The river is open (check out our view from the deck in this QTVR panorama[374k]), the waterfowl and gulls have returned and its closing in on fishing season once again. River conditions are good so far and its only a couple weeks before the first kings will be caught in the river.

The early run is a great fishery to try for kings from the shoreline since the water levels are very low and the riverbank bottom is exposed making it easy to traverse while fighting a king. Kings move right past our fishing dock within easy casting reach and with the low volume flow of the river in early summer, its much more possible to bring one of these beauties to the beach without a boat.

Clam digging is already underway with several sets of good tides already behind us and many more to come. If you want to give clamming a try during your stay with us, we have plenty of buckets and shovels for you to use and a great cleaning station down at the boat dock. Check the tide tables for the time you plan to be here to see if the tides are right for digging. Anything with a -1.0 foot tide or lower is fine for clam digging and its only 25 minutes from the house.

Hooligan should be heading up the river very soon and this is one fishery many locals enjoy. Its a dipnet fishery for residents and when these saltwater smelt start running up the river right next to the bank, you can sometimes dip 5 pounds in a single scoop. Some folks pickle them, others fry them up and some use them for northern pike bait during the winter ice fishing season. Any way you look at it, hooligan provide a good variety to kick off the season.

The bald eagles are getting anxious to begin their courtship rituals and repair their nests for this year's eaglets. Eagles are quite common along our stretch of the Kenai River and with our elevation overlooking the river, quite often you are looking eyeball to eyeball with them as they fly by in search of their next meal.

Saltwater king salmon fishing is just beginning down at Anchor Point and Whiskey Gulch and soon there will be an armada of private and charter boats trolling along the beaches in search of kings before heading out to deeper waters at slack tide to fish for halibut.

Weatherwise its starting out to be a temperate but dry Spring and the snow is disappearing fast. Time to begin preparing for planting the flowers and making last minute repairs and touch-ups before our guests begin arriving.

Come back and visit our reports to check on the latest information we have dug up on the fishing conditions.

Enjoy your summer. -- George & Joanne Holly