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A Float Trip down through the Kenai River Canyon is an unforgettable experience. Flowing through the Andy Simmons' Wilderness Area of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, this beautiful stretch of water drains into Skilak Lake, where an hour's ride delivers us to the boat ramp at the end of the day. It is difficult to find better BIG trout fishing in Alaska than the Upper Kenai River, fly fishing for trophy sized rainbows and Dolly Vardon. Late August and September these fish gather to feed and fatten up for winter on the spawn of hundreds of thousands of sockeye salmon.
Managed as a trophy class fishery by the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and for an esthetic wilderness experience by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this mostly catch and release fishery allows only the use of single hook artificial lures. Use of a motor is not allowed on the upper Kenai River.
Designed with stand up fly casters in mind, the wide bodied Willie drift boat is a very stable platform (see picture above center). Fly fishers who wish to can secure the boat exclusive of other casters. Ask about this special service.
Randa's has been making the 'canyon' our trout float trip of choice for nearly 20 years, fishing the river's boils, fast runs, cut backs and flat braid channels near the lake provide a variety of trout habitat and they can grow to monster size here. The Alaska State Rainbow trout record was set here near RM 65 in 1978 with a 27.75 pound giant Rainbow trout which held that record until it was beaten in the 1980s by a 44 pound steelhead caught near Juneau.
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Sockeye (red) salmon are known both for their fight and their table quality. Arriving in June, July and August they can entertain and frustrate anglers all day. Coho salmon arrive in late August and September and can be taken on flies. Earlier in the season Chinook salmon can be enticed to accept a fly. These giant salmon hang in the deepest and fastest waters but they can be caught by the determined fly caster from these big waters. |
See our trout page for more information.
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