I have some very productive Kwikies that I need help with.I am headed to the Kenai and need some info on what type and size of siwash hooks and swivles to use?? We will be releasing all the large Kings and keeping the ones under 40lbs. The bigones will be taped and photoed for a replica mount if we get any large enough!! Hey Pnp you are a regular on the Kenai what are your thoughts!! All info will be greatly appreciated!! I am headed up this Friday and can't wait!!!

I have never fished the Kenai so hopefully the experts will follow but from what I remember reading I thought it went like this...

K-15 = 5/0
K-16 = 6/0

I haven't done much fishing on the kenai, but I imagine it's the same as anywhere else. I use 4/0's and 5/0's for 15's and 16's respectively. Get 100 lb test swivels, and you should be good to go.

Think big. There's one thing seperating you and a potential 60-70lb king, and that's your hook. And the umpteen friggin boats that will be wizzing by your head as you fight 20-30 lb kings, with gear designed for 80lb fish. Don't get me wrong, you'll have a good time and you might actually get lucky and catch a king over 30lbs, but don't rule out fishing for the Kenai's mighty bows, it sure beats the hell out of fighting all the friggin people.

Leave the K15's at home, this is a K16 show. I go with a 6/0 Siwash Gami off the tail eye with a 200lb. swivel in between. We've snapped smaller swivels with all of the force that is put on them. I only rig for the big dudes, which includes minimum 60lb mono leader and up to 80 lb, plus 100lb power pro main line. When you are around 40 boats and you are fighting a 60 lb fish, there is no room for delicate gear.

Let me know if you need more help with a PM. I'll be there in a week.

I'd listen to what the Dawg has to say. At least on this one topic. He's caught a few of these bad boys. Not known for his love of delicate gear, however.

I'll second Silver Hilton's motion to heed the Dawg's wisdom!

Ain't nothin' delicate about this fishery.... especially if you are after a big slab. If you are so fortunate to land a big one, I urge you to think real hard before deciding to heft it over the gunnel. Come armed with a good camera... the memory of a good pic will last a lot longer than the taste of BBQ'd salmon. Besides, the river will be loaded with LOTS of smaller kings, as well as tens of thousands of prime sockeye for table fare.

Personally, I have a bunch of old plugs rigged with the barrel swivel and 6/0 Gami siwash that have caught lots of kings. As these hooks become un-sharpenable, they get replaced with a 5/0 Gami siwash... a little finer wire to get a more efficient hook-set, a little less"bite" to avoid hooking smaller fish thru the eye ( important if you will be doing some C&R), and finally, the hook can be straightened (using lots of effort) with 60# test leader and 80# superbraid when you get your prize-winning plug hung on a bad snag... a hook can be replaced... an all-star K-16 can't!

My experiment for the upcoming season will be the new Gami 510... report to follow.

SH, I'll bring out the delicate stuff when we float the upper on our day off. We also go fairly light when fishing the Sockeye. To many snags to use anything too heavy.

Doc, we were using 5/0s and 6/0s last year as well. You are absolutely correct that the 5/0s are much easier on the release and may be better for the fish. Problem was, we had one fish straighten one out. From the takedown (rod tip into the water, broke the rod holder, and the straightened hook), I think it probably cost us the photo opp of a lifetime with a serious pig. Oh well, that's why I go back....

Thanks for all your info!! the Kwikies I have are all proven K16's that are chewed up from previous trips to the Kenai I just need to change the hooks from trebles to siwash. One
of them landed 9 kings with the largest being
72lbs!! I dont have a digital camera but I will
down load some pictures when I get back!!
2 days left to work and then 8 days on the Kenai!!!!!

There's this star-shaped wheel on the side of your reel that I think was designed to prevent stuff like that from happening... :p

Sorry, couldn't resist!

I feel for anybody who has hooked and lost one of those truly monster kings... been there three times myself. Valuable lessons learned each time. It's why I keep coming back, too!