Kenai River Fishing Is An Angler’s Dream Come True
Do you love fishing? Have you heard of the Kenai River in Alaska? Kenai River fishing is an angler’s dream come true, truly the mother 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.
Starting in May, continuing through mid-October, the Kenai Peninsula, just three hours south of Anchorage, offers a smorgasbord of fishing adventures you won’t soon forget.
Among the salmon varieties found are King, Sockeye, Silver and Red, with two runs each year. In addition to record-sized salmon, Kenai River fishing offers Steelhead, Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.
If you love fishing, the Kenai River peninsula is heaven on earth. The largest salmon ever caught in the world was a 97-pound King Salmon, in 1985. Enthusiastic fishermen flock to the Kenai Peninsula, hoping to best this record. A typical catch is forty pounds! It doesn’t 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’ll want to be fishing now, as the Red variety is the king of smoked salmon. Reds are also highly prized for the grill, as well as canning.
Also running in mid-June and mid-July are the King salmon. While other rivers in Alaska yield more fish, the King salmon of the Kenai river are known for their great size. A typical 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 August and another in late September. The larger catches are usually found in the September run.
If all of this isn’t enough to whet your appetite, the Kenai River yields trophy sized Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout.
Your vacation plans should include a visit to Cook’s Inlet for a deep-sea excursion of Kachemak and Resurrection Bays, where the giant bottom-dwelling halibut live. An Alaskan record-sized halibut of 466 pounds was caught in Kachemak Bay!
Drive just 30 miles from Kenai to Clam Gulch, a popular destination for clamming. Razor clams are abundant here. As the name implies, their shells are sharp, so be careful! Best digging times are when the tide is at minus two feet or lower. Check with the Department of Fish and Game for local limits.
As you might guess, accommodations are plentiful in the area along the Kenai River. You’ll find fully furnished cabins all along the river, with excellent guided fishing tours. Travelers come from all over the world to experience a Kenai River fishing vacation.
Be sure you book ahead! It’s an experience you won’t forget. Bon Appetit!

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