story from last year where Uuqutiiq was quoted (though I got the glamour shot...haha) along with AKFishergal and I. 
http://www.adn.com/article/20140325/hardy-alaska-kayak-anglers-trade-power-paddles-soak-beauty

So far it looks to be 5 or 6 folks and I still ahven't heard from Andy or Matt.  C'mon guys...fire it up!  lol.  We gotta land one and get it entered!  Be a part of history!!!

working! oh well, thats how it goes.

I think I'm going to do the 20-21 so that I can have a scouting day.

So far it looks to be 5 or 6 folks and I still ahven't heard from Andy or Matt.  C'mon guys...fire it up!  lol.  We gotta land one and get it entered!  Be a part of history!!!

Not gonna be in town, otherwise I would go out and be part of the madness.  Who wouldn't want a chance at enough money to buy a new truck?

Looks like I don't have to work after all...so I will be joining you all.  Looking forward to meeting some more of you! 

Looks like I don't have to work after all...so I will be joining you all.  Looking forward to meeting some more of you!

Awesome!!!  I want to be clear that in the past two years we've had 5 kayaks with a total of ZERO fish. Having said that I think the averages I've calculated is something on the order of one fish entered for every 5 or 6 powerboat entries per rod. So we are due!!!

Bummed Kenai_guy can't make it.

Come make history with us as the first kayak caught entered fish!!!!!! Or better yet the first winner of the whole derby from a kayak. Your fishing skill and name would forever be memorialized!!!!

Oh...King #1 is already hooked...I just need to reel it in!

Want to meet up in ANC sometime before the derby to talk strategies? Maybe the weekend of the 14th? Just a thought.

Oh...King #1 is already hooked...I just need to reel it in!

Want to meet up in ANC sometime before the derby to talk strategies? Maybe the weekend of the 14th? Just a thought.

Yah, let's have a pre-derby get together here.  Not sure who is here and who is elsewhere. 

I hope to be able to hit the spit a time or two prior to the derby.  Trying to figure out the fish patterns.  I am leaning towards beating the water off the spit looking for that single takedown.  I might be able to arrange some transportation that is reasonable from friends.

Currently it seems the predominate baitfish is small 4 inch herring.  Sandlances go deep or are buried in the sand more often during winter I hear.  I also have reports of hooligan showing up in the stomachs.  Might do something crazy and switch over to purple or larger herring for a trial though everything I know about late season is that you should downsize baits.