Alaska Fishing Lodge, Kenai River, Soldotna

What to Expect, Part 2

With Big Kenai Kings, knowing what to expect is half the battle!...Part Two.

So here it is, the moment of truth. You've been on the river for several hours and were beginning to think today would not be your day when your rod fattens out in the holder and line starts peeling off the reel (just like the guide told you would happen!). Something very large roils the surface behind the boat and by now you have the rod in hand and can feel the direct power of a huge king fighting for its freedom. For many, this millisecond of contact with the fish of their dreams may be the closest they get to making it all come true. Indeed the Kenai king is a tough fish to tame and many spend their entire lives learning how to properly battle these oversized salmon. Understanding some of the more important aspects or facets to the fight will certainly help to avoid losing the fish unnecessarily.

Here's a few basic tips:

#1. Tight Line!
This may seem obvious to any type of fishing but believe it or not slack line is likely the single most common reason for "long line" releases of Kenai kings. With a big river, a strong current, and a monster king, keeping the line taunt is easier said than done. The most effective method for eliminating slack line is to REEL! Even if line is coming off the reel, turning the handle is never a bad idea. This is especially important when the fish is well away from the boat as the more line you have in the water, the more likely you are to have slack line. Keep reeling without stopping until the guide tell you to stop. Remembering this important tip can make the difference between the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.

2. Load the rod!
Many people may not understand what this means. Imagine someone holding the tip of your rod firmly between their fingers and then pulling up on the handle until the rod won't possibly bend another inch. This fulcrum or sweet spot in every rod is where true anglers do their best work. It is the place where you will find the most powerful leverage against whatever's at the end of your line. If you are fighting a fish with your rod fully loaded (doubled over to the backbone), chances are good that your line is tight and the hook is firm in the fish's mouth. This is 90% of the battle so the longer you keep the rod loaded up , the more likely you are to win the fight. Just how does one go about making sure the rod is always loaded to the backbone? See tip #1.

3. Keep that tip still!
Speaking of tips, did you know that the more your tip wiggles in the course of a fight, the more likely you are to wear a hole in the fish's mouth and the more likely the hook is to FALL OUT! Makes sense right? If you were standing in your backyard practicing your skills and got the hook caught in a tree, what would you do to instinctively free the hook? You'd wiggle the tip. Keep this in mind when you are fighting that big king. Many people are so enthralled with reeling that they fail to control unnecessary rod shake. Consistent tip wiggle combined with a little slack line is a bad combo on the Kenai.

4. Don't Panic!
I think one of the most interesting things that we as guides get to see is people just plain losing all composure. Keep in mind we see a little bit of everything in our occupation and it's really hard to judge a book by the cover when trying to predict how a certain individual will react to a chaotic situation: namely doing battle with a big Kenai king. Tense muscles, shaking knees and super heavy breathing are all common occurrences out on the river and as a guide, a big part of our job is to calm the angler down and remind them "you can do it, just take a deep breath, keep reeling and don't panic."

5. Listen to the guide and not "Uncle Fred."
Most guides care deeply about how well you do as they love what they do and want to be successful as well. If you can drop any previous fishing pretence you may have and truly listen to the guide and all of his/her advice while on his/her boat, this will help you greatly. Hopefully reading the above information will come in handy when indeed it is your turn to take on a trophy Kenai King Salmon. Realistically, unless you've done it multiple times, it will be a somewhat intimidating experience. There are so many factors that are really beyond your control that even if you were lucky or skilled enough to do everything exactly right, the river and the fish can have their own master plan. The bottom line is they just don't all come to the net but if you have faith in your guide, stay calm and most importantly... listen to his or her instructions, chances are you'll win the battle and land the fish.

Alaska Fishing with Mark Glassmaker • 1-800-622-1177

What to Expect, Part 2