From Russia with love

One of the largest tourist attractions in Alaska is also one of the biggest attractants for another species -- bears.

The Russian River is world famous for its spectacular runs of sockeye salmon, bringing anglers from around the world to the beaches to fish side-by-side with other anglers. And bears. Just last month, a mauling took place at the Russian River Campground's Grayling parking lot, but even that news didn't keep anglers from returning during the peak of the sockeye run.

"Look at how many people are here and think of how many man hours there are with one mauling," Kenai angler Greg Thomas said two weeks ago. "The odds are incredibly small. Just because it happened once doesn't mean it's going to happen again."

State officials closed the river to fishing during the evening hours as a result, but still, it remains one of the most populated fishing spots in the state.

"You know there are going to be a lot of people here before you come, but it's just the best fishing spot in the world, and you put up with other people," said Tom Schlott of Soldotna. "If you are coming out here to get away from everyone else, you're coming to the wrong spot. But if you want to catch reds, you better be here."

The Russian River, while being a wildly popular spot, also happens to be one of the most beautiful locales in Alaska. From the Russian River Campground, it is a short hike to the mouth on the boardwalk. The sanctuary opens for fishing after the escapement goals are met, and the accessibility to the mouth of the river is unmatched by other popular fishing spots.

There, reds stack up in holes, providing dinner for successful anglers and bruins.

Almost every day, anglers will see brown bears playing in the water and catching fish. Even if you only come with your camera and no fishing rod, you'll come away with a successful trip.

"I shot a bunch of rolls of film of them," said Billie Green, who was vacationing in Alaska from Tallahassee, Fla. Two Mondays ago, she got the opportunity to see a sow and three cubs playing in the river, not more than 200 yards from one of the most congested fishing holes on the river.

"We don't see too many grizzlies at home," she said sarcastically. "They are imposing, even from this far away."

From the campground, another spectacular view can be had following a two-mile hike upstream.

The Russian River Falls is a breathtaking spot for hikers and anglers. The spawning sockeye salmon provide lots of color in the water, and the ferocity of the falls can be heard before you ever even see them. While the Russian River gets its reputation from the sockeye, some anglers swear by the river for a different species.

"It's some of the best trout fishing you'll find in the entire world," said Brian Freedle of Wasilla. "I've fished in Bristol Bay, and I'll take the upper Russian River over it. You can walk in and the trout are just feasting. It's a ton of fun, and you don't have to fight all the people down at the mouth like you do for reds."

Just as down at the mouth, caution should be taken when hiking upstream because of the large bear population.

The Russian River Campground is a popular access point for people getting to the river. There are 84 sites at the U.S. Forest Service-run campground. The campground fills up early during the sockeye run, and usually stays filled through mid-August.

The Russian River Ferry, a few miles south of the campground on the Sterling Highway, is another good way to access the river.

The ferry takes anglers to the other side of the Kenai River, where they can walk a short distance to the mouth of the Russian River.