Alaska Red Salmon (Sockeye)
The Kenai River has one of the most incredible red salmon runs in the world. The red run in the Kenai has both size and numbers, with strains of reds from 7 to 12 lbs. The Kenai has two different runs of reds; the first run begins in the middle of May and will run through June.
The Kasilof River, which is located about 20 miles south of the Kenai, has a run of red salmon that enters about the same time as the Kenai. The Kenai River has its second run of reds around the 10th of July and runs through the middle of August. Both sports fisherman and commercial fisherman heavily target the second run of red salmon that enter the waters of Kenai and Kasilof.
If you don’t like fishing around crowds, you might want to fish the run of reds during the first part of August. Many people love fishing for Sockeye salmon because of how hard it fights and its rich wildlife flavor.
The species of red salmon known as sockeye salmon and they are the most poplar salmon for freshwater anglers. There is a total of at least a million individuals each year that call Kenai River home.
Sockeyes are able to live up to 5 years if they are kept in optimal conditions. As a native species of the Kenai river, this salmon is also found in other rivers like the Kuskokwim river and Yukon river.
Highly coveted for their very rich meat, the red salmon has long been Alaska’s most valuable commercial target, netting the industry several hundred million dollars annually from Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing alone. However, you are only allowed to catch three a day. This number could increase to six during large return years.
How Do You Fish for Red Salmon?
For the sockeye, you want a very simple and small presentation and believe it or not, a bare hook is very effective. Some anglers will add a small piece of colored yarn or tiny float but the key seems to lie in the presentation rather than what you are presenting.
Perhaps the most important of all the critical factors involved in productive red fishing is sheer concentration of fish. Since your offering passes the mouths of far more fish when many are present, your chances of one ending up with your hook are greatly increased. Also the amount of lead to use is critical and always different depending on the strength of the current.
The sockeye can be caught at different times of the year, but it is mainly fished between May and November. If the fish has black spots on its back, that indicates that it has matured and is ready to spawn.
Usually, a swift current and water between 2-5 feet deep is ideal. With too much weight your lure will be constantly stuck in the rocks and this makes for a poor drift. You want your weight to simply tick the bottom, not grab it. This is what makes fishing for this salmon a well loved sport. The thousands of fishermen who go back every year indicate how popular it has become.
Next time you visit Alaska, be sure to have your fishing rods ready because the experience will leave you wanting more. Contact Alaska Fish On Charters today for a guided sockeye salmon and many other species fishing charter!
