Alaska Drift Away Fishing

Alaska Drift Away Fishing was born 16 years ago when three young guides had a dream to create a partnership based on their stoke for fishing, conservation of the resource, and the desire for an office with a view. Fast forward to today and not much has changed.

We still passionately strive to learn more about our target species and the water in which they inhabit. The learning curve is nowhere as steep as it once was, but like most things in life it’s the little observations that lead to some of the biggest gains. Watching our clients reap the rewards of our knowledge and teaching is what keeps us eagerly anticipating each new day on the water.

We treat the resource like our livelihood depends on it, because it does. Alaska Drift Away Fishing stopped guiding native run king salmon on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers in 2013 when future fish counts and management practices seemed dismal. We still miss the massive takedowns, drag melting runs, and watching a beast slowly emerge from the chalky glacial water.

The 1st run of kings on the Kasilof River is where we still get our king fix. Late May thru mid-June this hatchery run produces steady action and delicious rewards. Average fish are 12- to 20 lbs. Native kings of this run are referred to as “natural” being they have an adipose fin, but are unlikely 100% native due to a hatchery program over two decades old and the definite interbreeding of the two species.

Red salmon is our salmon of choice for July and early August. Once we quit guiding native run kings we were nervous how repeat clients and new clients would react. Fortunately we were pleasantly surprised with how much our king clients enjoyed the action and fight of red salmon. Most importantly anglers take home more weight on average in reds than they do kings.

Silver salmon keep us busy in mid-through-late August, plus add variety for our trout clients during September. Silvers are aggressive and put up a solid fight, while their mild flavor allows for a wide range of recipes. The variety of techniques and presentations is what makes hunting silvers so fun and diverse. No matter the angling experience there is a method that will work for everyone.

Kenai rainbow trout is one of of our favorite species, and putting trophy fish in the net is our specialty. However, we take the most pride in how we handle and release these incredible fish. Trophy bows are over 10 years old and the amount of shady presentations they’ve seen is high, making the hook up that much sweeter. The length of time it takes a trout to reach social media status is one of the many reasons we take care of all the trout we encounter as today’s 20” bow could have the genetics to be a 30” fish in the future. Trout are residents of the Kenai River, but we view mid-June, mid-July thru early August, and late August thru October as peak times for trophy fish.

No matter the time of year or species you want to target—Jeremy, Nick, and Nigel at Alaska Drift Away Fishing will provide you with an experience you will not soon forget.

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