The first big slug of reds started to arrive at the Russian River the last full week in June. Anglers flogging the water found their fishing fortunes rising, at least if they knew how to line fish. There was enough space to flip a line but it was still combat fishing in all its shoulder-to-shoulder, hook flying glory.

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Of course, anglers will turn out no matter the fish counts.

Lower on the river, the scene for kings was quieter. In early June the Alaska Department of Fish and Game had ordered the emergency closure of the Kenai River to king salmon fishing. While the numbers had improved and the river had been reopened, the run was far from hot.

During the closure, the neighboring Kasilof River had absorbed much of the pressure. With the Kenai again open, traffic had returned to normal. Drift boats, almost all of them guided, quietly slid through favorite holes picking up a king or two, as well as the occasional jack.

By the weekend, the road into the Russian River was clogged with vehicles waiting for a parking spot as red counts continued to improve.

And all this late June activity is but the start: the real hoards won't arrive until the coming of the second run in July.