Let’s go dippin’

It’s easy. You will need waders or hip boots and a hooligan dip net. You will also need a bucket and/or an ice chest and a tide book (tide books are free at most sporting goods stores), and a resident fishing license.

Then you wait for them to start running in.

In salt waters, hooligan may be taken from April 1 through May 31.

In fresh waters, hooligan may be taken from April 1 through June 15.

Here is a [link] to the Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game page describing the rules for dipnetting hooligan.

You will know when the run is coming in because there will be lines of cars parked along the inlet and at 20 mile river. In Kenai, the visitor center will be full of cars and you can see dipnetters lining the cat walks. I usually get my hooligan at 20 mile river right at the bridge, but when you are there at a heavy run they seem to be everywhere along the bank.

Do not be intimidated by the amount of people involved. There is room for you too. Just squeeze in there and be respectful,and have fun.