September on the Kenai Peninsula is for late-run silvers and trophy rainbow trout, with the fewest people of the summer. Late-run Kenai silvers run September 1 to September 30, the trout fishing is best mid-August to October 1, and Homer halibut fishing stays good to the middle of the month (May 15 to September 30 is the season). Our Kenai and Kasilof river season (May 15 to September 30) ends with the month, so September is the last chance to book a river day.
- September 1 to September 30late-run Kenai silvers
- mid-August to October 1best trophy rainbow trout fishing
- mid-August to mid-Septemberbest Kasilof silvers
- July 15 to September 15best Crescent Lake bear viewing
- Our trip season
- Usual counting season
- Middle half of the run
- Peak week
- Halfway day
- Our guides' dates (no count)
- Our best dates
- Late run of a two-run count
- Closed most recent years
- Our Kenai River tripstripsMay 15 to September 30
- Kenai River sockeyecountPeak week Jul 23–Jul 29 (23% of the run); halfway Jul 23–Aug 3 in most years
- Kenai king, early runcountSeason May 15 to June 30; closed most recent years; we fish them when open
- Kenai king, late runcountClosed most recent years; we fish them when open
- Russian River sockeye, early runcountPeak week Jun 20–Jun 26 (30% of the run); halfway Jun 24–Jun 28 in most years
- Russian River sockeye, late runcountPeak week Aug 4–Aug 10 (22% of the run); halfway Aug 6–Aug 11 in most years
- Russian River silvers (coho)countPeak week Aug 27–Sep 2 (35% of the run); halfway Aug 24–Aug 31 in most years
- Kenai silvers, early runour datesAugust 1 to August 31
- Kenai silvers, late runour datesSeptember 1 to September 30
- Rainbow trout tripsour datesAugust 8 to September 30, catch-and-release; best mid-August to October 1
- Our trip season
- Usual counting season
- Middle half of the run
- Peak week
- Halfway day
- Our guides' dates (no count)
- Our best dates
- Our Kasilof River tripstripsMay 15 to September 30, all full-day drift boat trips
- Kings (when ADF&G opens)our datesMay 15 to June 30; best May 15 to June 11
- King count at Crooked CreekcountCounted at a tributary weir: not every Kasilof king
- Sockeye tripsour datesfrom June 11, through the run (its usual last counted day, Aug 14)
- Kasilof River sockeyecountPeak week Jul 16–Jul 22 (20% of the run); halfway Jul 17–Jul 20 in most years
- Silversour datesAugust 1 to September 30, best mid-August to mid-September
- Steelhead and troutour datesAugust 10 to September 30, catch-and-release
What’s running in September
September is the month the Kenai Peninsula slows down. The sockeye are done, the king season is long over, and the silvers and the big rainbows have the river to themselves. The crowds that fill the banks in July are gone. Here is what we fish for.
- Late-run Kenai silvers. The late run is September 1 to September 30. These are bright, strong fish that fight hard on a drift and take lures and bait. Silvers are the reason most guests book September.
- Trophy rainbow trout. Trout trips run August 8 to September 30, and the best fishing is mid-August to October 1. By September the rainbows are feeding on salmon eggs and flesh, and they are fat. Every trout goes back to the river.
- Kasilof silvers. The Kasilof’s silvers are best mid-August to mid-September. If you came for a September silver day, the Kasilof is the other river to think about.
- Kasilof steelhead and trout. Steelhead trips start August 10, and they are in full swing in the fall. They are catch-and-release. See the Kasilof trout and steelhead trips.
- Pink salmon, in even-numbered years. Spawned-out pinks are a second meal for the trout, and the trout fishing in a pink year can be very good.
- Crescent Lake bears. The fly-out season is July 15 to September 30, and the best bear viewing runs July 15 to September 15. Bears are fishing the lake streams, with the mountains in fall color behind them.
- Homer halibut. The best window ends in the middle of September (June 1 to September 15).
Kenai kings are not part of our September, or of any month we can promise. King salmon are in trouble around the world, and Alaska hasn't been spared. Most rivers across the state are closed to kings each year as the season approaches, because returns are projected to stay low, and we don't expect that to change soon. When we can fish for kings, we do; when we can't, we target sockeye and the other species in season.
What's biting, month by month "best" marks the month with the peak week (counted runs) or the best dates (our guides)
May
- Early days: ask us
June
- Russian River sockeye (early run) best
July
- Sockeye best
- Russian River sockeye (early run)
August
- Sockeye
- Silvers
- Rainbow trout best
September
- Silvers
- Rainbow trout best
Why September trout are worth waiting for. A trout that has spent the summer behind sockeye, then kings and pinks, is at its heaviest in the fall. This is when the Kenai’s biggest rainbows come to the boat. ADF&G sets the seasons, so check the current regulations and emergency orders before you plan around a date. Our trout trips are catch-and-release, so handle the fish wet and return it quickly.
Where we fish it
The Kenai River. Most Kenai trips meet at the Pillars Boat Launch. For fall trout trips we sometimes meet at Bing’s Landing instead, and your confirmation tells you where. Power boats (50 hp) run the lower and middle river. The middle river is where the trout hold once salmon eggs start drifting down.
The Kasilof River. All our Kasilof trips are full-day drift boat trips (Every Kasilof trip is a drift-boat float, and a good part of it runs through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.) at $300 per person. A drift boat floats the river with the current and stops at the runs where silvers and steelhead hold.
Crescent Lake. Bear fly-outs leave from the Kenai Airport float plane basin. Arrive 30 minutes early. Our Crescent Lake bear tours are a good day off the river, and our fly-in fishing trips put a rod in your hand too.
Homer. Halibut trips leave from the top of Ramp 6 in Homer Harbor. Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time.
How we fish it
Silvers. We fish them from the boat with lures and bait. Our guide to how to fish for silver salmon explains the methods.
Trout. Trout get beads and egg patterns drifted at the depth they hold. We keep the boat quiet and the drift long. Our rainbow trout fishing guide covers the rigs, and the Kenai River trout trip page lists the details. We net the fish in the water and release it.
Steelhead. Catch-and-release on the Kasilof, fished from the drift boat and the bank.
Waders and boots are provided on river trips. We fit you at our Johnsons Drive office when we can. No rain gear is provided on any trip, so bring your own.
Rain changes the river. Fall rain can raise and cloud the water. A rising, muddy river slows the bite for a day or two, then it clears and the fish bite again. If your dates are open, tell us. If a storm is forecast, we pick the river that is fishing best.
Trips to book in September
Kenai River silver salmon
$300 full day or $250 3/4 day, per person. Late-run silvers September 1 to September 30.
Kenai River trout
Trophy rainbows, catch-and-release. Trips August 8 to September 30, best mid-August to October 1.
Kasilof silver and trout combo
$300 per person, full-day drift boat. Silvers best mid-August to mid-September.
Crescent Lake bears
From $750 a seat. Best viewing July 15 to September 15. See the bear viewing prices.
| Trip | Price per person | September note |
|---|---|---|
| Kenai silvers | $300 full, $250 3/4 day | late run September 1 to September 30 |
| Kenai trout | see the trip page | best mid-August to October 1 |
| Kasilof silvers | $300 full day | best mid-August to mid-September |
| Kasilof trout and steelhead | $300 full day | catch-and-release |
| Homer halibut | from $350 | best window ends mid-month |
Book two or more trips and you get 5% off all of them, except bear fly-outs. A day of silvers on the Kenai plus a Homer halibut day is a common pairing. See the Homer halibut charter prices.
Homer halibut in September
Homer’s season is May 15 to September 30, and the best window ends in the middle of September (June 1 to September 15). The big change is the meeting time: Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time. Check the time we send you.
Halibut limits are set every year by NOAA Fisheries and the International Pacific Halibut Commission, and the crew goes over the current limits on your trip. Our shore staff process your fish for $2.99 a pound, and river fish for $3.50 a pound.
Weather, daylight and what to pack
September is cooler, wetter and darker than July. Mornings can be frosty. The days still give you a full day on the water, but they shorten fast through the month, which is why Homer meeting times move later. Fall color is at its best on the hillsides and the tundra, and it is a good month for photographs.
Pack:
- Warm base layers, a fleece and a warm hat and gloves.
- Your own rain gear. We don’t provide any, on any trip.
- Waterproof boots or shoes for the walk to the boat. Waders and boots are provided on river trips.
- Food, water and snacks. Read what to bring and where to meet.
- An Alaska sport fishing license if you are 16 or older. See our license guide.
Kids are welcome. There is no minimum age, and kids 8 and up usually do best, especially in cold fall weather.
Early vs late September
Early September is the tail of the best Homer halibut window, the Kasilof silvers at their best, and the bears still active at Crescent Lake. Late September is for trout, steelhead and the last silvers, and the river is quiet. Our Kenai trips run May 15 to September 30, so if you want the last days of the season, call us early.
What comes next: ice fishing
When the rivers go quiet, we run ice fishing trips from December 20 to March 15. If you can’t make September, that is the next way to fish with us. Otherwise, plan next year: the dates in July fill first.
← Previous month: Alaska fishing in August · The full fishing calendar · Next: ice fishing
Pick a date: Kenai River from $250, Kasilof from $300 per person
Homer halibut and bear viewing are on their own pages, linked above. Questions? Call (907) 268-2925. See the cancellation policy.
Questions about fishing Alaska in September
Is September a good month to fish in Alaska?
Yes, for silvers and big rainbow trout, and with the fewest people of the summer. Late-run Kenai silvers run September 1 to September 30 and trout fishing is best mid-August to October 1. It is cooler and wetter, so pack warm layers and your own rain gear.
When do silver salmon run on the Kenai River in September?
The late run is September 1 to September 30. On the Kasilof, silvers run August 1 to September 30 and are best mid-August to mid-September.
When is the best time for trophy rainbow trout on the Kenai?
mid-August to October 1, when the trout feed on salmon eggs. Our trout trips run August 8 to September 30 and every fish is released.
Is there king salmon fishing on the Kenai in September?
No. King salmon are in trouble around the world, and Alaska hasn't been spared. Most rivers across the state are closed to kings each year as the season approaches, because returns are projected to stay low, and we don't expect that to change soon. When we can fish for kings, we do; when we can't, we target sockeye and the other species in season. Check the current ADF&G regulations and emergency orders.
Can you fish for steelhead on the Kasilof in September?
Yes. Our Kasilof steelhead and trout trips start August 10, are full-day drift boat trips at $300 per person, and are catch-and-release.
Is halibut fishing in Homer still good in September?
Yes, though the best window ends in the middle of the month (June 1 to September 15). The season is May 15 to September 30. Meeting times move later as the mornings get dark: Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time.
Can you see bears in September?
Yes. Crescent Lake bear fly-outs run July 15 to September 30, and the best viewing runs July 15 to September 15.
What should I wear fishing in Alaska in September?
Warm layers, a hat and gloves, and your own rain gear. We don't provide rain gear on any trip. Waders and boots are provided on river trips.
Do you offer ice fishing after September?
Yes, from December 20 to March 15. See our ice fishing trips.