Awesome video! The only suggestion would be to mention wearing sunglasses, safety glasses, or some type to protect your eyes when hooks and weights come flying out of Salmon as they often do. I make my kids wear them and have saved a few trips to the emergency room, although my youngest daughter got a hook in the finger and had to go to Soldotna ER to have removed last year!
YES eye protection a must. A guide last year lost one of his eyes when he had taken off his glasses at the wrong time. A weight/hook came flying back and took out his eye. Went all the way to California to try and save it with no luck.
My husband nearly had a heart attack when some other fisherman wasn’t paying attention and got a hook right by my 10 year olds eye. Any closer and yikes!
I’ll be there the same time( soldotna). This is our third year and will be back every year. I would have never done our first trip without a guide service. There’s way too much information. To many regulations. You better know what you can keep, what you can’t. And fishing in Alaska isn’t like going down to local stream. Between the moose and bears you better be on your toes and have defense for both. And those rivers are COLD and FAST. I watch Alaskan shows all the time and was still amazed how fast the Kenia was. You slip you better hope someone grabs you
Would you rather hold the flyrod in your left hand and reel with your right hand? Just take the spool off and flip the bearing set 180 degrees. You should be all set. That was a really nice video - showing some great fisheries.
No, I like reeling with my left hand; but that's good to know it's that simple to switch on a fly reel. Thanks for the positive feedback on the video! 🙂🙂✌️🎣
Yeah man, it's pretty amazing there. And you can get into fish on your own if you fly into Anchorage and go from there. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!! 🙂✌️🎣
I must have seen a dozen or so fly rods get broken fishing the Pere Marquette in Michigan in early October by people grabbing their blanks while fishing for Kings. .
Yeah, I don't know why... It just felt like a natural move for me to do before I started to get into big fish quite often. I was lucky that I didn't break a rod before learning to trust the rod and use the curve and flex to my advantage. 🙂✌️🎣
Really needed this video, thank you! Headed into anchorage end of may on business but bringing a few fly rods. I have been lost on where to go as a guide just isn't in the budget. Again, so glad I found your channel and will be glued to it for the next few weeks... I have one question though, as I understand felt soles are banned in AK, what tread options would you recommend? Fortunately I currently have korker boots and am leaning towards the basic studded rubber treads. Thanks again & tight lines! - Justin
Hey Justin, glad the video was helpful! I just wear the best rubber soled wading boots I have, or the standard ones that come with neoprene waders. The water can definitely be swift, so when in areas that I have to cross where the water is high, I've gotten smarter and started using a wading stick (random stick I find) so I don't take a dip (which I've done before!). 🙂✌️🎣
Many people who fish in Alaska catch salmon easily with spinning rods (fly on end of the line, and split shot 18+ inches above the fly on the line). As for trout and dolly varden, it just depends on the regulations of the waters you are fishing; but you can certainly catch plenty of them with spinning gear, you just may need to modify spinners to single hook in single hook only waters, and you can use a drop shot fly rig as well. Here's a video I made of how to "fly fish with a spinning rod". 👉th-cam.com/video/Zj2upQM9YIg/w-d-xo.html
Thanks! I won't be there in July/August this year, but I hope you get into some awesome fishing! I fish Alaska, Montana, Utah, and a lot of warm water fly fishing down in Arizona... Hopefully awesome dry fly fishing for bass and carp doesn't bother you as a new sub! But I'll have some early summer Alaska content coming in June! Tight lines! 🤙🤙✌️🎣
@@KevinRapkochFishing Awesome, I love trout fishing, just fished the green last week and I'm going to be fishing Lees Ferry in June, but something special about alaska and salmon. I'm excited for my trip, and trying to make a video on bringing home salmont/halibut from an alaska fishing trip. I like all fishing content. but none of my fishing videos perform on TH-cam so... figuring that out.
@@Shouldwegooutside I'm with you there! I still scratch my head at why some of my videos perform well while others don't... Still trying to learn and get better myself! Tight lines! 🙂✌️🎣
Hola voy el 22 de julio al 30 de julio Alaska , quiero pescar a mosca sin guía no lo soporto , que me aconsejas para tener una buena experiencia. Vale la pena la isla de Kodiak para pescar
Hi, thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I have never been to Kodiak, but I imagine there is good fishing there. But as I demonstrate in the video, you can stay around the Anchorage area (within 3-4 hours of Anchorage), and experience really good fly fishing. I would recommend that you get an Alaska Fishing Regulations book so you can read it and check out waters you want to try. Good luck out there! 🙂✌️🎣
What kind of streamer patterns besides the flesh flies and woolly buggers do you recommend for pink salmon, bows, and dollies? Also what size? Love these guide videos!
Hey man, thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂✌️🎣 Size 4-8 (similar size as for largemouth bass flies) worked really well on pink salmon, and 8-12 worked well for big trout and Dollies. Size 14-18 was good for dry flies and smaller creek trout and grayling. Sculpin streamer patterns work really really well! I even caught a sockeye salmon with a sculpin pattern, after I accidentally caught a sculpin and realized I had a fly that looked just like it. You can see what I mean in this video 👉th-cam.com/video/3xSCttfaR4s/w-d-xo.html
@@KevinRapkochFishing I actually have some good sculpin patterns in that size, thank you! I’ll have to get better at tying some bunny muddlers, so far those have been good for me.
Hey thanks for all the info in this video! Coming up on my first spring/summer since moving to Alaska (Anchorage) late last fall. Fly fishing is something Ive been super excited to get into so your video has been invaluable. I've caught a few stocked trout in my area on a 5wt fly rod, but was wondering if you think sizing down to a 4wt would be a good choice when fishing primarily the Parks highway creeks and the areas around Anchorage for trout/greyling/dolly varden? Hoping to make the fight feel a little stronger haha. And sorry to bombard you, but I was also curious if you were wading up creek off the parks highway at around 19:30 in the video? As of now (mid May) everyone I've talked to says there arent any fish up in those creeks until a bit later in the year. Just hoping to get your input on it. Thanks so much again man, the info you're giving out for free is absolutly worth its weight in gold!
Since they stock those Anchorage lakes with a lot of smaller trout, a 3wt and dry flies might be fun for those lakes... But once you start getting into those creeks and rivers outside of Anchorage (Parks Highway, for example), you can get into some big trout at times, as well as strong current, so I personally wouldn't go under a 5 wt (which will still be plenty of fun for those scrappy grayling and rainbows). It'll also be easier to throw streamers and other heavier flies with a 5wt. I use a 6 wt for those creeks, and every fish I catch is plenty fun. I fish and visit Alaska often (my wife is from there), but I've never fished it before May. I'm sure there are fish upstream, but you won't find the numbers as you will close to the Susitna right now. Once the salmon start running up the creeks/rivers, the trout and grayling will follow, and then later in the summer, once the heavier snow melt has passed through, fish will be able to more easily move and stay upstream. But, all that said, I like to hike and find fish that most people aren't willing to get to! 🤙🤙✌️🎣
@@KevinRapkochFishing That all makes sense, I'll stick to the 5wt then. Thanks for all the intel! Hopefully I'll be able to get ont some good fish this summer! Hope to see some more AK vids from you man!
Kevin, I saw you catch 2 sockeyes in the mouth without flossing them. Can you confirm that you can catch them with normal flyfishing methods without glorified snagging or what the locals call lining?
I've watched sockeye snap at Russian River flies & Egg Sucking Leech Patterns, and know of plenty of people that catch them with plugs (a type of lure that imitates bait fish, among other things). While a traditional fly style (like drifting under an indicator) likely won't catch them, swinging and popping streamers can certainly induce them to strike out of annoyance or in defense. They are not eating when moving up the rivers, but they definitely will strike a fly to get it out of their way. 🤙🤙✌️🎣
You made flossing for salmon on the Kenai River look WAY too easy 😂 I've fished all over central Alaska over several summers. Takes a lot more work than this and the skunk gets you frequently even if you're prepared.
@@jake9705 yeah man, the Kenai was definitely tough. I don't think I've ever been skunked there during the salmon runs, but it definitely can take some long days out there sometimes. And sometimes, you limit out in under an hour haha. 🙂✌️🎣
@@Chuakiagx3 yeah they do! And I get it; if you only have a couple days and really want to get on guaranteed fish, or you want to fly into a super remote area that's not on the roadways, a guide would be worth it. But otherwise, there are so many fish there... Hit a river and catch some fish, haha! 🙂🙂✌️🎣
With catch and keep salmon fishing, it's proper etiquette to get the fish netted fast in order to not disrupt other people fishing right next to you... If you play them too much, they'll get wrapped up in your neighbor's lines and keep people from being able to fish.
If you enjoyed the video, make sure to check out my other content... Every view helps the channel grow! 🙂✌️🎣
The BEST Kenai guiding shows ever!!! Greatest work Kevin!!! Thanks for sharing and making this video. Awesome. That’s awesome 🎉
Hey Kenji! I really appreciate your support and encouragement, brother! Thanks for stopping by and watching the video! 🙂✌️🎣
Awesome fishing trip, very nice waters and a few excellent fish were netted too Kevin.Tight lines, thanks and thumbs up too,, Tony.
Hey Tony!! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, brother! Tight lines!! 🙂✌️🎣
What a great catch on that beautiful mountain creek!!! Great filming!
Thank you, Darlene!! I appreciate the support! ♥️🙂🙂✌️🎣
Staying 10 days in homer at the beginning of September and this is the exact video I was looking for. Great video bro, thanks for posting 🤙🏻
Awesome man!! I appreciate the positive feedback, and I hope you get on some epic fish during your stay!! Tight lines! 🙂✌️🎣
try anchor river & deep creek for steelhead by homer
Awesome video! The only suggestion would be to mention wearing sunglasses, safety glasses, or some type to protect your eyes when hooks and weights come flying out of Salmon as they often do. I make my kids wear them and have saved a few trips to the emergency room, although my youngest daughter got a hook in the finger and had to go to Soldotna ER to have removed last year!
Great suggestion, my friend!! I'm pinning your comment to the top so people can see the recommendation for eye protection!! 🙂✌️🎣
YES eye protection a must. A guide last year lost one of his eyes when he had taken off his glasses at the wrong time. A weight/hook came flying back and took out his eye. Went all the way to California to try and save it with no luck.
My husband nearly had a heart attack when some other fisherman wasn’t paying attention and got a hook right by my 10 year olds eye. Any closer and yikes!
This is a really helpful intro to the area. Thanks!
For sure! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment... I really appreciate it!! 🙂✌️🎣
Thanks!
Wow, thanks for the support of the channel! I sincerely appreciate it!!! 🙂✌️🎣
@@KevinRapkochFishingyou deserve more for the info
@@BRYKS22 I really appreciate the positive feedback! 🙂🙂✌️🎣
back in the 80's, went to anchorage
Nice, it's awesome there 🙂✌️🎣
Really cool video. Looks like a lot of fun. Best place on earth to fish.
Thanks man, I appreciate it! It is definitely an awesome place to visit and fish!! 🤙🤙✌️🎣
Bookin’ my flight now!
Haha, Woooh!!!! 🙂✌️🎣
Great video! We will be there this summer to celebrate our 25th anniversary! Looking forward to some fishing!
Very cool!! Happy 25th Anniversary! I hope you get into some excellent fishing 🙂✌️🎣
Heading over from australia with my dad for a bucket list trip July 30-Aug 6 2024, amazing tips thank you!
Oh nice, that's awesome!! I hope you and your dad have a blast and get on tons of fish!!! 🙂✌️🎣
I’ll be there the same time( soldotna). This is our third year and will be back every year. I would have never done our first trip without a guide service. There’s way too much information. To many regulations. You better know what you can keep, what you can’t. And fishing in Alaska isn’t like going down to local stream. Between the moose and bears you better be on your toes and have defense for both. And those rivers are COLD and FAST. I watch Alaskan shows all the time and was still amazed how fast the Kenia was. You slip you better hope someone grabs you
@@Steve-rr3gc Thanks Steve, we’ll be there with some American friends who go fishing there every two years so we’re in good hands 🤝
If you’re in Soldotna you have to go to the Kenia brewery. Great beers and great food
@@Steve-rr3gc now you’re talking my language, I used to just craft beer tours here in my hometown!
What an awesome video and adventure!!! Happy LIFE
Thank you, Chris! I really appreciate the positive feedback! 🤙✌️🎣
Would you rather hold the flyrod in your left hand and reel with your right hand? Just take the spool off and flip the bearing set 180 degrees. You should be all set. That was a really nice video - showing some great fisheries.
No, I like reeling with my left hand; but that's good to know it's that simple to switch on a fly reel. Thanks for the positive feedback on the video! 🙂🙂✌️🎣
Wow great info. I got to make it out to Alaska one day.
Yeah man, it's pretty amazing there. And you can get into fish on your own if you fly into Anchorage and go from there. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!! 🙂✌️🎣
I must have seen a dozen or so fly rods get broken fishing the Pere Marquette in Michigan in early October by people grabbing their blanks while fishing for Kings. .
Yeah, I don't know why... It just felt like a natural move for me to do before I started to get into big fish quite often. I was lucky that I didn't break a rod before learning to trust the rod and use the curve and flex to my advantage. 🙂✌️🎣
Great!
Thanks!! 🙂✌️🎣
This is awesome guide planning a trip from 15 th of September to kenai , is there still plenty of fish around that time?
Yeah! September should be good for silvers and catch and release trout fishing on the Kenai! 🙂✌️🎣
Really needed this video, thank you! Headed into anchorage end of may on business but bringing a few fly rods. I have been lost on where to go as a guide just isn't in the budget. Again, so glad I found your channel and will be glued to it for the next few weeks... I have one question though, as I understand felt soles are banned in AK, what tread options would you recommend? Fortunately I currently have korker boots and am leaning towards the basic studded rubber treads. Thanks again & tight lines! - Justin
Hey Justin, glad the video was helpful! I just wear the best rubber soled wading boots I have, or the standard ones that come with neoprene waders. The water can definitely be swift, so when in areas that I have to cross where the water is high, I've gotten smarter and started using a wading stick (random stick I find) so I don't take a dip (which I've done before!). 🙂✌️🎣
Does one need to learn to fly fish to be successful or have the most success?
Many people who fish in Alaska catch salmon easily with spinning rods (fly on end of the line, and split shot 18+ inches above the fly on the line). As for trout and dolly varden, it just depends on the regulations of the waters you are fishing; but you can certainly catch plenty of them with spinning gear, you just may need to modify spinners to single hook in single hook only waters, and you can use a drop shot fly rig as well. Here's a video I made of how to "fly fish with a spinning rod".
👉th-cam.com/video/Zj2upQM9YIg/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video, you just got yoruself a new subscriber!
Going to be in Anchorage July 31, want to go fishing?
Thanks! I won't be there in July/August this year, but I hope you get into some awesome fishing! I fish Alaska, Montana, Utah, and a lot of warm water fly fishing down in Arizona... Hopefully awesome dry fly fishing for bass and carp doesn't bother you as a new sub! But I'll have some early summer Alaska content coming in June! Tight lines! 🤙🤙✌️🎣
@@KevinRapkochFishing Awesome, I love trout fishing, just fished the green last week and I'm going to be fishing Lees Ferry in June, but something special about alaska and salmon. I'm excited for my trip, and trying to make a video on bringing home salmont/halibut from an alaska fishing trip.
I like all fishing content. but none of my fishing videos perform on TH-cam so... figuring that out.
@@Shouldwegooutside I'm with you there! I still scratch my head at why some of my videos perform well while others don't... Still trying to learn and get better myself! Tight lines! 🙂✌️🎣
Hola voy el 22 de julio al 30 de julio Alaska , quiero pescar a mosca sin guía no lo soporto , que me aconsejas para tener una buena experiencia. Vale la pena la isla de Kodiak para pescar
Hi, thanks for watching and leaving a comment! I have never been to Kodiak, but I imagine there is good fishing there. But as I demonstrate in the video, you can stay around the Anchorage area (within 3-4 hours of Anchorage), and experience really good fly fishing. I would recommend that you get an Alaska Fishing Regulations book so you can read it and check out waters you want to try. Good luck out there! 🙂✌️🎣
What kind of streamer patterns besides the flesh flies and woolly buggers do you recommend for pink salmon, bows, and dollies? Also what size? Love these guide videos!
Hey man, thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂✌️🎣 Size 4-8 (similar size as for largemouth bass flies) worked really well on pink salmon, and 8-12 worked well for big trout and Dollies. Size 14-18 was good for dry flies and smaller creek trout and grayling. Sculpin streamer patterns work really really well! I even caught a sockeye salmon with a sculpin pattern, after I accidentally caught a sculpin and realized I had a fly that looked just like it. You can see what I mean in this video
👉th-cam.com/video/3xSCttfaR4s/w-d-xo.html
@@KevinRapkochFishing I actually have some good sculpin patterns in that size, thank you! I’ll have to get better at tying some bunny muddlers, so far those have been good for me.
@@corndogvonassen6457 yeah, I've heard the rainbows and Dolly Varden will crush white bunny muddler patterns! 🙂🙂
@@KevinRapkochFishing awesome! Thank you man, keep up the great content, I love your videos 🙌
Hey thanks for all the info in this video! Coming up on my first spring/summer since moving to Alaska (Anchorage) late last fall. Fly fishing is something Ive been super excited to get into so your video has been invaluable. I've caught a few stocked trout in my area on a 5wt fly rod, but was wondering if you think sizing down to a 4wt would be a good choice when fishing primarily the Parks highway creeks and the areas around Anchorage for trout/greyling/dolly varden? Hoping to make the fight feel a little stronger haha. And sorry to bombard you, but I was also curious if you were wading up creek off the parks highway at around 19:30 in the video? As of now (mid May) everyone I've talked to says there arent any fish up in those creeks until a bit later in the year. Just hoping to get your input on it. Thanks so much again man, the info you're giving out for free is absolutly worth its weight in gold!
Since they stock those Anchorage lakes with a lot of smaller trout, a 3wt and dry flies might be fun for those lakes... But once you start getting into those creeks and rivers outside of Anchorage (Parks Highway, for example), you can get into some big trout at times, as well as strong current, so I personally wouldn't go under a 5 wt (which will still be plenty of fun for those scrappy grayling and rainbows). It'll also be easier to throw streamers and other heavier flies with a 5wt. I use a 6 wt for those creeks, and every fish I catch is plenty fun. I fish and visit Alaska often (my wife is from there), but I've never fished it before May. I'm sure there are fish upstream, but you won't find the numbers as you will close to the Susitna right now. Once the salmon start running up the creeks/rivers, the trout and grayling will follow, and then later in the summer, once the heavier snow melt has passed through, fish will be able to more easily move and stay upstream. But, all that said, I like to hike and find fish that most people aren't willing to get to! 🤙🤙✌️🎣
@@KevinRapkochFishing That all makes sense, I'll stick to the 5wt then. Thanks for all the intel! Hopefully I'll be able to get ont some good fish this summer! Hope to see some more AK vids from you man!
@@justinmclendon1238 there will be some more AK vids this summer! Thanks for commenting, liking and supporting the channel! 🤙✌️🎣
Kevin, I saw you catch 2 sockeyes in the mouth without flossing them. Can you confirm that you can catch them with normal flyfishing methods without glorified snagging or what the locals call lining?
I've watched sockeye snap at Russian River flies & Egg Sucking Leech Patterns, and know of plenty of people that catch them with plugs (a type of lure that imitates bait fish, among other things). While a traditional fly style (like drifting under an indicator) likely won't catch them, swinging and popping streamers can certainly induce them to strike out of annoyance or in defense. They are not eating when moving up the rivers, but they definitely will strike a fly to get it out of their way. 🤙🤙✌️🎣
@@KevinRapkochFishing I forgot to say... Thank you so much for the video!
@@robbiek1999 for sure! Thanks for watching and commenting... Tight lines! 🤙✌️🎣
You made flossing for salmon on the Kenai River look WAY too easy 😂
I've fished all over central Alaska over several summers. Takes a lot more work than this and the skunk gets you frequently even if you're prepared.
@@jake9705 yeah man, the Kenai was definitely tough. I don't think I've ever been skunked there during the salmon runs, but it definitely can take some long days out there sometimes. And sometimes, you limit out in under an hour haha. 🙂✌️🎣
When is the best time to go?
Yo brother! July for some prime salmon runs! 🙂✌️🎣
glad you are teaching people how to catch pinks lol
Yep, they are plentiful and fun to catch! 🙂✌️🎣
😂❤
🙂✌️🎣
You gonna save lots of people money 🤑🤑
Some folks pay up the a money for guide up here in Alaska
@@Chuakiagx3 yeah they do! And I get it; if you only have a couple days and really want to get on guaranteed fish, or you want to fly into a super remote area that's not on the roadways, a guide would be worth it. But otherwise, there are so many fish there... Hit a river and catch some fish, haha! 🙂🙂✌️🎣
Dont waste your $
Yep, don't waste it ...
not my type of fishing, youve never played a fish, hook it and haul it in
With catch and keep salmon fishing, it's proper etiquette to get the fish netted fast in order to not disrupt other people fishing right next to you... If you play them too much, they'll get wrapped up in your neighbor's lines and keep people from being able to fish.
Does he say where he parked his car for these places?
Negative