Kenai River Silvers

[smoker pete]

Got down to a few servings of Kenai River Silver Salmon I caught this summer at Centennial Park, Soldatna, Alaska so I decided to smoke them



Naturally I opted to use Kummok's Smoked Alaskan Salmon recipe for the task.  Kummok is from Homer, AK.  Here is a photo overlooking the famous Spit in Homer.  Imagine having to live with this kind of scenery!!



Unfortunately I wasn't actively involved in the forum last summer cause it would have been my pleasure to meet Kummok at the famous Salty Dawg Saloon for a cold one or two.  Made about 3 trips to Homer.  Still have some Halibut in my freezer from Homer


Here's inside the Salty Dawg.  Talk about character


Here I am on the Kenai River holding one of the Silver salmon



One of the many breathtaking sunsets on the Kenai River.  Using roe and light tackle.  Talk about fun!!!



Smoking these beauties as I type.  Should be ready in about an hour

[squirtthecat]

Nice!

[smoker pete]

You gotta love it ... from the Kenai River to my Bradley.  The finished product.  Used Alder



Like Kummok says "... I personally believe that you'd have to try REAL hard to make a batch of smoke salmon unpalatable by over smoking/cooking ..."

[BuyLowSellHigh]

That salmon sure looks ... outstanding!  Both caught and smoked.

Okay the saloon looks good, but what's all that white stuff on those hills ?  I see water, but no sand or palm tress.    ???

[smoker pete]

Okay the saloon looks good, but what's all that white stuff on those hills ?  I see water, but no sand or palm tress.    ???

That photo was taken in early June and most of that white stuff stayed on those mountains all summer.  Considering it was in the high 90s and low 100s in Central California I felt blessed to be around a little of that white stuff  ;D  Never got tired of looking at it.

[Kummok]

Sorry I missed your visit Smoker Pete! Homey don't do the Salty Dawg but woulda invited you up to share a Homer Brew on our deck that overlooks that bay. Snow pretty much left by September but it's starting to stack up again at the higher altitudes. Nothing like smoked salmon to entice the memories of a great trip!

[hal4uk]

Sweet!  You're livin' right!
Awrighten.

[smoker pete]

Sorry I missed your visit Smoker Pete! Homey don't do the Salty Dawg but woulda invited you up to share a Homer Brew on our deck that overlooks that bay. Snow pretty much left by September but it's starting to stack up again at the higher altitudes. Nothing like smoked salmon to entice the memories of a great trip!

I hear ya about the Salty Dawg Kummok.  Had to go in and take a picture so I can say I was there.  After spending a large part of the summer in the Wasilla and Kenai area I know there will be another time ... sooner than later!  It will be my honor to share some Homer Brew with you.  Alaska made a lasting impression on me ...

[SouthernSmoked]

Beautiful country, I stayed in Anchorage Alaska back in 1988 for a week... great vacation.

[aces-n-eights]

Hey Pete, great pics!  Silver fishing is definitely fun.  We live in Soldotna, and as a matter of fact, our dock is across the river from where you were fishing.  You can just see the end of it in the pic of you holding a silver - we're to the far right on that pic.

Maybe we'll see you up here on your next visit.

[smoker pete]

Hey Pete, great pics!  Silver fishing is definitely fun.  We live in Soldotna, and as a matter of fact, our dock is across the river from where you were fishing.  You can just see the end of it in the pic of you holding a silver - we're to the far right on that pic.

Maybe we'll see you up here on your next visit.

Gives new meaning to the saying "small world" Aces!!!  I spent so much time fishing there at Centennial Park in Soldotna that I wound up getting a season pass for the summer.  Met many great people from all over the Country and Canada.  I often spent 10 to 12+ hours fishing for Kings, Reds, and Silvers.  Saw a lot of Humpys (Pinks) caught but never hooked one.

I know I probably saw you and/or your friends many times down at that dock catching your limits.  We (the peasants fishing on the bank) used to all talk about how nice it would be to live on the Kenai River.  Saw many salmon being caught on that side of the river.  The guides spent a lot of time drifting down your side of the river.  We theorized that your neighbor on your right runs a bed and breakfast.  Nice little trolley system they have to get people down to the water.  Spent many week just down the road from you in Kenai visiting with our friends in the VIP housing development off of Kalifornsky Beach Road.

WOW ... Still blows my mind to think that you were just across the river.



I'm really looking forward to getting back to Alaska now and visiting with you in Soldotna, Kummok in Homer, and Iceman in Wasilla.

[BuyLowSellHigh]

Think you'd better take a spare liver when you go back -- suspect you'll be needing one.   ;D

[Slamdunk]

That is indeed beautiful country!! And being a fisherman, I would love to have experienced your outing.

Great looking salmon!!

[aces-n-eights]

Cool Pete!  Indeed, it is a small world.  We're traveling in the lower 48 and already miss Alaska. 

So the old question... "Which is the best side of the river to fish?"  Answer - the other side.  Ha!  Actually, the Centennial Park side, where you were, is better for kings and silvers, but we sure get a slew of reds on our side when they're running.  And yes, our neighbor downstream has a very neat trolley system to get to the river... we have a staircase of 78 steps and hike it several times a day during the summer to get to our dock.  We call it our "buns of steel summer workout".

Let us know the next time you plan to visit Alaska!