Homer (AK) Winter King Derby Report - Pic heavy

So here's a report of my weekend!  I just copied and pasted from the NWKA site!
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The 22nd annual Homer Winter King Derby was held this weekend.  This was my third year entering.  The previous two years I have been blanked.  The weather and fish certainly cooperated for the derby.  Records were shattered in number of anglers, boats, and fish caught.  The total ended up being 1,324 anglers, on 386 boats (7 kayaks) with 590 fish caught!  That fish per angler was 0.45 fish per angler.

There were 3 Hobie Outbacks, two Pro Anglers, one wilderness System kayak, and a Native Propel.  Two kayakers including myself entered fish.  Of the seven, 5 were from "TEAM NWKA".  A huge shout out and thanks to those who entered!  AKRod, EricBlim, Michilutiiq, and Uuqutiiq!!!!!!!!

I only got to speak to Travis on the Wilderness System.  I hope he signs up here.  A third kayaker, Derrick (sp?) lost a fish which was unfortunate because had he landed the fish instead of being 0.29 fish per kayak angler it would have been 0.43 which would have been virtually identical to the power boats!  Now THAT is pretty cool! Especially when you consider the area we fished is NOT consider a hotspot by any means and most boats traveled at least ten miles one way to get to their spots.

I pre-fished the derby on Friday with AKRod and EricBlim from the NWKA forums.  I managed a fish in the first 5 minutes of fishing but didn’t get another strike the rest of the day.  I caught it on a chrome Silver Horde Coho Killer spoon behind a red/chrome Fish Flash flasher and 12oz of weght.


On derby day, I had a solid strike early but when I reeled up, 40lbs fluorocarbon had been cleanly cut off just above the spoon.  I switched to herring and nothing.  Switched back to a Black and White coho killer spoon and within 2 minutes had my fish on!  I am starting to think the action of the spoon trumps the fishiness of herring.  More reaction strike than an "eating" strike…maybe?

 A strange mix of weather.  Cold and breezy in the morning.  Blazing sun and heat during lunch, then a few more sprinkles.  But you couldn’t ask for a better time!

To add a little more kayaking flair to my story, I head out Sunday on a powerboat with friends who had gotten skunked during the derby.  Four rods for 6 hours and zero strikes.  Maybe my kayak really is more optimal in catching fish! Lol.

Great times, slow fishing.  But who can complain!!! Thanks to the Homer Chamber and the entire community for holding this great event!  We willdefinitely be back!!!!

So a fairly unedited video.  My Friday and Sat fish.  Double my normal length at 5 minutes, but pretty amazing considering I hit the button pretty much as soon as I get the rod in hand and get the fish initially under control...about 10 seconds after the strike.  It sure feels like an eternity when you are fighting a good fish, but to be able to land two kings in under 5 minutes sure seems like a lot faster than when we are on a boat.  I know its different in rivers but we've battled big kings for nearly an hour. 

It's definitely one of the things I like best about kayak fishing and one of the things I like the least.  What I like is I swear my hookup to landed ratio is off the charts compared to fishing from shore or a big boat.  I attribute that to the fact that kayak acts as another shock absorber.  Instead of the fish just running for a hundred yards, the kayak slowly gets towed and it slows the fish down sooner.  So the thing I hate most is the same concept.  I don't think the battles off a kayak are anywhere near as exciting as from the shore or the boat.  I learned in my ultralight fishing days, the fish seemed to battle proportionately as hard as you pulled.  Yah, length of fight may differ, but the "berserkness" factor is much lower from a kayak in my opinion.

oh yeah, the video...sorry. 



A few..uh, bunch of pics.  All the good ones courtesy of Michelle.
































And finally my favorite pic with my daughter Sakurako!

Fantastic report, Thank you for sharing!!  Someday I hope I can get up to AK.

Enjoyed this report on NWKA.  Thanks for sharing it here too. 

~Abking   

Beautiful report and pics.  Congrats on the salmon and great times.  Thanks for sharing.

Great video and photos!  Thanks for sharing... Alaska looks fun.

Thanks for the report, pictures and videos. I am almost transported there in spirit by them. Look forward to many more reports and as well as myself making the journey to the promised land. .

when will be seing some rock,ling,halibut videos?

Alex

Wow. Fantastic! I want to go next year! Thanks for the report and pics.

Thanks for the report, pictures and videos. I am almost transported there in spirit by them. Look forward to many more reports and as well as myself making the journey to the promised land. .

when will be seing some rock,ling,halibut videos?

Alex

Thanks all!  C'mon up!!!  We fish year round, we have extra kayaks.  Just let us know and I am almost certain we can get anyone out on the water! 

Fishing schedule over the next few months.  Hmm...Kings till Mid April.  On April 15,  our spot shrimp season opens.  I plan to do a little of that hopefully this year. Did it a few yeas back off my mini-x.  Should be a lot easier off an outback.


Starting around mid -may we start halibut.  They are already catching them incidentally to the salmon fishery but we don't target them until mid-may.  That's when herring and smelt enter the area and we can catch halibut in under 30ft of water.  They go a little deeper in the summer but the fishery goes through September so no hurry. 

Ling season doesn't open until July 1 around here.  It is the only species that I need a water taxi for.  Then I will hit some rockfish as well.

Stay tuned!!!!  And I am serious about people coming up.  Alaska is a whole lot cheaper and fishier (at least on the economical road system fisheries) if you know someone!  Now you do!!!!  lol. 

Sweet fish and video.  So you ended up winning the kayak division?  Congrats!

Thanks for the report, pictures and videos. I am almost transported there in spirit by them. Look forward to many more reports and as well as myself making the journey to the promised land. .

when will be seing some rock,ling,halibut videos?

Alex

Thanks all!  C'mon up!!!  We fish year round, we have extra kayaks.  Just let us know and I am almost certain we can get anyone out on the water! 

Fishing schedule over the next few months.  Hmm...Kings till Mid April.  On April 15,  our spot shrimp season opens.  I plan to do a little of that hopefully this year. Did it a few yeas back off my mini-x.  Should be a lot easier off an outback.


Starting around mid -may we start halibut.  They are already catching them incidentally to the salmon fishery but we don't target them until mid-may.  That's when herring and smelt enter the area and we can catch halibut in under 30ft of water.  They go a little deeper in the summer but the fishery goes through September so no hurry. 

Ling season doesn't open until July 1 around here.  It is the only species that I need a water taxi for.  Then I will hit some rockfish as well.

Stay tuned!!!!  And I am serious about people coming up.  Alaska is a whole lot cheaper and fishier (at least on the economical road system fisheries) if you know someone!  Now you do!!!!  lol.

    

Gonna take you up on that ASAP !! I am working on finding someone who is associated with airline to see if I can get a flight cheaper. 
The last frontier.  Thanks for the invitation. When I visit, I will bring you some of Mom"s homemade favorite's for your kind invitation    lol

Alex

Simply badass!  Great write up, stunning photos....living the dream man!

Thanks for the report, Rudy. Great pics.

I can't believe you got salmon that close to the harbor. I've stood behind those buildings in the back ground when I've been up there. Got a bunch of buddies from California heading to Homer in July.

Awesome.  Looks like the 2nd salmon was towing you a good pace. 

Great pic of father/daughter. 

I can't believe you got salmon that close to the harbor. I've stood behind those buildings in the back ground when I've been up there. Got a bunch of buddies from California heading to Homer in July.

Thanks again folks!

It is crazy and I have called Kenai or Anchorage home since 1971 minus school and few years out of state for work.  I still can't believe it.  Even crazier is that these fish were caught in the outer 50% of the area I fish.  I'd say over half of my fish come directly in front of the condos, no more than 20 yards out at low tide.  To be more specific, the third condo closest to Homer the town (North)...I think.  That's where the ledge takes a sharp turn to the west.  If you know the area, on a decent low tide, you can walk out out to the sand bar and the deeper 20 to 30ft of water is an easy cast 20 yards or so away.  I can't imagine there wouldn't be something there though I have never fished it then since I am usually chasing halibut and sockeyes in July.  I am going to try it in October just to show it can be done. 

We will mainly be fishing halibut 30 miles North of Homer around that time frame and late July is sockeye season.  Might have a free kayak...at least for a tide or two after I limit out!  lol. Or if they can drive an hour and a half north and its after July 15th, the sockeye run should be going.  I do have an extra outback and a mini-x.  I've caught halibut out of both!  If it's late July, we might even be able to catch a coho off the spit though I can't say I target cohos to much there.  Can't guarantee things but its always possible if they just stay in touch and are down there anyways.  I will be fishing somewhere!!!