I just couldn’t do it.
Three times this past week I drove by the Russian River and in nearly 40 years of fishing there I can’t recall seeing that many people. Not only did it seem impossible to find a spot to fish, the wait for a place to park was even worse.
The exceptionally large crowds at the “combat zone” of the Russian River can be explained by a couple of factors. With a near total closure of king salmon fishing in SouthCentral Alaska, anglers are looking for an accessible place to fish. Secondly, the red salmon limit has gone up twice this past week. It’s now at 9 a day, 18 in possession. It takes a lot of time to catch that many fish. Places to fish and parking spots are not turning over as quickly as when the limit was 3.
Here’s a little insider’s secret. Just because ADF&G raises the limit, it doesn’t mean fishing is better. Some times it is better, but most of the time it is not. Raising the limit just means escapement goals have been met and additional harvest is warranted.
What did I do instead of fishing? Reroofed a cabin that developed a small leak last fall.
This project was beyond my ability so I hired my neighbor Greg to do it. Jane and I helped from the beginning to the end, but this was all on Greg. We helped when more than one set of hands were needed.
The speed and quality of the work was outstanding. Thanks Greg for fitting us into your busy summer schedule!
When we weren’t fixing a cabin roof, Jane and I spent a couple of days camping on the peninsula. One night we were at scenic Hidden Lake, and another night at Porcupine Creek in Hope, Alaska.
The highlight was a music fest in Hope. We’ve had several friends encourage us to go to this weekly, summer long event. I’m glad we finally did.
Our timing worked out well to see a band I listened to in Talkeetna nearly 30 years ago. The Denali Cooks were good then, even better with time.
Other Second Hand Fishing Reports
Homer. Saltwater fishing has been fair to good. My reports have come from a couple of charter captain friends, but also from my neighbor Dave as well. There he is on the left alongside a 110 pound halibut he caught.
Seward. The red fishing at the mouth of Resurrection River and Spring Creek has been good but the run has been winding down.
Kasilof River. There is a strong early showing of reds right now. Unfortunately, if you’re a rod and reel angler your success will be influenced by a liberalized in-river dipnet fishery. The hatchery king salmon fishing remains fair to poor.
Russian River. Patience, patience, patience. Getting the right spot at the right time will determine your success. Expect a 3-4 hour wait to park your vehicle.
See you next week with a new report.
Fishing Report Week Ending 6/18/23