Need help and trying to find a spot to fish???? Watch these Kenai River Fishing Spots videos! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qJpxeZWXz9C-dIE.html kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qs2PaZiFv7DTmH0.html

Thank you. Very well explained.

Thank you for showing the rig. I hope to land a few this season!

Awesome video! Thank for your work!

Thank you for this, Ryan!

As a bass fisherman from Maine that travels to Alaska every year (about to go again in August to Cooper Landing) it is very helpful to see videos put out like yours (come to thin about it, you may be the only one putting them out) that explain some of the actual setups needed to catch these beautiful fish. I have not been successful in the past fishing for salmon but have been for rainbows. Your efforts here on KZfaq have far reaching assistance for folks, so thanks and keep it up. I am hoping this time for Coho or even Humpy's as they would be fun. I would prefer them actually biting but I am far from ruling out flossing!

Thx for directing me to the Leader set up !!! Pretty much use the same set up for the steelhead runs in Idaho, that's the question here to about the fish biting in fresh water, look forward to more fishing videos, I'm planning on going to Alaska next season. Thank you.👍🎣🎣

Wish I would have watched this a couple days ago - I had no luck on the kenai but many other’s did, my consistency just was not there. The weight and the hook hitting at the same time was also somthing I was not thinking about - great video! I’ll try again soon!

Good stuff, thanks for posting

Time to go fishing!

Sockeye salmon DO BITE during spawning season in freshwater. But they do not "feed" they bite unwanted fish and insects to protect their nesting ground so to speak. Its not easy to get them to bite but it does happen if you aggravate them enough.

Beautiful video, I enjoyed every moment, simply amazing champion.

Thank you very much for this tutorial. Taking friends out on a float trip on Southeast AK and the idea of flossing never made sense to me. Much appreciated my friend!

It’s snagging but it’s protein. Best truthful tutorial I have ever seen..

Thanks for sharing this very very important information! No one wants to talk about snagging. 😮

Can't wait

Awesome video brother love the photography showed

That is the coolest way to tie an egg loop knot. You should do a video just on that.

Great video!

Great Video! I’m coming up the end of June

Great video

Great video Ryan! Finally a clear explanation for us beginners. Question: The only time I fished for sockeye on the Kenai was in 2009 with a borrowed fishing pole. I had no idea what I was trying to do so results were not great. This time, I'm going back with a 4.5 Teeny weighted fly line and a nice reel. The lodge owner taught me to use a 1oz weight at the top of the 4 ft. leader instead of shot, like you use. Is that too heavy or will that work? (ie.. it's hard to tell how much weight is in your shot) I'd like to get this figured out before we leave next week. Thanks again for your help

thats how i do it ! saw some guys fishing up from me just snagging them. i was fishing willow creek and saw a king salmon hit my red bead as i tryed casting and leaving it drift below the rain bows that were following the salmon

Ryan, I will be in Soldotna next week. Let's do some fishing, brother! xk

Great video. Like the hat.

❤❤❤ we’re about to drive up On june 15th together with our cousins n wives. Me n my husband hope to see u there… huhuhu we really don’t know what’s Alaska offers us these summer. Planning to fish ❤

Ryan you are the bomb! Thank you so very much for you videos. My brother and I are coming up to the Kenai, out of Nikiski, the second week of July. Our first time, bucket list for us. Be cool to see you . Never know! God Bless. Great Job!!

Its interesting because in WA we fishing for them by trolling using large flashers and coon shrimp on red hooks. They definitely bite. Its probably an instinct/aggression bite.

Great video Ryan! Do you set the hook when flipping for Reds? Thx

Sockeye salmon DO bite in fresh water! In Washington state we catch them in lakes, trolling dodgers and upsized kokanee gear, There is a huge sockeye fishery on the Columbia river where people anchor in travelling lanes near shore and plunk a small Spin-N-Glo with a coon shrimp. They do this from the bank too. The main difference is that the AK red fishery started out as and is still more meat gathering than sport fishing. it's much easier to floss the fish as they swim upstream in shallow water. Once you have the floss technique down, they are easy to catch if they are running. I'm not making any judgements about the ethics of it because I've flossed my share of reds in AK. I'm just saying that the myth of the fresh water non-biting sockeye salmon is just that. Don't let anyone... including ADFG tell you any different! Now go get your harvest on!

Excellent tutorial video. If you use full sinking line, do you still need add the weights on the leader?

Thank you. Great video! Do you attach your 4 ft line directly to the fly line?

Repping KBR🔥🔥

Thanks so much for the great video and content! We have plans to come to Alaska this summer, but can't seem to find if weighted flies are allowed on the Kenai and Russian Rivers. I'm tying flies now for our trip this summer but didn't know if they are allowed. Do you ever used weighted flies and do you think they are needed? Thanks again so much for the great job you do and God bless!

I may not have ever been to Alaska but I am happy to have salmon along the great lakes the Chinooks/kings grow 20-30 pounds average along lake Ontario just freaking hard to catch 1 in a day too many anglers

Awesome video thank you! I am headed there June 11-June 22nd any tips on areas of the rivers to try this out?

Once you land the fish its very important to " bonk and bleed" if you do this, the quality of the meat is much better and its more ethical overall. We use a very small wood bat to "bonk" 3 quick hits then, use your knife to cut a gill or use your finger and "pull" a gill. Less blood=WAY BETTER quality.

hi there! will be using this video as reference soon (except maybe replacing the yarn for an orange bead for silvers as you mention in your newest video). what kind of knot would you use for the flyline + swivel, and also, is there a go-to leader line you like to use for reds & silvers? ty!

Good point on the sinkers, the line already takes a beating from the fish and any other abrasions, no sense in adding more with the sinkers!

In Washington state Waters they eat jig And certain bait's been using coon shrimp sand shrimp and jig's smokes them

Great video! One question though, can I use a 1/0 octopus hook instead?

Hey Ryan. Rewatched your video again. Getting the bug already for our trip this July/August. So another question/thought. You had said you want the weighted end line/leader and the hook to fall at the same time. Well unless you are using weighted hooks can’t happen. The leader will always be on an angle. I have actually asked our guide last year why not use jig style hooks? You could have different weight jigs depending on river flow to allow for the right drift. I tie flies and jigs. If I were to send you some tied as salmon flies would you and Vinny experiment with them?

Hey Ryan, what size split shots do you usually use? Thanks!

I was borrowing equipment. Is a 8’6” lamiglas MH rod too long? It seems longer than the fly rod I was using. Any suggestions on a spinning rod? Thank you

Let’s go fishing

ADF&G Online fishing forum sockey fishing explains a bit about using shrimp flies !

Ryan, I am torn between if I should bring my rods for my July trip or simply rent one locally? In New York for spawing salmon, I use a GLoomis 9.6 ft med -heavy rod and use 10 or 12 lbs test line. Have landed up to 33 lbs kings on this set up with Shimano reels. Your thoughts on rods for Russian and Kenai ?? Is that too long of a rod ? All my salmon rods between 9/ 10 feet

Where exactly is the last part of the video shot? Can you suggest some spots on Kenai river? Thanks

Its called "Flossing" friend. Works great and is legal in most cases.

I've caught plenty of salmon on lures they have but. While they do not feed they certainly bite

There is confusion about this? Flossing is snagging with style. I have on a handful of occasions caught sockeye while trolling in the salt water.

We catch literally thousands, hundreds of thousands of sockeye on the columbia on coon shrimp and a spin n glow, so yes they eat in the river

Do I need a fly rod or can I use a spinning rod to catch sockeyes?

If I hook one in mouth and it has another hook else where in body how do I prove I hooked it in mouth if the man checks my fish??

I’ve caught plenty of late Sockeye on spinners while fishing for Silvers. They’ll grab a spinner

Where would you put the swivel on a fly line? Attach straight to fly line or half way down the leader?

I was watching the video for the …. Let’s just say a bunch of times now. Trying to get the knot and technique down before our trip. Discussing the theory that sockeye don’t bite/eat in the river, you’d think by checking their stomachs after cleaning them would give you the proof whether they do or not.

i used a red- silver or green fly my cousin ties we was fishing just below where the russian river emptys in

Ryan is the yarn supposed to stay loose? The way it's tied the line can loosen up and Yarn comes out.

I’m confused and not being rude but I caught three this morning in the river here and watched them trail after my kiss and actually strike it

Been fishing Sockeyes for 32 years now. Correct Sockeyes do not feed ounce they enter the river. They are plankton eaters. The lower Kenai you can use any size hook, however like I said been fishing Sockeyes 32 years I just use a Russian river fly 3 for a dollar at Walmart. Like you said it's the line that catches the fish not the hook.

Ryan, what weight fly rod do you use?

I’m using a Lamiglas LX11 10-20 lbs rod. What main line should I use? 25 or 30 lbs monofilament? 15 to 17 lbs leader line? Please let me know what you think.

What month was this? Is this the usual amount of people in one spot say... late July?

Where on the Kenai were you fishing?

They'll bite on good cured eggs at jim creek

I’m not sure why people tie to the clip side of a swivel. That’s a weak point and always bends out. I just tie to a normal swivel to avoid that mistake.

How do you attach the leader to the fly line?

Guys say the bite but i have better luck snagging them. If you position yourself 45% upstream of the fish you can lift hard to make the next cast. That way it won’t look like you are snagging 😊

Quit feeding, for sure. Not quit biting. You can see them hit in the clearwater Russian. Side of the face is legally "snagged".

sockeye and every other salmon do bite. just a big glob of roe on your hook under a bobber and drift it and theyll bite it

Why doesn't anyone try plunking for sockeye up here like they do down on the Columbia river?

I have zero problem with people doing this, but I will say: they DEFINITELY will eat a fly. I have watched them swim out of their lane and eat my fly numerous times. None of the other pacific salmon eat in freshwater, either, and that includes winter steelhead, yet we all get them to eat a fly or lure, or bait. I've never flossed for sockeyes or any other fish, but if I only had a week in Alaska, and wanted to take home some bright sockeyes to eat, I'd certainly consider it; it's still more sporting that a giant net

Flossing?

In the video you’ll see a lot of people doing a hard jerk at the end of each cast. I recommend not doing that as it is not legal and you can be fined. Instead, just gently lift the tip of your rod. It accomplishes the same thing except it’s legal. Also, please do NOT use a fly rod. You do not “fight” these fish because you’re snagging. This is a meat harvest and you’ll likely be shoulder to shoulder with other people. A fly rod does not have the stiffness you need to drag these fish in without interrupting the people fishing around you. Use a nice 8’ stiff rod that can horse the fish in immediately without losing control and bothering others.

RYAN local fishermen

I was catching yesterday when not many others were. And I overheard a woman to her friend say "he's probably snagging"... I wanted to say, "yeah, that's what we're doing. I'd have had my limit in an hour instead of 3 if I kept the ones that weren't in the mouth" I caught 6 that weren't in the mouth.

Any of us longtime Alaskan’s knows it’s not fishing, it’s called snagging! You notice reds never get caught trawling with bait, or lure in saltwater? You know that sockeye, unlike our other salmon species that feed on herring, other baitfish, only feed on krill???😳🤪🤣

Complete nonsense,I've caught sockyes on the russian river very early in the run where they literally chased my nymphs across the pool and even chase the nymphs right up onto the shoreline They will take small nymphs Reason being is sockeye feed on small plankton unlike other salmon who are mainly fish eaters

Its the Kenai twitch or snagging. It isn't fishing...

Alaska has it's own set of definitions when it comes to what is legal and was isn't. I lived in Coastal Oregon for 12 yrs, and saw a lot of Snagging at curtain times of the year, by a curtian type of person. I was told , it is a grey area, Illegal but still a grey area. I believe it depends on what sort of fisherman / fisherwoman you are. I think people who live in Alaska no matter where they lived before just want as much as they can car take every time they enter into nature. One day the fish runs wont be as thick & you will only have yourselves to blame. Personally I believe that the fish should be hooked from the inside of the mouth outwards, Nothing Else. And if it is not caught like that I toss it back.. Question for you. If your only allowed so many hooks on a line at one time say 3, does that mean if you purchase 2 crankbaits that comes with 2 treble hooks is that lure counted as 2 hooks or one.?? And then there is this one,. In Oregon your not allowed to use Chum or as we call it berley to attract fish, However on the other hand they sell truck loads of bottles of juice/ pastes etc to put on lures and eggs.

I always like to watch and laugh at clueless tourists when they try to catch Sockeye. They always have the wrong type of pole and the line is too light, with a wrong sized hook. The smart ones learn quickly, but some people fish for many hours before getting the first fish

this ain't fishing; it's snagging. you need to change your title. well, if you had integrity you'd change it.

This is just snagging whether you or all the people doing it want to say so. Its snagging plain and simple. I live in Ontario. We have a healthy population of salmon in the great lakes. I can tell you every one of the pacific salmon that swims in the great lakes will actually bite a lure or a bait if presented properly. I've had half dead chinook salmon grab roe bags, lures. This is just absolute laziness from people that don't have patience to learn the correct technique. Snagging is snagging. Even if you do it so it looks like the fish tried to bite it. And the government should be ashamed for letting it happen. All the people in this video are just dirty snaggers, and i will look down on all of you for doing it. Because there is a better and morally right way to do it.