Alaskans try to pack in as many outdoor activities as they can during the short summer season, and that includes fishing. Summer is a whirlwind of non-stop fishing.
The springtime and beginning of summer bring out aggressive and hungry trout and Dolly Varden (char). These catch-and-release fish can be taken on the fly or spinning gear.
The first salmon to arrive in our rivers are the mighty king (Chinook) salmon. These brutes are available from mid May until the end of July.
The first week of June brings red (sockeye) salmon. These are the most abundant of our salmon. We fish for these spunky fish until mid August, depending on fish counts. As the reds slow down, the silver (coho) salmon are making their way up river. Fall shows it face by the end of August, and we are in full swing for these acrobatic salmon.
As September arrives there is a chill in the air, and the leaves are turning vibrant colors of yellow and orange. This is the “World Cup” of trophy trout and Dolly fishing as they engorge themselves on eggs provided by the now spawning salmon.
- May 15-June 11: King Salmon
- June 11-July 1: Sockeye Salmon, Trout, Char and King Salmon
- July 1-August 1: King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Trout and Char
- August 1- Sept 1: Sockeye Salmon, Silver Salmon, Trout and Char
- Sept 1-Oct 30: Silver Salmon, Trout, Char and Steelhead (Trout)
Fish Species
Alaska Rainbow Trout & Dolly Varden (Char) Fishing
Trout fishing in Alaska can happen all summer long, with especially heavy trout traffic during salmon spawning. Trout rush in to feed on the eggs of salmon, and often anglers will accidentally catch a trout while fishing for salmon. The Kenai River is known for its abundance of large and healthy rainbow trout. A hefty one can weigh in at 10 pounds, but trophy Kenai trout can weigh up to 18+.
Season: June through October
Alaska Silver Salmon (Coho) Fishing
Fall is a great time for silver salmon fishing in Alaska. The silvers (coho) start coming in to the Kenai and Kasilof rivers around late July and early August, and they run through September. Silvers are an acrobatic and lively fish and weigh in anywhere from 6 to 18 pounds.
Season: late July/early August through September
Alaska Red Salmon (Sockeye) Fishing
Red (sockeye) salmon are the popular fish in the salmon group. Sockeye salmon fishing in Alaska is an exciting sport with these hard-fighters coming in large numbers around June through mid-August. Red salmon usually weigh between 6 and 12 pounds and are prized for their bright orange flesh. Their bodies will turn a brilliant red as they head upriver to their spawning grounds
Season: June through mid-August
Alaska King Salmon (Chinook) Fishing
The king (Chinook) salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon, and of course the Kenai River claims 8 out of the top 10 record kings! While Chinook salmon average 10 to 50 pounds, Kenai River salmon average about 37 pounds. Kings are succulent fish that can range in color from white to pink to deep red, and they are worth the fight.
Season: mid-May through July
Alaska Steelhead Fishing
The steelhead trout is one of the most challenging and fascinating fish when it comes to Alaska fishing. They come in smaller numbers and are a bit wary, making them more elusive and a bit more difficult to catch, not to mention their incredible fighting abilities. The steelhead is a rainbow trout that leaves freshwater as a juvenile and spends much of its life in the ocean before migrating back to its home waters.
Season: spring, fall
