Dipnetting on the Kenai

Rudy picked a Thursday to try the dipnetting for the second time. Unfortunately Holly had to work and did not get to go. So on the 12th of June we headed down. The Kenai is only open to dipping from 6 am to 11 pm. Although the parking lot is about a half mile away the plus side is you can drive to the edge of the dunes and drop off your gear so you do not have to lug it so far. Vehicles are not allowed on the beach as they are in Kasilof which really makes it nicer. There is access for vehicles on the south side of the river but we decided not to venture there even thought the VW is 4 wheel drive.







What is interesting all the techniques that folks use and kinds of nets. Regulations do not allow a net larger than 5 ft in diameter. But after that the sky is the limit ... some are square, some octogonal, many round. Many are homemade creations!














Some use long handles to get way out in the river and others prefer to hold it close to them. The beach at the Kenai is a nice soft sand. hauling your ice chests can be a chore so again folks are very creative with their transports! We use plastic sleds that we drag along.














As the tide goes out many keep moving their gear down towards the water so putting fish on ice is easier.




Some folks only gut their fish and others do all their filleting right there and let the tide take away their waste.

We spent one night and fished two tides. We ended up with 14 fish which is okay. I dipped as well although I only wore hip boots and I landed four fish! We ended up with 50# of fillets!