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Finding the Guide That Will Suit Your Needs

I have heard too many horror stories about ornery or aggressive guides that have ruined what could have been a great day on the water. That is a crying shame. It is my personal belief that people book a guided fishing trip in Alaska for one reason; and that is to have fun. Everyone has their own dream of what a good day on the water means to them. Some want the most fish, some the biggest, some just want to see the wildlife and watch their friends and loved ones enjoy themselves. When you are fishing on the Kenai River it should be a low-pressure enjoyable experience.

The best way to find that perfect guide who can give you the experience you want starts with research. The world-wide web gives you the opportunity to look at reviews of businesses after you look at someone’s web site. Be a little weary of the reviews, some outfits have lots and lots of vanilla reviews, and some have very few and those were probably from friends and family. Being able to discern the reviews that are from the heart, versus the family reviews or the forced follow-up reviews, is important.

After you look at web sites and reviews, the next thing to do is get on the phone or even FaceTime or Zoom with your guide or outfitter and talk to them. It is important that you feel some connection or have a feel for the honesty of your guide, because for some this may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip and having a connection is important. If someone can’t or doesn’t want to answer your questions, in person, be wary. It is easy for a desk jockey to promise you everything you want and then pawn you off on a guide who has to try and deliver the impossible, or meet unrealistic expectations. Don’t be fooled by the person who tells you, you will get limits everyday or catch the trophy of your dreams no matter what.

It is important to remember that when you are fishing the Kenai River it is a natural resource and you will be in a fair-chase scenario where timing, technique, and skill-set all play a part in your success. Guides are just that; guides. Guides are not miracle workers and all we can do is control the controllable’s and let Mother Nature do the rest.

CategoriesRainbow Trout, Salmon by

Is There a Best Time to Target a Particular Species?

So I get a phone call. “I want to come up when the sockeyes are running hard; when is the best time?” Now this is six months to a year before the season opens. So I get out my trusty crystal ball and tell them exactly when the perfect time will be when the salmon will be in the river so thick you can walk from one shoreline to the other on the backs of those fish. Okay; that’s not going to happen. Even the best biologist in the world can’t answer that question, let alone a lousy psychic with a cracked and broken crystal ball.

So, all I can do is use my experience and past patterns to come up with a high-percentage outlook on when the optimum time is going to be for a particular species to be at their highest concentration in the system.

There are other variables to decoding when a particular species will be at the height of their concentrations as well as the ability to target trophy-sized fish. Let me give you some examples.

Basically, sockeye salmon and silver salmon have two good runs each year on the Kenai River where I guide. The first run of sockeye salmon run up the Kenai into the Russian River. This begins in early June. The second sockeye run starts in mid-July and runs hard through August. Both runs are controlled by a season opening date as well as a season closing date.

The first silvers show up in the Kenai at the beginning of August and arrive at the upper and middle river sections in good numbers typically around the third week of August. The second run is in full swing by the second week of September.

Success is dictated by timing and the size of the runs. Some years are better than others when it comes to the number of fish in the system. And, the runs generally come in waves with peaks and valleys. You can be on the river one day and have but a few hooks and the next day the waters are teaming with fish.

Trophy rainbow trout and char in the Kenai are a wild strain of fish that are in the system all year long. Big ones, the fish that are 26 inches or larger are definitely a seasonal phenomenon. The best times to target the huge fish are the last ten days of August until the end of October. The big trout are keying on the salmon spawn and this is what makes these discerning fish gullible for a tempting presentation.

So, is there a best time to target a species? Absolutely. That being said, your only option when planning a trip well in advance of arrival is to play the percentages and roll the dice hoping for sevens when you arrive. If you hit the runs perfectly we look like geniuses.

CategoriesRainbow Trout, Salmon by

Putting the Bullseye on Your Target Species

We’ve all heard the saying, “If I had a nickel for (pick your topic), I’d be rich.” Well, I might not be up to Warren Buffet’s level yet, but I could take the family out to the finest dining experience in Alaska with what my proceeds would be based on this one quandary.

If I had a nickel every time someone bought a ticket, flew to Alaska to target a species that was not even available to them, it would generate a pretty penny. It’s truly amazing to me how many individuals come here expecting to get into a particular species and they can’t due to the wrong timing.

My point here is that you must put the bullseye on your target species. Don’t book a silver salmon trip in June. Don’t book a sockeye salmon trip in October. And don’t think you’re going to have 30-inch rainbows jumping in the boat on the Kenai River if you’re there in July.

I could go so far to say that some periods of the season are better than others. You can find out all you need to know before hitting the “buy” button on that airline web site just by giving me a call. I’m a guide. It’s my business to know what works, when it works, and why it works, and this will ensure that you end up in the right place at the right time putting that perfect cast dead center into that target of that species you have decided to pursue. And everything else is just icing on the angling cake.

CategoriesJasons Guide Service by

Is There a Nightmare in Your Bucket?

If you look in the buckets of everyone who has a bucket list you’ll quickly discover that many, if not most, have a trip to Alaska as one of the objectives. I can understand that. Alaska is the last frontier and fishing in this state amongst all the amazing resources found here is something that every outdoor enthusiast would hope they could one day experience.

But, if not planned properly, that once-in-a-lifetime dream will become a nightmare due to all the logistical considerations. The old adage to keep it simple rings true when planning your trip, but with a few phone calls and some online research with your favorite search engine you will make that dream a reality.

First, you must realize that many online businesses (lodging, guides, eating establishments, etc.) have a great virtual persona and when you arrive you discover it was all smoke and mirrors. The only way you can know for sure, is through direct contact with the business unless you are referred by a trusted source. The truly great businesses want to hear from you. They want you to call them so they can know for sure they will be delivering on all your expectations. If someone doesn’t answer their phone or call you call you back promptly, then write them off. Only book online if you are completely sure through direct contact, recommendations, or adequate research that the business is going to meet your expectations and be absolutely sure you can cancel without being penalized.

This is important information in getting you started on the path to an incredible fishing trip to Alaska . In my future blogs I’m going to discuss targeting specific species, researching your costs, finding the best guides for what you are targeting, setting up the best accommodations and why it is necessary to have a back-up plan.

CategoriesJasons Guide Service by

2021 was an amazing fishing year

2021 was an amazing fishing year; plenty of fish, tons of laughs, and we’re thankful for all of our fishing guests that joined for another special year of fishing the Kenai River in Alaska. We’re looking forward to the 2022 Kenai fishing season which is rapidly approaching. Please give me a call to get your preferred fishing dates in the books. Please contact me today to book your next fishing trip to Alaska with Jason’s Guide Service offering only professional Kenai River fishing guide services.

CategoriesDolly Varden, Fly Fishing, Rainbow Trout, Salmon by

2020 Recap and 2021 Forecast

2020 Recap

2020 was a year that had a lack of anglers on the river, the least ever in the last 10 years. That made for some of the most phenomenal rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing in as long as I can remember. I anticipate this will carry over into 2021 resulting in a lot of un pressured fish. We should make 2021 the year that we educate them with tactics and techniques they have yet to experience.

2021 forecast

If Nostradamus was a guide on the Kenai River here’s what he would predict for 2021 ye shall see, according to the Alaska Fish and Game there will be strong first and second run of sockeye salmon. The lack of pressure on the rainbow trout and Dolly Varden char in 2020 will make for some phenomenal fishing in 2021. The first and second run of silver salmon is predicted to be big runs this year as well, so the fishing on the Kenai River should be great from June 11 through October this year for all the species.

Capitalizing on a Salmon run

When there is a great salmon run anybody can catch a fish, but not everyone will get a limit. When it is a smaller salmon run everyone won’t catch fish, it takes experience and knowledge to put fish in the boat. To truly capitalize on a salmon run good timing and a good guide are a must, but timing is only as good as the guide you choose. So choose wisely.

Experience is your catalyst for success

There are two ways you gain advanced knowledge on the Kenai River. Someone like myself who has spent a lifetime fishing and spent decades guiding on the Kenai River learned through my own experiences. Those that guide for me under my banner have both the benefit of their own experiences plus the added knowledge of my experience. There is no substitute for time on the water and trial and error, yet training with someone with my degree of experience can defiantly shorten their learning curve. Always choose guides that you know are strong in their knowledge and passionate about the never ending quest for perfection.

Being flexible on a guided trip

Control the controllable’s and be prepared for the unpredictable. When you book a trip no matter how much homework you do Mother Nature has a way of being unpredictable. The angler’s that are willing be flexible are the ones that usually have the most success. Because, the salmon run could be off, the river could be blown out, the water temperatures on a glacier river can fluctuate greatly, water levels could be high or low. These variables, and others mean adapting to achieve your goals. Make sure to choose a guide that is capable of adapting under any circumstance in using the gear weather it be fly rods, spinning rods, conventional tackle, or hand tied flies to ensure you get the fish to bite.

CategoriesIce Fishing, Rainbow Trout by

Ice fishing Alaska’s rainbow trout

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Ice Fishing Wild rainbow trout! Some days they’re as ferocious as junkyard dogs and other days like this one they bite lighter than a picky walleye. We had our Vexilar going in the glacial water to help us “see” the fish before they started sniffing and licking our ice jigs. www.jasonsguideservice.com #vexilar #clamoutdoors #icearmour #icefishingalaska #icefishing #cooperlanding

CategoriesJasons Guide Service by

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CategoriesDolly Varden, Ice Fishing, Jasons Guide Service, Rainbow Trout, Salmon by

We Launched Our New Website

Jason Lesmeister, owner of Jason’s Guide Service, has 20 years of experience as an Alaskan fishing guide, ten of them on the Kenai River, so he is well qualified to help visiting anglers shorten the necessary learning curve for a successful trip.

He has just launched his new website, www.JasonsGuideService.com.The website was redesigned from the ground up and now contains helpful information about the fish to be found in the Kenai River, the best season for each, and the services and equipment Lesmeister offers.

When asked about the upgraded website, Lesmeister said, “I love everything about our new web presence. It’s going to allow me to provide more detailed information about the gear we use and what we are catching day in and day out. I will also be updating my blog on the website on a regular basis so you can read up on our guests’ adventures.”

Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden appeal to fishermen because they bite readily, put up an aggressive fight, and are plentiful all year. Red (sockeye) salmon, silver (coho) and other salmon species migrate up the Kenai River at certain times. Sockeye salmon peak from mid-July through the first week in August. Silver salmon fishing is best from the third week of August through the end of October.

Lesmeister’s Kenai River guiding service provides all the equipment you might need, including custom built 20 foot drift boats, G. Loomis, Sage, Lamson and Shimano rods and reels, and all tackle and baits. They will also clean fish and offer other expertise necessary for a quality trip.

Ice fishing the Kenai and surrounding lakes is also outstanding and Jason’s Guide Service is one of the few serious organizations serving this type of fishing and implement the latest technology to locate the fish and keep you warm on the ice.

Jason is headquartered in Cooper Landing, Alaska, and covers the entire Kenai River resource – Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling, Skilak Lake, Kenai Lake, and the Cooper Landing Area. Fishermen are encouraged to bring their cameras so they can post photos of their catch with the others on the website’s “Braggin’ Board”. It is a good idea to make reservations for prime seasons as far in advance as possible.

For more information, visit the website and send questions via the contact form or push the handy “Push to Call” button to initiate a direct call.

Contact:

Jason’s Guide Service
Mile Marker 48
Cooper Landing, AK 99572
(907) 351-3036

www.JasonsGuideService.com

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CategoriesIce Fishing, Rainbow Trout, Salmon by

Spring is in the Air

It’s March, and March is one of the best months of the year for fishing the Kenai in my world. March doesn’t have the hordes of spawning salmon, or salmon carcasses floating down the river. In the spring we have different hatches going off, alvin and smolt popping, leeches and lamprey swimming the river. It’s a magical time on the river to go and fish without the masses of people and the opportunity to fish more than just flesh and beads. Spring on the Kenai it’s where it’s at!! www.Jasonsguideservice.com

cooper landing rainbow trout