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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – People come from all over Alaska and around the world for the legendary sockeye salmon races that take place on the Russian River. This is evident when you look down the banks and sometimes see hundreds of anglers standing side by side, all trying to run into a Russian river red.
While fishing is the main attraction of the Russian River, tourists and non-fishermen also flock to the Russian River Ferry to cross the river and take in the beautiful sights that surround the area. The ferry can accommodate up to 20 people and, on a busy day, will carry over 1,200 people on the river.
You will see many fly rods, but they are not mandatory, however, you must use a fly instead of a regular lure or hook. The fishing method is also very different from what many are used to and has been dubbed “The Kenai Flip”.
“It’s not really like other types of fishing, it’s basically just snags, but it’s in the mouth, so it’s called flossing. So you’re just trying to get a line through the mouth of the fish as it swims upstream,” said Connor Tierney, captain of the Russian River Ferry.
If you’re using a fly rod, be sure to give yourself plenty of lead and keep your weights a few feet off the line. You want your line to be perpendicular to you so that when you pull it back it has a chance to slip into the salmon’s mouth, that’s why it’s also called “flossing” and when you get there Hang in there, it’s worth the hard work. this.
“It’s rewarding even if you hang it and lose it, you feel like you didn’t come this far for nothing and you’re having fun,” said Ferdinand Torralba, who left with four sockeye salmon.
The river was busy after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game raised the limit to six sockeye per day and 12 in possession. Round 1 seems over, but anglers can still reach their limits, it just takes a little longer. Round two is expected to take place between mid and late July and that’s when you can expect to see the banks of the Russian River filled with anglers all trying to fill the freezer.
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