08_2025_REELLIFE_DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 28
The route to the Kenai
Peninsula is one of the
most scenic drives I have
ever been on in my life.
Mountains rose all around
us, and a mixture of conifer
forests and tundra greeted
us at every turn. Purple
lupins were in full bloom
and dotted the roadside.
This was the Alaska that
I had been dreaming of.
150 miles later, we turned
down a gravel road and
arrived at the Alaska
Kenai Adventures Lodge.
Waiting for us were Keith,
the owner, and Pierce, the
General Manager of the
lodge. After giving us a
quick tour, we were shown
our rooms. It was 10 pm
and still broad daylight.
“Our summer days have
twenty hours of daylight,”
Keith explained, “And night
is more like dusk. Blackout
curtains are very popular
around here”. I had brought
a sleep mask, so no worries
there – plus a twenty-hour
travel day had our group
ready to hit the hay. Pierce
let us know we would be
leaving at 5 am for a day of
trout fishing on the Kenai
River. Our comfortable beds
awaited, and I quickly fell
asleep in anticipation of
the coming days of fishing
adventures.
Alaska Kenai Adventures
provides lodging and
meals, and they have
partnerships with guides
and charters throughout
the Kenai Peninsula. As
a facilitator for trips, they
have built up a cadre of
outstanding businesses
they work with to provide
their clientele with fishing,
hunting, bear watching,
fly-in trips, and more. If you
have a trip on your bucket
list, they can likely help you,
or if you’re overwhelmed by
all the options, Keith and
Pierce can help you there as
well. Our first day featured
fly fishing for rainbow trout
on the Kenai River. We met
our guides from Chasing
Tails Guide Service and got
the rundown on gear and
techniques. The plan was
to side drift with egg and
flesh imitations. A strike
indicator was attached
to the leader, and our 7/8
weight rods would be up
to the task of handling the
larger rainbows. Our guide,
Captain Alex, explained
that the rainbows would
follow the salmon and
gorge themselves on eggs
and decomposing salmon
carcasses. Rainbows up to
ten pounds were a distinct
possibility. The Kenai in
this location reminded
me a little of the Cowlitz
River, size-wise, but with a
beautiful turquoise hue to
it. Side-drifting using this
method is ideal for those
who don’t have a lot of
experience with fly rods,
as much of the positioning
can be done by a skillful
guide maneuvering the
boat downstream, similar to
side drifting for steelhead.
The day was filled with
catching; however, we
were unable to find the
big ones, instead landing
fish in the 14-20” range. I’ll
take that any day of the
week! We returned after a
full day of fishing to enjoy
a culinary delight by lodge
chef Stephan. King salmon
in a teriyaki glaze, rice,
fresh vegetables, and not
a crumb left on my plate.
Local wines and beers were
a nice touch, finished off
by a tasty tiramisu dessert,
perfect.
