Snowy day King - Whiskey Gulch Alaska

REPOSTED FROM SISTER SITE NWKA:

Having spent all laast weekend at the Sportsman Show, I had to go fish.  But the weather forecast was not looking good for Homer.  Southwest winds are not fun off the spit.  Cook Inlet looks rough too.  Hmm... Seward looks good.  Well Ya never know. 

Launched at Miller's landing.  Trolled around the area and out to Tonsina Creek.  I told myself I was fishing for Dollies but secretly I was hoping I would discover a king.  Not to be.  I didn't find either.  Tried deeper water for a bit.  Managed a quill back rockfish.

The whole time I am thinking to myself...only if I could fish Cook Inlet...Still it was a good day.





So before I go to bed, I check the weather.  Homer is still ugly.  But as I use the spot map forecast, I click right off of whiskey gulch and it says "light winds, 1 to 2ft".  HUH???  I knew the swells would be fairly large even if the wind waves were small given the SW direction and the winds we have had the past few days.  Still, no pain. no gain.

Leave the house at 9am.  I drive through a blizzard at hope and then once again after Ninilchik.  Surf looks big!  But you can see the water right behind it is almost flat.  Ok, gotta try it.  On the water at 1pm.

It's snowing and sleeting to the point where it hurts.  I'm trolling a flasher and green label herring.  Started with 12oz, but lightened it up to 5oz to try shallower.  One hour into the session, over 25 ft of water, my rod doubles over.
SUH-WEEEEEET!!!!!!  It puts up a good battle but its no match for my halibut rod with 65lbs power pro and 80lbs fluoro leader.  lol. 

So, if I want to fish halibut, I have to go a mile off shore.  The weather looks like its getting worse so I opt to head right back in. The landing was scary.  I can't believe I didn't video tape it.  It was by FAR the fastest I have ever traveled in a kayak.  I surfed a wave for what had to be 30 yards.  Thought I was a goner, but it passed me.  Took a moment to breathe, realized I better get going and started pedaling.  Another waves catches me.  I pull rudder.  Pin fins flat.  Hold the paddle but it miraculously stays straight.  I nose first into the beach with a jarring thud.  For a brief second I thought I was going to get ejected forward but somehow manage to stay inside the kayak.  Hop out, pull kayak onto the beach before the next wave.  Just like a PRO!!!  uhh...except a pro probably doesn't have to check his drawers to see if he has to change them.  lol.

I am loaded and up the hill 3pm.  2 hours total from launch to load.  Hard to beat!  Did manage to drive through a heck of a snow storm. 

So make it EIGHT consecutive months I have landed a king salmon off my kayak!  I have a hard time believing it.  But like I said in my seminars, it really is the kayak. 

The video:




A Few Pics:

 

Way to go! Sure looks warm out there 

You're a stud!  No gloves - I love it.  You catch some very nice salmon with that modestly sized net.  Way to get the video and thanks for sharing it.   

Bad-ass.   

I  love these reports. Thanks for sharing the snow day king adventure

Hell yeah! Nice work, man!

Really though... That squirming salmon in the tiny net had me perched on the edge of my seat!

Yeah for real I was like oh god he is going to lose that fish for sure!! Nice!

Thanks All.

Yah, that's my coho and sockeye net.  Hate it.  Its a beautiful net and works great if you aren't in a kayak.  But because its a fairly high quality net, its heavy.  It has fish friendly mesh which for kayakers equates into a "sail".  I need to find a deeper net for sure.  I don't want it much bigger.  I have a Kenai River King net which I have scooped 65lbs kings with but its too dang large.  In the saltwater, you net a salmon, you killed a salmon.  I think its not legal in lots of places but now that kings are sort of the "norm" off a kayak here, I am thinking about trying out a gaff. 

I was panicking too until I saw the head was pinned to the bottom of the net with 80lbs fluorocarbon and 6/0 gamakatsu hook lead hook (5/0 trailer).

My "real" net.  Currently has a spreader bar and 12oz weight "welded" into the netting.  I have tried and tried to get it out but can't.  Retired for now.  Ahh the days of open ocean fishing for kings and halibut on my mini-x!  Stop laughing!  I didn't know any better at the time!!!!!!

I miss fishing in Alaska!  Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Rudy.

Awesome stuff!!

Thanks for sharing Rudy!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim