Thought I'd share my story from this past Sunday on the Kasilof River. Bob did a great job of describing the conditions in his fishing report. Needless to say, there were boat-loads of people on the river. We ended up empty handed, but am planning to go down and give it another shot next weekend.

First off, my buddies and I were fishing above People's hole. Had a few bites,... caught a steelhead and released it. Then, several boats started hooking up all around us. I knew it was just a matter of time before it was our turn. However, a guy on a guide boat behind us hooked a fish, then pointed his rod straight at it. That king started stripping line so fast and was headed around my boat (and anchor). At that point, I pulled up and moved out of the way so I didn't cause the poor sucker to lose his fish. They drifted through, with the king a hundred plus feet away from the boat, until the guide was finally able to get the guy to lift his rod up and start playing the fish. In the meantime, I was blown out of the slot and turned to see 2 other boats slide right in (where I had just been) and throw out their hooks. We had a great view of them catching fish. Question: Should I have just stayed and let that fool lose his fish?

Next, and this is the one that really burns my ass, I drifted down river to the last hole before the pullout to find boats stacked on boats. I picked my way through the 12+ boats, being careful not to disturb any lines. Slid in behind a guy who was fishing 5 people out of his boat. Dropped my anchor about 20 ft down stream of their rigs and hear him start yelling that I was on his line. "You can't fish there! You're on my line! Move down!"

What an ass! I am a private angler who comes down to enjoy the experience of fishing the great Kenai Penninsula with my friends and family, hoping our luck and skill is good enough to bring home a king for the table. I don't charge them $175/pp for this experience. I also don't have any problem with guides bringing in people to enjoy this their own 'Alaskan' experience. But we all have to understand when crowded conditions exist, fishing is not going to be optimal and there's gotta be some compromises.

I ended up moving down as instructed. But would be interested in hearing if you fellas think I did the right thing? And what would you have done in the same situation?

Thanks.

p.s.
My father-in-law said I should have told the guy, "I'm not on you lines. I'm going to fish right here and if you don't like it, you should move."