Spend a day on the river and a day with the bears. We are the only outfit on the Kenai Peninsula that owns and operates all four adventures: Kenai River fishing, Kasilof River fishing, bear fly-outs and Homer halibut fishing. A guided river day is $300 per person, and a bear fly-out is $650 to Big River Lakes or $750 to Crescent Lake. Book two or more trips and you get 5% off all of them.
- River daysKenai $300 full / $250 3/4 · Kasilof $300
- Bear fly-outsBig River Lakes $650 · Crescent $750
- 5% offwhen you book two or more trips
- Large groups welcomeup to 5 per boat, across many boats
Three easy combinations
Kenai River + Big River Lakes
A full day for salmon on the Kenai, a day with the bears.
$903 estimated, per person- $300 + $650 = $950, less 5%
- Best bear viewing at Big River Lakes: June 15 to July 31
Kasilof River + Big River Lakes
A quiet drift-boat day on the Kasilof, then the bears.
$903 estimated, per person- $300 + $650 = $950, less 5%
- Best bear viewing at Big River Lakes: June 15 to July 31
Kenai River + Crescent Lake
Salmon on the Kenai, then Lake Clark National Park.
$998 estimated, per person- $300 + $750 = $1,050, less 5%
- Best bear viewing at Crescent Lake: July 15 to September 15
These totals are estimates to get you close. Prices depend on the boat and the trip, so our crew follows up to confirm your dates and customize the package. Per person, rounded to the nearest dollar after the 5% discount; sales tax is extra.
Pick your season
What you fish and where the bears are depends on the date:
| Season | River day | Bear fly-out |
|---|---|---|
| Early season, to June 10 | Kasilof River (kings, when ADF&G opens the fishery) | Chinitna Bay, $550, by phone |
| Mid season, June 11 to July 10 | Kasilof or Kenai River sockeye | Big River Lakes, from June 10 |
| Peak season, July 11 to August 20 | Kenai River sockeye; we recommend a 3/4 day once the river fills with fish | Big River Lakes or Crescent Lake (from July 15) |
| Fall season, August 21 to September 30 | Kenai River silvers and trout; Kasilof silvers and steelhead | Big River Lakes through August 31; Crescent Lake through September 30 |
Big River Lakes and Crescent Lake fly-outs include bear viewing from our boat and, depending on the date, fishing for sockeye or silver salmon at the lake, so a bear day can be a fishing day too. See the Kenai River run timing for the best weeks.
More estimates
| Example | List prices | Estimated, with 5% off |
|---|---|---|
| Kenai River full day + Big River Lakes fly-out | $950 | $903 |
| Kenai River 3/4 day + Big River Lakes fly-out | $900 | $855 |
| Kenai River full day + Crescent Lake fly-out | $1,050 | $998 |
| Kasilof River full day + Big River Lakes fly-out | $950 | $903 |
| Kenai River full day + Homer full-day halibut + Big River Lakes fly-out | $1,350 | $1,283 |
Per person, estimated. Prices depend on the boat and the trip; our crew confirms and customizes every package. Rounded to the nearest dollar after the discount. Sales tax extra. Add a day of Homer halibut fishing ($400 full day) and the 5% applies to that too.
Meeting points
We run the trips; you bring yourself. That makes it easy if you’re traveling in an RV or staying in a hotel or a rental anywhere around Soldotna and Kenai:
- Kenai River: the Pillars Boat Launch, off the Kenai Spur Highway on Silver Salmon Drive, between Soldotna and Kenai.
- Kasilof River: the Kasilof State Recreation Area, about 10 miles south of Soldotna on the Sterling Highway.
- Bear fly-outs: the Kenai Airport float plane basin, with departures at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 AM and 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 PM.
How to book
You can book any single trip online. For the 5% multi-trip discount, send us the package request form, call (907) 268-2925 or email info@kenaisportfishing.com. We book packages by hand so we can put each day on the best fishing for your dates, and we usually answer the same day.
River days
Bear fly-outs, from the Kenai Airport float plane basin
Questions about fishing and bear viewing packages
Can I fish on a bear viewing trip?
Yes. On our Big River Lakes and Crescent Lake fly-outs we watch the bears from our boat and, depending on the date, fish for sockeye or silver salmon. You need an Alaska sport fishing license if you are 16 or older.
How much is a fishing and bear viewing package?
A Kenai River full day is $300 and a Big River Lakes fly-out is $650. Book both and you get 5% off, so the pair comes to an estimated $903 per person, plus sales tax. Our crew confirms the final price and customizes the package with you.
Do you offer a discount for booking more than one trip?
Yes: 5% off all your trips when you book two or more, bear fly-outs and Homer halibut included.
When is the best time for a fishing and bear trip?
The best bear viewing is June 15 to July 31 at Big River Lakes and July 15 to September 15 at Crescent Lake. In late July the Kenai's sockeye run is at its peak and both fly-outs are running.