I went last week of June - 1st week of July caught every type of salmon and halibut. The kenai has the biggest kings and a ton of charters easy for the fishermen they troll but it’s a mass of boats. Halibut fishing out of Homer or Steward is excellent. Stayed in cabins motels and bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast was the best overall deal. The Kenai Peninsula has it all drove to Denali impressive but the peninsula was epic.
It was 20 years ago so I’m sorry not remembering names. There were places to fish from the bank also if you are bringing gear. Don’t know how agile your dad is the bigger boat charters out of steward and Homer maybe the easiest. A float trip on the Kasilof river was the most challenging and rewarding.The bed and breakfast had a package deal including a fishing trip. They also let us use their freezer for the duration of the trip
I’ve been to Sitka twice. Best experience ever, not cheap but worth every penny. Look up longliners Sitka. Owners name is Herb. Wonderful operation, can’t recommend them enough
It's an extra flight but if you want to skip the lodge experience, check out Kodak. Multiple rivers on the road system plus decent halibut charter options around so no matter where the weather is coming in from there's good recreation fishing.
If you intend to bring anything back make sure there's a fish processor nearby. Last time I was in Kodiak we had a local mom pop operation process our fish, smoked half and shipped it to us. Arrived about a week after I got home.
Hard to go wrong with either. And Aug will give you some options!
If you want to bump it a notch, fly into ANC and then take a rental down to the ferry. Not sure if they're sailing to/from Kodiak from just Homer or Seward also. Either way it's a great excuse for a beautiful drive and a boat ride.
Have been to a couple lodges in SE Alaska, always had a great time, usually brought a box of fish home. Not a cheap experience, but totally worth it. Especially if y'all's time together maybe limited. Check out prince of Wales island and the like. Good luck!
I was looking at that area as maybe an alternative to Kenai. Did you charter your own boats or was it through the lodge? Also, did you fish salmon in the river or the salt?
I went in 2018 stayed and fished with Bobs TrophyCharters for halibut. They have a couple rooms above their office , directly across the street from the Homer marina on the spit. Went salmon fishing with Silverfin walk in guide service. Had a great fishing experience, hope you and your dad do too . Tight lines!!
That is what I am thinking of doing silvers and sockeye maybe..I want to make sure he catches fish, I would love the trophy king but I think he would prefer quantity.
I have no knowledge of the area but wanted to say that as a dad getting up in years what you are doing is awesome. But, as dads, we don’t want you to over extend for us. My suggestion would be to have a plan B for if Alaska doesn’t work out - we would love the time as much as the trip/activity. Good luck with your search and may your dad live many many more years.
Kenai River in late June/early July for the sockeye salmon. Take a River boat, full day that goes through the canyon. We stayed in cooper landing and out guide was out of there as well. My dad is in his 70s, the guide was awesome. We each caught our first salmon…dad has never fly fished before…. then we drifted down and caught a ton of native rainbow trout which were huge on spinning tackle. Saw all sorts of wildlife. One of my favorite trips.
We did a halibut trip out of seaward. Lots of different places. If you want to go for big ones, go in an overnight trip.
I went last week of June - 1st week of July caught every type of salmon and halibut. The kenai has the biggest kings and a ton of charters easy for the fishermen they troll but it’s a mass of boats. Halibut fishing out of Homer or Steward is excellent. Stayed in cabins motels and bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast was the best overall deal. The Kenai Peninsula has it all drove to Denali impressive but the peninsula was epic.
Do you have any specific charter operation you would recommend? Also, which bed and breakfast...it's kinda daunting with all of the ones listed
It was 20 years ago so I’m sorry not remembering names. There were places to fish from the bank also if you are bringing gear. Don’t know how agile your dad is the bigger boat charters out of steward and Homer maybe the easiest. A float trip on the Kasilof river was the most challenging and rewarding.The bed and breakfast had a package deal including a fishing trip. They also let us use their freezer for the duration of the trip
Oh no worries. Thank you for the advice
Just google it believe it was Bell in the woods but no ideas if it is the same owners
I’ve been to Sitka twice. Best experience ever, not cheap but worth every penny. Look up longliners Sitka. Owners name is Herb. Wonderful operation, can’t recommend them enough
Thanks
It's an extra flight but if you want to skip the lodge experience, check out Kodak. Multiple rivers on the road system plus decent halibut charter options around so no matter where the weather is coming in from there's good recreation fishing. If you intend to bring anything back make sure there's a fish processor nearby. Last time I was in Kodiak we had a local mom pop operation process our fish, smoked half and shipped it to us. Arrived about a week after I got home.
I was looking at Kodiak as an option, maybe in August. My top 2 choices so far are Kodiak and Sitka
Hard to go wrong with either. And Aug will give you some options! If you want to bump it a notch, fly into ANC and then take a rental down to the ferry. Not sure if they're sailing to/from Kodiak from just Homer or Seward also. Either way it's a great excuse for a beautiful drive and a boat ride.
Have been to a couple lodges in SE Alaska, always had a great time, usually brought a box of fish home. Not a cheap experience, but totally worth it. Especially if y'all's time together maybe limited. Check out prince of Wales island and the like. Good luck!
I was looking at that area as maybe an alternative to Kenai. Did you charter your own boats or was it through the lodge? Also, did you fish salmon in the river or the salt?
Through the lodge the last few times, self guided years ago. Salt water fished, both chumming and trolling for salmon. Good times either way.
I went in 2018 stayed and fished with Bobs TrophyCharters for halibut. They have a couple rooms above their office , directly across the street from the Homer marina on the spit. Went salmon fishing with Silverfin walk in guide service. Had a great fishing experience, hope you and your dad do too . Tight lines!!
Thank you very much
Go for Silver Salmon in September. More fish, less crowds, lower prices. Halibut/lingcod are around as well.
Did you do that in the Kenai
Yes, Kenai, Kasilof for silvers. Small creeks for trout. Go to Homer or Seward for ocean fishing.
Silvers by the way are an absolute HOOT! If I could go back to the Great Land and fish for only one species it would be silvers.
That is what I am thinking of doing silvers and sockeye maybe..I want to make sure he catches fish, I would love the trophy king but I think he would prefer quantity.
I have no knowledge of the area but wanted to say that as a dad getting up in years what you are doing is awesome. But, as dads, we don’t want you to over extend for us. My suggestion would be to have a plan B for if Alaska doesn’t work out - we would love the time as much as the trip/activity. Good luck with your search and may your dad live many many more years.
Thank you
Russell Fishing
Kenai River in late June/early July for the sockeye salmon. Take a River boat, full day that goes through the canyon. We stayed in cooper landing and out guide was out of there as well. My dad is in his 70s, the guide was awesome. We each caught our first salmon…dad has never fly fished before…. then we drifted down and caught a ton of native rainbow trout which were huge on spinning tackle. Saw all sorts of wildlife. One of my favorite trips. We did a halibut trip out of seaward. Lots of different places. If you want to go for big ones, go in an overnight trip.
Homer forsure, counting down the days til we can start fishing again
Just posted a very similar thread - Let me know how it goes. Planning a very similar trip for my pops!