You came to Homer for halibut. Good call. But halibut is only half of Alaska fishing. About an hour and a half up the road, the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers fill with sockeye and silver salmon every summer, rainbow trout gorge on salmon eggs in the fall, and across Cook Inlet brown bears fish their own salmon runs. If you are already on the Kenai Peninsula, don't fly home without spending a day on a river.
Our sister company Kenai Sportfishing guides the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers out of Soldotna, and the rest of our family of companies covers bear viewing, lodging and gear.
- Where: Soldotna, about 75 miles (roughly 1.5 hours) north of Homer
- Guided Kenai River: $300 full day (about 7 hours) or $250 3/4 day (about 5 hours), all gear included
- Guided Kasilof River: $300 full day (about 7 hours) by drift boat
- Kenai sockeye peak: usually the last week of July
- Bear viewing fly-outs: from $650 per seat, about 6 hours
Plan your river day with Kenai SportfishingBook your Homer halibut charter
Why a river day belongs on your Alaska trip
A halibut day is big water and heavy tackle. A river day is a different kind of Alaska: a guide boat or a gravel bar, glacial turquoise water, and salmon fresh from the ocean. Many of the salmon we troll for in Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet are on their way to these very rivers.
The numbers are hard to believe until you see them. The Kenai River sockeye run brings between 750,000 and several million fish into the river each year, and at the peak the daily fish counts regularly top 100,000. The International Game Fish Association world-record sockeye, 15 pounds 3 ounces, was caught on the Kenai on August 9, 1987. Then come the silvers and the fall rainbow trout, with bald eagles overhead, moose along the banks and volcanoes on the horizon.
What's running, and when
Kenai Sportfishing's trip seasons and best dates for each river. Runs vary from year to year, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game can change any season by emergency order.
| River | Fish | Season | Best dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai | Sockeye (red) salmon | Jul 1 – Aug 20 | Jul 15 – Aug 16; peak week usually Jul 23–29 |
| Kenai | Silver (coho) salmon, early run | Aug 1 – Aug 31 | Aug 15 – Aug 30 |
| Kenai | Silver (coho) salmon, late run | Sep 1 – Sep 30 | Sep 12 – Sep 25 |
| Kenai | Rainbow trout (catch-and-release) | Aug 8 – Sep 30 | Mid-August on |
| Kenai | Pink salmon | Even-numbered years only | Late summer |
| Kenai | King salmon, early run* | May 15 – Jun 30 | Jun 4 – Jun 22 |
| Kenai | King salmon, late run* | Jul 1 – Jul 31 | Jul 13 – Jul 31 |
| Kasilof | King salmon, early run | May 15 – Jun 30 | May 15 – Jun 11 |
| Kasilof | King salmon, late run | Jul 1 – Jul 31 | Jul 13 – Jul 31 |
| Kasilof | Sockeye (red) salmon | Jun 14 – Aug 27 | Jun 23 – Aug 12 |
| Kasilof | Silver (coho) salmon | Aug 1 – Sep 30 | Aug 15 – Sep 15 |
| Kasilof | Rainbow trout & steelhead | Jun 11 – Sep 30 | Aug 15 – Sep 30 |
* Kenai River kings are open by standard regulation, but in recent seasons the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed them by emergency order before the season. Check before you book.
Day-by-day detail: Kenai River run timing and Kasilof River run timing from Kenai Sportfishing.
The Kenai River: Alaska's famous salmon river
The Kenai runs right through the middle of Soldotna. In July it is sockeye time: the run is so big that when the river is full of fish, a 3/4-day trip is usually enough to catch your limit. Book Kenai River sockeye salmon charters for the last week of July if you can.
From August the silvers arrive in two runs, the first peaking in the third week of August and a second in September with fish that are typically even larger, while the fall colors light up the riverbanks. See Kenai River silver salmon charters. From August 8 the guides break out lighter rods for catch-and-release Kenai River rainbow trout fishing, when the trout are feeding on salmon eggs.
Guided Kenai River trips with Kenai Sportfishing
- May 15 to September 30: a full day (about 7 hours) for $300 per person, or a 3/4 day (about 5 hours) for $250. Plus sales tax.
- Included: the boat and your guide, rods and reels, waders and boots, bait, flies and tackle, and filleting of your catch.
- Up to 5 guests per boat (a river regulation), with enough boats for big groups. First-timers and families welcome.
- Trips meet at the Pillars Boat Launch on Silver Salmon Drive, off the Kenai Spur Highway between Soldotna and Kenai.
See guided Kenai River fishing chartersKenai and Kasilof charter prices
The Kasilof River: quieter water, earlier kings
Just south of Soldotna, the Kasilof is the Kenai's quieter neighbor: a drift-boat river with no motorboat traffic, much of it through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
Its standout is a hatchery king salmon run, which the Kenai doesn't have. Hatchery kings return in late May and early June, one of the earliest king fisheries on the peninsula, and Kasilof kings commonly weigh 20 to 40 pounds (open most years, when ADF&G opens the fishery). There is also a steelhead run, one long sockeye run from mid-June, and fall silvers.
- Full day only: about 7 hours, $300 per person, all gear included (no 3/4-day trips on the Kasilof).
- Trips meet at the Kasilof State Recreation Area, about 10 miles south of Soldotna.
- Early in the season (May 15 to June 10), Kenai Sportfishing pairs a Homer halibut day with a Kasilof day rather than the Kenai.
See Kasilof River fishing tripsKasilof River king salmon charters
Bears and salmon in one day
The one other thing you shouldn't miss: a bear viewing fly-out. Kenai Sportfishing flies de Havilland Beaver floatplanes from the Kenai Airport float plane basin to remote lakes across Cook Inlet, where you watch brown bears fish for salmon from the guide boat, then fish yourself.
- Big River Lakes bear viewing (near Wolverine Creek): June 10 to August 31, best bear viewing June 15 to July 31. $650 per seat, or $575 per person when your group books the whole plane (up to 6 guests; weight limits apply). From the boat you can expect to get as close as 30 feet to the bears.
- Crescent Lake in Lake Clark National Park: July 15 to September 30, best through September 15. $750 per seat, $675 for a full plane, plus a $12 per person park fee. The flight crosses mountains and glaciers.
- Chinitna Bay, early season: a beach landing past active volcanoes and glaciers, $550 per person, booked by phone.
Big River Lakes and Crescent Lake trips take about 6 hours: about 40 minutes of flight each way and about 4 hours on the lake. Flights leave at 7:00, 8:30 and 10:00 AM and at 12:00, 1:30 and 3:00 PM, so a fly-out fits around a river day. Fishing gear is included; bring your own food, as lunch isn't provided.
Staying in Homer? Our sister company Luxury Homer Adventures offers bear viewing from Homer, including the Brooks Falls day trip into Katmai National Park (June 26 to August 5), which flies from Homer with their Homer partner, Emerald Air Service, plus Kenai departures to Big River Lakes, Crescent Lake, Chinitna Bay and Tuxedni Bay. Flying depends on the weather, so book your bear day early in your stay to leave a spare day.
Bear viewing prices and datesBear viewing fly-outs from Kenai
Where to stay: on the river, or on the Spit
On the Kenai: Kenai Riverside Resort
Our sister company's Kenai River lodging in Soldotna all has private river access. Choose the all-inclusive Kenai Riverside Resort (heated canvas cabins about 10 minutes upstream of the Soldotna bridge, with meals, waders and fishing equipment, and fish processing and shipping services), the Kenai Riverside Cabins & Lodge, or the Kenai Riverside Suites, a walk from Soldotna's restaurants.
In Homer: Luxury Homer Adventures
Homer lodging from Luxury Homer Adventures: beachfront lodges on the sand of the Homer Spit, minutes on foot from the marina for your charter; Beluga Lake Retreats, where floatplanes take off and land all day; and Hilltop Overlooks above Kachemak Bay. From June 16 to October 1 they suggest splitting your stay between Homer and Kenai Riverside Resort. More options on our Homer lodging page.
Fishing on your own? Rent the gear in Soldotna
Much of the Kenai's sockeye and silver fishing is from the bank, at many public spots. Kenai Sportfishing's advice: take a guided day early in your trip; after that most anglers do well on their own.
Don't pack waders from home. Our sister company Alaska Boat Rental rents fishing gear in Soldotna:
- Waders, boots and a rod & reel: $60 for a day
- Waders and boots: $40 for a day
- Rod & reel: $20 for a day
Longer rentals cost less per day; add 6% sales tax. Tell them what you are fishing for and they hand you the right setup at pickup, at 33978 Johnsons Dr, Soldotna, the evening before your first day. (They no longer rent boats.)
Fishing license: visitors 16 or older (Alaska residents 18 or older) need an Alaska sport fishing license. Buy it online from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; king salmon also need a King Salmon Stamp. Check ADF&G's emergency orders before you fish. More in our Alaska fishing license guide.
Plan a halibut and salmon trip
Soldotna is about 75 miles north of Homer on the Sterling Highway, roughly an hour and a half by car, and about 2.5 hours from Anchorage. The best times for both: late July for Kenai sockeye, or August and September for silvers, with halibut out of Homer at its best from June 1 to September 15.
The two halves book separately: the river day with Kenai Sportfishing, the halibut day with us. Book them together through Kenai Sportfishing and both get 5% off: a full day on the Kenai ($300) and a full-day halibut charter with Homer Halibut Hunters ($400) come to $665 per person, plus sales tax. Details on the Kenai River and Homer halibut combo page.
A sample four days in late July
- Day 1, the Kenai River. Drive down from Anchorage to Soldotna and fish an afternoon 3/4-day sockeye trip.
- Day 2, bears. Morning fly-out to Big River Lakes from the Kenai float plane basin: bears from the boat, then salmon. Spend the evening on the riverbank with rented gear.
- Day 3, the river again. A full day on the Kenai or the Kasilof, then drive south to Homer, about an hour and a half.
- Day 4, halibut. Meet us at the Homer Harbor (generally 6:30 AM) for a 3/4-day ($350) or full-day ($400) halibut charter.
Early season: swap in the Kasilof and Chinitna Bay. Fall: silvers, trout and Crescent Lake. Want salmon without leaving Homer? Our Halibut & Salmon combo adds salmon trolling to a halibut day; see all charter prices.
Book your Homer halibut charterKenai River and Homer halibut combo
River fishing questions
Can I fish for king salmon on the Kenai River?
Kenai River kings are open by standard regulation (early run May 15 to June 30, late run July 1 to 31), but in recent seasons ADF&G has closed them by emergency order before the season, so check before you book. Kasilof River kings are open most years, and when ADF&G opens them Kenai Sportfishing runs Kasilof king trips early in the season.
Do I need a guide to fish the Kenai River?
Not for sockeye, which you can catch at many public spots. A guided day first teaches you the setup, and Alaska Boat Rental rents the waders and rods in Soldotna.
How far is the Kenai River from Homer?
Soldotna, on the Kenai River, is about 75 miles north of Homer, roughly an hour and a half by car. Kasilof trips meet about 10 miles south of Soldotna.
Do I need a fishing license to fish the rivers?
Yes: visitors 16 or older (Alaska residents 18 or older) need one, plus a King Salmon Stamp for kings. See our Alaska fishing license guide.
Can I book halibut and river fishing together?
Yes. Book a Kenai River day and a Homer Halibut Hunters halibut day together through Kenai Sportfishing and both get 5% off ($665 per person for a full day of each, plus tax). See the Kenai River and Homer halibut combo.
When is the best time for a halibut and salmon trip?
Late July for Kenai sockeye, or August and September for silvers; halibut is best June 1 to September 15.
Can I see bears on the same trip?
Yes. Fly-outs from Kenai take about 6 hours and leave several times a day. From Homer, the Brooks Falls day trip into Katmai National Park flies with Luxury Homer Adventures' Homer partner, Emerald Air Service.
More answers in the Kenai Sportfishing FAQ.
Don't leave Alaska without fishing a river
Halibut in Homer, salmon on the Kenai and Kasilof, bears across the inlet: one trip, one family of local companies.
Kenai River tripsKasilof River tripsBear viewingBook halibut