Memorial Weekend Whiskey Gulch trip

AKStumpy I'm not sure about the morning tide (6:15am) but I'm definitely down to fish the 1:30pm tide. I'll PM you my cell

Sounds good Ripper! I have about the same mindset on Friday's tides.

I did start to do some research to further understand the tides around Anchor Point and all of Cook Inlet. I notice this weekend has some really nice (as in small) tidal changes (for example, only a ~7.5 foot difference between the morning high and low tides on Monday 5/25), which from my understanding will produce relatively slow currents when compared to Cook Inlet norms. On occasions like  this has anyone ever rode out tidal swings longer than they usual would? Also what is everyone's usual comfort time interval before and after slack tide (e.g.- 1.5, 2 hrs, etc before and after) for the Inlet?

I haven't read all of it. But keep in mind the tide stops running an hour or so after high tide if you are a mile off shore.

It really depends on the wind and size. You can almost go anytime on the small tides. I'd say 2 hours on either side of slack on big tides.   

You have to make sure at peak current you aren't either A) going to get carried into the closed areas. B) get carried past the parking lot so you are either walking or fishing another 3 or 4 hours.

Kenai_guy....I know EXACTLY where that big one was, and I saw him hit, startle us all, and finally get away. Alas, I'd be hiding in plain sight with you...except I have a wife and in-laws and a shitload of honey-doo to take care of.

On the other side of that, I'm going to be fishing off Kodiak Island for 4 days next week. Hoping to bring in big poundage...either in small increments or all at once. Also gonna give kayak-based gill-netting for reds a try! Hope to get some pics and vids...but, of course, catching fish will trump catching proof of catching fish!

-J
 

Kenai_guy....I know EXACTLY where that big one was, and I saw him hit, startle us all, and finally get away. Alas, I'd be hiding in plain sight with you...except I have a wife and in-laws and a shitload of honey-doo to take care of.
-J

I'm talking about my other secret spot...a place where I've never seen any of the Tupperware navy before... Or am I?   Only time will tell

Sounds good Ripper! I have about the same mindset on Friday's tides.

I did start to do some research to further understand the tides around Anchor Point and all of Cook Inlet. I notice this weekend has some really nice (as in small) tidal changes (for example, only a ~7.5 foot difference between the morning high and low tides on Monday 5/25), which from my understanding will produce relatively slow currents when compared to Cook Inlet norms. On occasions like  this has anyone ever rode out tidal swings longer than they usual would? Also what is everyone's usual comfort time interval before and after slack tide (e.g.- 1.5, 2 hrs, etc before and after) for the Inlet?

I agree with Kardinal_84...

For the 1:15pm tide on Friday I will be on the water no later than 11:00 and probably stay out till 4. Saturday has smaller tides so we will get more time on the water but the GF will be down that day so I will be playing the weather since she doesn't have a full drysuit.  Right now the weather is holding 5-15kt winds and seas >1-2ft with a little rain mixed in.

Ok...my thoughts for Saturday just as an example though I will likely try and follow it.

From my Navionics app





So you can see where the readings are from on the first pic.  It doesn't seem like it because they are close but its key to see that the current chart is further offshore than the tide chart. 

Notice the high tide is at 1:15pm.  Its a smaller tide so the tide shows slack current offhosre at arond 1:45pm.  A half hour delay.  Peak current is at 2.4 miles per hour.  I would slowly drift backwards at around 2.4.  I can hold or even make some headway at 2.0 mph.  If I launched around 11am, the tide is still flowing south.  I'd "troll" north and stay as close as I can to the campground.  As the tide started slacking, I would head south if I hadn't hooked up right away.  As the tide started flowing North, I would continue to pedal south and try and stay on the south line.  There's not much room and if you hooked something big, you'd likely get carried back past the launch at peak flow. 

I'd likely drift back toward the launch at peak flow an then i would try and stay near the launch, preferable be south of the launch at peak North flow so that if I do hook up, I can get back to shore instead of battling the current back up to get to the launch. 

So there is my plan for Saturday. 

Looking good guys....minus the chance of rain of course

OK...as always, second guessing my decision. 

I plan to focus 90% on halibut as I'm tagged out and I don;t have my parents proxy yet.  I will troll an ultra light, a 4wt  or barbie rod for kings during transition.

If the weather is good, There are a few trick I want to try out before the derby.  I think it also could alleviate some of my current issues if done properly.  LOL.  SECRET!  I had it ready to go last weekend but it was too much work with the kings around and the big tides.   Although it will be a major PITA I may be able to kill a bunch of birds with one stone. 

A) Have a new technique for the derby
B) Gives me a shot at landing a halibut on a barbie rod.  I think I may get two of them.  One I'll respool with braid, the other maybe I can keep it "as is".
C) Get some good underwater footage of halibut strikes.
D) Solve some of my peak current issues.   

SO....who knows, I may try to hit the early morning tide around 6am on Saturday.  Once again weather dependent.  I am hoping I can set up my system and then "re-use" it later with less hassles. 

Is the barbie rod challenge for anyone on NWKA?

Their challenge is for the Oregon derby. I'm doing it because I rarely have this little pressure to land a fish.

It's also to test a theory of mine and that is conventional gear from a kayak is over kill. But having said that, they sure pull pretty hard on my thicker jig sticks. Lol.

Haha what ever floats your kayak Rudy

The new halibut stick. I may keep the line if there is enough of it to really keep it "stock".  Seems reasonably strong. I think barring booking into something massive, this will do the trick....maybe.  Lol.
 

Haha nice. Just got to Ninilchick and the water is great!

Haha nice. Just got to Ninilchick and the water is great!

JELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go get'em!!!  Of course with the butts, keep in mind I am hoping you need to go find a freezer with the 4 fish possession limit.  I give it roughly a 100% chance the troopers will be there on multiple occasions which is something we should encourage if you get a chance to speak to them.  Theres always one bad apple/group in the bunch.  It is a local kids hang out at times.  Fortunately there aren't a lot of kids but we never want to piss off the locals.  That is rule number 1.  But if they do their jobs, they will at the very least ask and probably check coolers at some point and time...like Sunday or Monday. 

My parents live in Kenai and I will likely have to run there at some point and time during the weekend so I have freezer space. 

Hope to see ya out there Saturday.  Be safe! Go get'em cuz its definitely HAMMER TIME!!!!!!