Possible Kenai River float/fish Monday

Tentative plans are to launch from centennial Monday morning around 1000. Probably pull out at eagle rock. My plan is to find some gravel bars to pull out and flip for reds. Also going to try for a king. Not really sure how I'm gonna do that. That new mirage drive with reverse would be perfect for back trolling a kwik fish, but for the time being I'll just experiment and see what works. Don't have an anchor set up. Anybody in?

I wonder if you can put your mirage drive in backwards and just turn your pedals around? That would be a heck of a ride hooking a big king in the river.

Let me know if you plan to do this again next weekend.  Limited out dip netting reds and ready for relax fishing.

I was considering it though I may wait till the dip netting is over. 

River is murkier than before the weekend.  I want to try and back bounce a king.  Got 4 sockeye rod and reeling this morning in about 2 hours.  Not sure what I am doing next.

I'll definitely try flipping the mirage drive around, or maybe just face up River.

Mak- I'll be doing this more during the silver run. Possible some weekends. I'll let you know. I'm gonna stick with Monday's during July as there will be less power boat traffic. (Drift only Monday's)

Kard-sounds like you've had better luck than most. Heard it's pretty slow for the flippers. Just curious, have you tried using the small circle hooks when flossing reds? I heard once you try them there's no going back.


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no I have not tried the circle hooks. but one of the biggest supporters of the circle hook method. the fish physician or something like that is one of the best anglers I know so I believe it.

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I'll definitely try flipping the mirage drive around, or maybe just face up River.

Mak- I'll be doing this more during the silver run. Possible some weekends. I'll let you know. I'm gonna stick with Monday's during July as there will be less power boat traffic. (Drift only Monday's)

Kard-sounds like you've had better luck than most. Heard it's pretty slow for the flippers. Just curious, have you tried using the small circle hooks when flossing reds? I heard once you try them there's no going back.


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If you want to try back trolling, just face your boat up river.  The Hobie rudder is unstable in reverse and I wouldn't trust being able to control it in current, especially not on a river like the Kenai.


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All the debris I saw while fishing from the banks flowing down river, I think its mandatory to be facing upstream while on the Kenai at least right now with the higher water levels.

Great advice guys thanks. Didn't end up going on Monday due to a combination of things. Also, yesterday my zipper broke on my kokatat so I think I missed my window for a Kenai King. Good news is they're sending me a demo suit while mine gets repaired.


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Great advice guys thanks. Didn't end up going on Monday due to a combination of things. Also, yesterday my zipper broke on my kokatat so I think I missed my window for a Kenai King. Good news is they're sending me a demo suit while mine gets repaired.


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I'm sorry to hear that you're out of commission for a while, but I'm glad to hear that Kokatat is taking care of you.  Sending you a loaner suit is definitely above and beyond my expectations.

I didn't see who posted the question about circle hooks flossing for reds but here was my experience with them.  I like using the Gamagatsu 3/0 octopus circle hooks on the kenai/Montana creek/ship ect... (you could not use them on the Russian if you wanted they are not the 3/8 hook gap),  I also use the 3/0 Octopus or 2/0 drop shot hooks in the bass pro brand for a lot of my stuff. I work at bass pro part time, so I get a discount on my hooks which is why I use BPS brand so often. Other wise Owner, Gamagatsu and Diachii are my go to hooks.  last year I tried Russian river legal circle hooks, ( Gami Size 4 Octopus circle hooks) and it was a nightmare, I ended up either breaking the hooks or bending them straight. The one fish I did manage to get to the bank my knuckle head friend grabbed the leader, the fish thrashed and broke the hook in half.  I tried again later with a different batch of hooks thinking it was just a bad batch only to have the same result.   The smaller ones work well if you are in a boat and can put the right pressure and run with them down the river or are fishing for trout. But with ocean fish you need to use stronger hooks.  If you were able to fish somewhere that you had room to play the fish it might be a different story but on the Russian the smaller circle hooks were lacking.  What I use instead on the Russian or fly only waters are the Daichii sizes 4 & 6 Salmon steelhead hooks.  They are a super thick hooks that will take a beating, are easy to sharpen and will drive deep into their mouths so I tend to get a better hook up rate.  I have actually considered using only the salmon steel head hooks on both types of waters.  I use just a simple egg fly pattern, with 3 wraps of either pink or chartreuse cactus chenille and thread to match. I have a buddy who guides the kenai who only uses flies tied on 3/0 octopus circle hooks to fish for reds.           

good stuff about the hooks breaking. 

I'm going to try the upper Saturday with some friends  not liking the high water but we will see. 

may try the lower late sat or Sunday since the inlet seems like it's going to blow  not sure what to expect 

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