Fishing The Kenai River in Alaska

Do you like fishing?  Have you heard of the Kenai River in Alaska?  Kenai River fishing is an angler’s fantasy, actually the ma lode of salmon fishing.  The river runs a spectacular 82 miles, from Kenai Lake in southern Alaska to the Pacific ocean, at Cook’s Inlet.  

Beginning in May, continuing thru mid-October, the Kenai Peninsula, just three hours south of port, offers a smorgasbord of fishing adventures you won’t soon forget.  

Among the salmon varieties found are King, Sockeye, Silver and Red, with 2 runs every year.  In addition to record-sized salmon, Kenai River fishing offers Steelhead, Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.  

If you adore fishing, the Kenai River headland is heaven on earth.  The largest salmon ever caught in the world was a 97-pound King Salmon, in 1985.  Keen fishermen head to the Kenai Peninsula, looking to best this record.  A standard catch is forty pounds!  It does not get much better than that.  

Here’s a rundown of the Kenai River fishing season, to help you plan your vacation!  

around the middle of June, there’s one run of the Red Blueback salmon, followed by another in the middle of July.  If you like smoked salmon, you will want to be fishing now, as the Red variety is the king of smoked salmon.  Reds are also highly valued for the grill, as well as canning.  

Also running in mid-June and mid-July are the Chinook salmon.  While other rivers in Alaska yield more fish, the King salmon of the Kenai brook are renowned for their huge size.  A normal catch in the second run is 40-50 pounds.  Don’t be surprised to net a King of a larger size!  

Kenai River fishing offers two runs of Silver salmon, one in early Aug and another in late Sep.  The larger catches are usually found in the Sep run.  

If all of this isn’t enough to whet your appetite, the Kenai River yields trophy sized rainbow trout and dolly varden.  

Your vacation plans should include a trip to Cook’s Inlet for a saltwater fishing excursion to Kachemak and Resurrection Bays, where the huge bottom-dwelling halibut live.  The Alaskan record halibut which weighed in at 466 pounds was caught in Kachemak Bay!  

Drive just thirty miles from Kenai to Clam Gulch, a popular destination for clamming.  Razor clams are abundant here.  As the name implies, their shells are pointy, so be careful!  Best digging times are when the tide is at minus two feet or lower.  Check with the dep. of Fish and Game for local boundaries.  

As you might guess, accommodations are bounteous in the area along the Kenai River.  You’ll find fully furnished cabins all along the river, with wonderful guided fishing tours.  Visitors come from all around the planet to sample a Kenai River fishing vacation.  Be certain you book ahead!  It’s an experience you will not forget.  Bon Appetit!

This article was written by Richard Codd, a lifelong angler who has fished on some of the finest rivers and lakes in the world. He writes for a well known fishing blog (www.bass-fishing.com) on the subject of Bass Fishing.