King Salmon in Alaska – What to look for in a Charter Service

You’re looking forward to the ultimate salmon fishing experience along Alaska’s Kenai River. Famous for providing anglers with the opportunity to hook trophy Chinook (King) Salmon, feisty, fighting Sockeye (Red) Salmon, and multitudes of Coho (Silver) Salmon, the Kenai is a magnate for sport fishermen.

Of course, you want your fishing expedition to be the best it can possibly be, which means if you’re going to enlist a charter service you should make sure they know what they’re doing. Here are a few tips on how to go about finding the river guide that is best for you.

You’ll need to determine a few things before you even start to consider what service you may want to hire. You’ll need to find out how much you are willing to spend on the trip, including transportation and lodging. You’ll also want to think about what species of fish you’d like to catch. Finally, you will have to weigh variables concerning value, perks, and essentials. After you’ve consider all of this and come up with some answers, you can then start to refine your search for the charter service that’s perfect for you.

In finding the answers to the considerations posed, you’ll need to perform some basic research. The Internet is the perfect place to start your investigation. You’ll find a range of fishing services being offered by various companies and businesses. When reading through web pages make note of any type of specialization offered by each company, what their packages include, and their range of prices.

One thing you’ll find is that the price for a charter service when Kings first start to run is less expensive than when those fish are at the peak of their migration. That’s because peak migration times are when people really want to fish the Kenai, which means spaces are limited and, yet, desperately wanted, which, in turn, results in a higher price (supply and demand).

Once you’ve collected enough information to make you confused and confounded, start comparing different companies, analyzing the value of their services, any extras they might include, and the basic services for which you’re looking.

Narrow your search down to three to five charter services and in doing so make sure each is a registered guide for the Kenai River, which means they are certified in safety procedures, meet insurance requirements, and are licensed by the State of Alaska. It is illegal to employ someone as a guide who does not have a permit for commercial use. The vessel used by the service must also display a three-digit registration number and there should be a Kenai River guide I.D. card onboard. (Violations should be reported to or questions may be addressed to the Alaska State Parks service at (909) 262-5581.)

In investigating possible guide services, you should take a few routes by speaking with the service provider, people who have recently used his/her services, and the Park Service to determine if any complaints have been filed.

Also, ask anyone you know—friends, family, and associates at work—if they’ve ever fished the Kenai River. You may live four thousand miles away from Alaska, but you may work with someone who used to live near the Kenai or whose son or daughter was a guide, or who has fished the river numerous times. Getting insight into the experience from people who have been there can be invaluable. If they used a guide, find out who they employed and what they liked and did not like about the service.

Here are some considerations to contemplate when choosing a river guide.

How Good is the Guide?

It’s difficult to determine how good someone is from photos on the web, published testimony, and company descriptions. Here are a few things you can do:
• Ask the guide if they fish and how long they’ve been in the business. You want someone who knows the river and what’s happening with the fish on a daily basis.
• Ask the guide about the run times for salmon, what baits they use, what techniques they employ for certain fish, etc. Compare their answers to published information and evaluate how knowledgeable they are.
• Is the guide a part-timer or are they out on the river all the time? You want a full-time service; they should have a better sense of fishing patterns, changes in the river, and techniques that are currently successful than someone who goes out a few days a week.
• Ask for references and check out those references, asking plenty of questions about their experience with the service.
• Make sure the service provider is fully licensed and up-to-date with authorities.

What Services Do They Offer?

• Determine how many hours you’ll actually be on the river fishing.
• Do they only focus on salmon fishing or do they mix it up by going for halibut or trout?
• Are they simply a charter service or do they also provide instruction?
• Do they offer lodging or are they connected with someone who offers these services? What type of accommodations are they?

What Equipment do They Provide?

• If this is your first time, consider how much money you want to spend on gear. If you’d rather not invest in equipment look for a service that provides everything (many do).
• Is equipment an add-on and how much extra does it cost?
• Do they provide drinks and food when out on the river?
• What type of boat does the service use and how old is it? Does it meet all safety regulations? Are there photos of the boat on the web page?

Guide and Fisherman Compatibility

• Call the charter service and speak with the guide. Do you two hit it off? Is there anything in the conversation that makes you uneasy?
• Do they answer your questions directly and clearly? Do you find them to be non-communicative and do you dislike this trait?
• Do they sound like they’re service oriented and are they willing to spend some time on the phone answering your questions.
• Do they sound more concerned about numbers of clients rather than numbers and size of fish caught? How many people do they take out on the river at a time?

You’re going to travel to one of the finest fishing grounds in the world for salmon. You want this expedition to be something you’ll fondly remember, so take your time and perform due diligence in locating the charter service that is right for you. Research in various areas and using numerous sources should help make your trip to the Kenai River an exceptional experience.

About Author

This article was written by Paul Mroczka sponsored by http://www.alaskafishon.com/. Alaska Fish On is a licensed and registered Kenai river fishing guide service providing affordable packages for the novice or experienced fisher. Let the experts at Alaska Fish On tailor the best Alaska salmon fishing package suited to your needs for your next vacation. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link pointing back to http://www.alaskafishon.com/.



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