The fishing guides at Tower Rock Lodges are experts at fishing for Silver Salmon in Alaska. Here is their insight:
"Prone to leaping, the tenacious Silver Salmon are pound-for-pound the hardest-fighting salmon and, best of all they are aggressive and readily strike lures and take baited hooks. Coho fishing on the Kenai is done with power boats on anchor, using a salmon egg loop rig filled with some cured roe. Bait bounced on the bottom can produce many Silver Salmon and some great laughs. For the more adventurous we bust out the Ovris fly rods and clouser flies. Hang On!"
In late July or early August, the Silver Salmon, or Cohos, begin returning to both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers. Adult Coho migrate up these Alaskan rivers primarily in August through September with most of the Silver fishing on the Kenai taking place in the lower river near tidewater. The limit is three per day. Many anglers choose to fish the Kenai during this time when the river is a little quieter than during the busy King and Sockeye season. This is especially true in even-numbered years when millions of Pink Salmon flood into the Kenai. With both species present, there is loads of action. The fishery on both Kenai and Kasilof Rivers last through September; however every Monday is closed to fishing on the Kenai River only.
The Silver Salmon run on the Kasilof River occurs around the same time as that on the Kenai River with some early fish beginning to arrive in late July. Coho fishing on the Kasilof is done with drift boats using medium-light tackle, lures, and salmon roe. Fishing is usually very steady throughout the months of August and September. Mondays the Kenai is closed to guided Silver Salmon fishing so we will often fish the Kasilof on that day. Anglers enjoy the switch to fishing from drift boats, dropping from hole to hole on a relatively undeveloped river right in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula.
Silver Salmon are also known as "blue-back" when caught before full maturity. They are the most popular game fish of the salmon family, as well as one of the most valuable commercial species. Most fish are about 10 pounds, with larger ones at about 20 pounds. Feisty and acrobatic, Silvers also make great table fare. Offering a firm, mild flesh, they are considered by many to be the tastiest salmon species. They are excellent smoked, not oily, and have a pleasant texture. They are perfectly paired with a cold IPA!
Tower Rock Lodge an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge, Located in Kenai Alaska. Offering the best Alaska Fishing and Lodging in all of Alaska