"If I had a dime for every hour I spent here, I could go to the store and buy a king that big, a whole one," Nemethy said.
As it is, he's caught two tailrace kings this year. Of course, he's been fishing here since June 6.
"I've sat through rain, sleet, almost snow and I'm still here -- sleep deprivation," Nemethy said.
Not everyone has had to put in massive hours to land a king here. Hye Reed caught her king after one hour, using shrimp.
"Oh yeah, king is in the water -- they always fight," Reed said. "Even reds still fight."
If you do decide to visit the tailrace, a few points to remember:
• The early bird catches the worm
While you're not fishing for worms, the old adage rings true here: fish early for the best success.
• Patience, patience, patience
You're only going to catch a king here if your line is in the water. And the longer your line is in the water, the better your chances.
• Think shrimp
You like shrimp on the barbie, and apparently kings like shrimp on the end of the hook. Eggs and lures work too, but fishing with shrimp is producing good results.
• Be clean
Don't be a messy angler! The tailrace has always had a reputation for trashy banks. It doesn't have to be that way. Please haul out whatever garbage you haul in.
As for this week's hot spots, it's hard to call the tailrace hot, but kings can be caught there -- and in the Valley, it's either there or Honolulu Creek.
There are no kings in Resurrection Bay -- there probably wouldn't be room for them with the halibut. Ling cod are being caught in the bay, however, and silvers are being caught at Pony Cove.
The lower Kenai River is still producing kings and reds too as the second run starts to ramp up. The dipnet fishery on the Kenai begins Saturday.
And for something up north, if you're willing to make the drive, the grayling fishing at Tangle Lakes is excellent -- and you can catch a lake trout or two there as well.
If you have any questions about where or how to fish, do yourself a favor and give the good folks at Fish and Game a call at 267-2218.
Contact John Carpenter at jcarpenter@ktuu.com
