By Nick Varney

Special to the Homer Independent Press


Well, it was quite a transition into August with the weather going all schizoid on us.

At first, the days called for generous sun screen applications and just enough clothing to keep out of jail for indecent exposure.

Then came the clouds bloated with rains firing across the skies booted by turbo winds unsure of what direction to take.

The unsettling behavior of Mother Nature made it a bit tough for charters and private boats to hit their favorite anchorages or trolling areas. But, when they did, holds were filled, and fishermen were grinning instead of turning green and chumming the sea with half chewed snacks that would have horrified a starving halibut.

On shore, line launchers along beaches did well, landing everything from pollock to shore-cruisin’ halibut.

The fishing lagoon produced some fair coho action at times but was rather tepid overall.

As usual, the incoming and retreating tidal flows were primo times for fresh and feisty silvers looking for a brawl but, unfortunately, once the they began circling the beach line within, they became the targets of the floss snaggers who constantly harassed them by hooking their backs, tails, sides and bellies until they flipped free, broke the line or were dragged ashore to be either released, kicked back in or illegally harvested.

When one older gentleman engaged a “man” about his snagging, the guy turned out to be not only a “tough guy” bully but a flaming major bodily exit portal and threatened violence to the elder. Luckily, a bystander intervened and chilled the situation. Thank you, sir. Suggest some anger management for the antagonist.

Time now for the fishing report for the week of Aug. 4.

Freshwater Fishing

Expect moderate luck fishing for dollies and poor to “meh” fishing for coho in lower sections of the lower Kenai Peninsula roadside streams.

On the bright side, the counts have been improving for both over the last week. There may be some high water this week from rain that will make the streams harder to fish because they won’t be able to spot the bait, much less see where they are going.

Beads and small spinners work great for dollies. Cured salmon roe clusters floating beneath a bobber work fine for bringing on coho strikes, but also spinners, spoons, plugs and red enhanced flies will do the trick.

The upstream sections of the lower Kenai Peninsula roadside streams were opened to sport fishing except salmon on Aug. 1. Expect fair fishing for the dollies.

China Poot Personal Use Sockeye Salmon

The sockeye run is starting to gear down in China Poot but there’s still some nice fish to scoop up for those still chasing sockeye.

Saltwater Fishing

Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet

Halibut

Halibut fishing remained humming over the past week. Although the best fishing remains in the offshore locations, some anglers were getting some nice take-downs within Mud Bay.

King and Coho Salmon

King and coho fishing remained fair last week. Most fish were coming in from offshore locations.

Lingcod

Expect fair to good fishing over the next week if the seas chill enough to make it out to fish along the outer coast from the Chugach Islands to Gore Point.

Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon

Fishing has been fair for coho in the Dudiak Lagoon. The run should be starting to gear down this week. Roe, mackerel pieces and small plug-cut herring floating about 18 inches beneath a bobber, or spinners such a red bodied Vibrax spinner are all excellent strike enhancers.

Surf Fishing

Whiskey Gulch and Deep Creek are still good options for halibut from shore.

Hey, don’t forget about fishing off the tip of the Homer Spit if you are limited in your options.

All kinds of edibles are lurking below the waves out there such as various cod, flounder and even a wandering salmon or two. There are also things we dare not speak of, so we won’t.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

King Salmon Restrictions in Cook Inlet Salt Waters

Rockfish Restrictions in North Gulf Coast and Cook Inlet

Cook Inlet and North Gulf Coast Sport and Personal Use Razor Clam Permit Now Required

Until next week…

Nick can be reached at ncvarney@gmail.com if you have any tips, tales or a reliable weather forecast for the oncoming week.