Kenai River on a kayak

So I would really like to try catch some silvers this fall in the lower Kenai river. I'm wondering what kinds of obstacles I should prepare for or if I should even attempt it. I'm thinking leashes on everything....not sure if I should try and back bounce,drift with a bobber, or anchor or what...any ideas? Rudy I'm looking at you buddy...

I have fished rivers quite a bit in kayaks. If you decide to anchor, choose your spot wisely, you need enough current to keep you right on the anchor, but too much and the anchor won't hold or it will capsize you. Back bouncing gets tiring, but is also very effective. Another method to consider is to use the kayak to get to a likely area, beach it, then fish the hole and move on to the next.

Unless you are fishing on a river where the banks are reliably clear of vegetation, figure out how to store your rods and net horizontally.  You don't want to come into shore and break your rods on overhanging trees or bushes, or have your kayak get flipped when your rods hang up on overhanging trees or bushes.

Ahh...interesting. I've fished the upper middle and lower quite successfully. Other than gravel bar hopping, I'm not sure what I'd do without a mirage drive.

Then you can bottom bounce, back troll, use float and jigs or a fly rod.

Without a pedal drive, I think you are sort of limited to the shore line or back trolling probably plugs.

I plan to do more of it Aug through October. Freezer is sort of full. I tend to release or give away all my salmon from in -river though I'd keep second run silvers from the Kenai.

I've never really found the boat traffic to be an issue but there can be tons of boats.

There are shuttles for upper and middle. Haven't heard about the lower.  More later.

All good considerations. Another thing I was thinking was the tidal impact. Since I will be fishing below the pillars there's an opportunity to fish in slack water. I haven't had much luck in the slack water however. Guess I'll have to experiment. Thanks everyone for your replies. Btw looks like I'll be fishing WG on Wednesday if anyone is around.

I've launched at Cunningham park and ride a big tide up to eagle rock and fished down. That's one way to do it on the lower tidal areas.

I really wanted to run the lower Kenai on a Monday (no power boats) this year for Kings... didn't work out, and the last Monday is now behind us if the season closes as planned on 31st.  /sigh  Hoping next year works better for me.

I do like the idea of hitting the water for Silvers as the season progresses, and back bouncing them is an absolute blast - have done so from a drift boat so doing it from a kayak would be even better.    I'll have to see if the PB restriction holds after the king season, if it does a Monday silver float through the lower river from Soldotna to Kenai may be in my future for later this year! 

I really wanted to run the lower Kenai on a Monday (no power boats) this year for Kings... didn't work out, and the last Monday is now behind us if the season closes as planned on 31st.  /sigh  Hoping next year works better for me.

I do like the idea of hitting the water for Silvers as the season progresses, and back bouncing them is an absolute blast - have done so from a drift boat so doing it from a kayak would be even better.    I'll have to see if the PB restriction holds after the king season, if it does a Monday silver float through the lower river from Soldotna to Kenai may be in my future for later this year!

Silver season will be easier as most boats anchor up.  The hard part will be fitting in somewhere since I don't plan to anchor.  I plan to try it using a variety of techniques, but I think the fun way is going to be jig or bait under a bobber in places where boats won't fish.  If the run continues, I may take Friday off just to try the last of the kings.

Can someone explain to me how back bouncing works? I'm pretty green on River fishing.

Can someone explain to me how back bouncing works? I'm pretty green on River fishing.

In a powerboat, you simply hold position against the current or drift slightly downstream, use 6 to 12 oz of weight and bounce the bottom with a spin n glo or kwikfish.  Beaver Cr & Big eddy are popular spots.  This technique is mainly used in slower waters.  In faster waters, swap out the sinker for a jet diver.  These are different than the divers we use in saltwater.  The in-river divers you want to float up when there is no current to avoid snags.  What's amazing about in-river kings is we bottom bounce literally a couple of feet below the motor and we still hook fish.  Not very spooky. 

We typically run the sinker slider rigs on the main line and attach the weight or diver to that.

Also, if you plan to fish the main stem of the river without a pedal drive bring extra line.  You snag the bottom, you better immediately decide whether you can get it unsnagged or not.  You will lose 100 yards of line in a heart beat. 

If the big holes arent parked in with Anchored PB's then you can work them from a drift boat or kayak until you get pulled out by a big fish.

As K-84 mentioned, bouncing is easy enough - you are basically fishing directly beneath the kayak.   I would rarely back-bounce an action lure - almost always used a mid to large size spin-n-glow (or cheater if you prefer).   Rig the spin-n-glow a bead or two above a double - snell with bait loop on the upper hook.  (I used 6/0 to 7/0 for big kenai kings, and 4/0 to 5/0 for silvers).  You want your leader length around 20", but I have talked to people who run shorter.

On the running line, put on a slider, then tie off to a basic swivel.   Hang the weight off the slider with a snap or dropper loop if you want to rig an easy-break on the sinker (LINE SAVER if you are drifting and have heavy running line) .   Your leader then ties off to the free end of the swivel.   (see cartoon). 

Drift through the hole slowly tapping the bottom every now and then to make sure you are down low.   (or if in current and can paddle/pedal, back slowly doing same).  As soon as you feel live action, set and hold on.  Be prepared to turn to face/follow your prey quickly. 

Hope that helps.

I've bottom bounced kwikfish and it's pretty effective. The only issue with a kayak is that they have quadruple the drag a spin n glo has.  Tougher to reel up and stay straight.

Good stuff AkRider.

I think I am going to take Friday off work and try it.   Big tides so launch at Cunningham and work up.  Low is at Noon so maybe try and get on the water around 2 or 3pm.  That actually works fairly well as the guides need to be off the water by 6pm.

Sounds like a blast Rudy, let us know how you do.