Alaska in September

by Dennis Schule

September in the Ozarks means cooler temps, more stable water and fewer crowds which all lead to great fishing.  While most guides and anglers are thinking about the fantastic fall fishing on the White and Norfork rivers, my mind starts to wander about heading to Alaska again for some fall trout and salmon fishing.

This year was no exception.  My friend, Mike, from Montana and I were scheduled to head back to the Cordova, Alaska area again this year to chase down some silvers but once again Mother Nature dumped on the area with tons of rain resulting in blown out rivers and very difficult flying conditions to the outpost camps. At the last minute we changed plans and switched to the Kenai River area, specifically Cooper Landing.

We were able to secure lodging and a guide at Kenai River Drifters Lodge so we changed our airline reservations and headed out on September 15th.  I was already in Great Falls, MT visiting my friends so we departed Great Falls and flew into Seattle, WA.  From Seattle we flew to Anchorage where we picked up our rental car and drove to Cooper Landing.  So far our travel went perfect without any difficulties.

Upon our arrival at the Kenai River Drifters Lodge we were pleasantly surprised.  The place is very well maintained, clean and right on the Kenai river.  Our two story cabin was very comfortable, clean and had plenty of room.

That evening our guide, Josh, stopped by the cabin to discuss our next day's fishing strategies.  We visited and agreed to meet up by the office at 8 AM.

The next morning we were met with cool temps, in the 40's, which aren't too bad for Alaska in September. We headed to the middle Kenai and upon arrival at the ramp Josh told us he would have to row his drift boat about 1 1/2 miles across a lake to get to the mouth of the river.  As we proceeded across the lake we noticed some very promising water along one of the banks.  Josh maneuvered us into position and Mike and I began to throw streamers.  Before too long we both got into some rainbows and one silver.  Then it was time to start our drift on the Kenai River.

September is egg fishing time.  Josh rigged us up with a double egg rig and split shot.  We drifted the Kenai River for three days and banged plenty of fish -- a mixed bag of sockeyes, silvers, and rainbows.  My biggest rainbow was 29 1/2" with one large silver and one good sockeye.

All in all the Alaska trip was good, very relaxing and fairly easy fishing.  The weather cooperated with only a small shower one day and the temps got up into the 60's.  The bugs were pretty much nonexistent.  While drifting along the Kenai River, I did find my mind wandering back to Arkansas and thinking about the generation schedule, throwing big streamers for big browns and tossing hoppers to unsuspecting rainbows and browns.

The really great thing about being a fly fisherman is that trout and salmon live in some of the most beautiful places in the world.  Arkansas and Alaska both fit into that category.  Tight lines.

Dennis Schule