by Klondike Kid
March, 1998

HOT Cohos on Ice!

Ever wondered what Alaskans do with only six hours of daylight and thirty below zero temperatures? We do what any sane person would do....throw another log on the fire and wait for spring. But right now, you could hardly tell it was winter here in SouthCentral Alaska with only eight inches of snow left on the ground. Our last real snowfall was in 1997!

This year El Nino has blessed us with an extremely mild winter. The weather has been so warm, if I lived in an igloo I'd be looking for a new home by now. With longer daylight hours and favorable temperatures, now is the best time to get out of the cabin and try a little late winter trout and salmon fishing.

Salmon fishing? Well.... technically. The local streams and rivers are out of the question since most have an ice cover and may even be closed to protect existing stocks. But many of the lakes on the Kenai Peninsula contain good numbers of trout and landlocked coho salmon with most locations accessible to the weekend angler.

To provide additional summer and winter fishing opportunities, the Department of Fish & Game has an extensive program which stocks hundreds of thousands of fingerling rainbows and coho in many Peninsula lakes which have no natural spawning streams. These are effectively "put and take" fisheries but since these fish grow up from juveniles, they retain all the characteristics and fighting qualities of wild stock.

Recently we ventured into the outdoors to target one of the lakes which has been planted with coho. These landlocked salmon have a life expectancy of two years. But their growth rate is exceptional and fish that were stocked as fingerlings in early summer may reach seven to ten inches by the next summer.

Second year fish range from nine to about fourteen inches, depending on the food supply in their home waters. Their flesh is the characteristic silver salmon color but their flavor is more like trout.

Tools of the Trade
Ice fishing requires very little equipment. A hand-powered ice auger, a slush skimming ladle, a plastic tackle box with an assortment of offerings and a simple ice fishing rod is all you need. Additional accessories could include a sled to carry your gear, a snow shovel if the snow is deep and for those with fatter wallets, a power auger.

Tactics
The first thing you must do is find a lake that is a good producer. Its easy enough to ask some of your fishing buddies, check with a local tackle shop or the Soldotna Fish & Game office. Some lakes produce better than others and may vary from year to year.

When you arrive at the lake, you will most likely notice areas where fishing activity is taking place or has in the past. But just because you find a few previously drilled holes doesn't mean that's a good location. The best indication is fish blood on the snow or ice. If you find that clue, you're half way home.

Coho fishing is usually best in eight to twenty feet of water. Although most fishing is done a few feet off the bottom its wise to try various depths. Fish may be found suspended and traveling just a few feet below the ice.

Its not known why fish would suspend like this but I surmise that the longer daylight hours of approaching spring may cause an increase in aquatic insect activity in the upper zone.

Fish tend to move about in schools and once a group moves into the area, the action can be non-stop. Alaska regulations allow two rods or tip-ups per angler so its best to have two lines in the water as much as possible.

A variety of baits and tackle are effective for cohos as well as rainbows or dollies which may be present in the lake. The old standby, salmon roe, is probably the most successful bait. Shrimp, single eggs, worms and even clam meat can sometimes take fish when they get finicky.

As far as lures go, small spoons or tiny jigs, with or without bait on the hook can take their fair share of fish at times. Occasionally fish just want something moving in the water to entice a strike.

On this trip we were fishing in about 15 feet of water. Nearly all of our fish were caught just a foot or two beneath the bottom of the ice. It pays to try a variety of depths just in case. If the water is clear enough, you may be able to see the bottom by peering through the hole. If you don't see any fish swimming by within a few minutes it may pay to drill some additional "test holes" and fish two separate locations. When you get a hit at one spot, move all your efforts to that location.

The Kenai Peninsula has dozens of lakes containing wild strains of rainbows and dolly varden, many of which are easily accessible along the Swanson River Road system. But if you are interested in fishing for cohos you should refer to our database on Kenai Peninsula Stocked Lakes. This information gives you details on the location and public access points to all the lakes which Fish & Game plants with trout and coho salmon. We also give you the numbers on how many fish will be stocked for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Past stockings will be similar to those planned for the future.

Keep your hooks sharp and a tight line. And good luck!

Klondike Kid

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