Kenai Peninsula Fishing Calendar: What Runs Each Month, May to September

• May 15 to September 30our Kenai and Kasilof river season
• Jul 23–Jul 29Kenai sockeye peak week
• August 1 to August 31early silvers; late run September 1 to September 30
• $300 / $300full day, Kenai / Kasilof, per person

• 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

MayJunJulAugSep

1. Our Kenai River tripstripsMay 15 to September 30
2. Kenai River sockeyecountPeak week Jul 23–Jul 29 (23% of the run); halfway Jul 23–Aug 3 in most years
3. Kenai king, early runcountSeason May 15 to June 30; closed most recent years; we fish them when open
4. Kenai king, late runcountClosed most recent years; we fish them when open
5. Russian River sockeye, early runcountPeak week Jun 20–Jun 26 (30% of the run); halfway Jun 24–Jun 28 in most years
6. Russian River sockeye, late runcountPeak week Aug 4–Aug 10 (22% of the run); halfway Aug 6–Aug 11 in most years
7. Russian River silvers (coho)countPeak week Aug 27–Sep 2 (35% of the run); halfway Aug 24–Aug 31 in most years
8. Kenai silvers, early runour datesAugust 1 to August 31
9. Kenai silvers, late runour datesSeptember 1 to September 30
10. 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

MayJunJulAugSep

1. Our Kasilof River tripstripsMay 15 to September 30, all full-day drift boat trips
2. Kings (when ADF&G opens)our datesMay 15 to June 30; best May 15 to June 11
3. King count at Crooked CreekcountCounted at a tributary weir: not every Kasilof king
4. Sockeye tripsour datesfrom June 11, through the run (its usual last counted day, Aug 14)
5. Kasilof River sockeyecountPeak week Jul 16–Jul 22 (20% of the run); halfway Jul 17–Jul 20 in most years
6. Silversour datesAugust 1 to September 30, best mid-August to mid-September
7. Steelhead and troutour datesAugust 10 to September 30, catch-and-release

The Kenai Peninsula fishing calendar at a glance

The peak weeks below are the typical window from the last 10 counted seasons of each run, and any one year can run a week or so early or late. Dates for our own trips and for the guides’ best windows come from us, not from a count.

Regulations, licences and why dates move

ADF&G sets the salmon and trout seasons, bag limits and gear rules, and it changes them by emergency order during the season when a run comes in strong or weak. The calendar here is how the runs usually behave, plus the dates we guide. Before any trip, check the current regulations and emergency orders, and read our Alaska fishing license guide. Anglers 16 and older need a licence, and a king salmon stamp if kings are open and you want to fish for them. Rainbow trout on our trips are catch-and-release.

Kenai kings: why we point you to the Kasilof

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.

When ADF&G opens the Kasilof to kings, that is where we fish for them; the best king fishing there is May 15 to June 11. The Kenai king counts, with the full history, are on our Kenai River run timing page.

Kenai Peninsula fishing in May

The full May guide, with photos →

May is the quiet month: our Kenai and Kasilof seasons open in the middle of it (May 15 to September 30), the days are already long, and you share the water with very few people. The big sockeye runs are weeks away. Until the sockeye arrive, our guests fish Kasilof kings and Homer trips for halibut, saltwater kings and rockfish. Read our Alaska fishing in May page for more on planning a spring trip.

What's running in May

• Kasilof kings, when ADF&G opens it. The run is May 15 to June 30 and the best fishing is May 15 to June 11. Kings are the main reason to be on the Kasilof in May.
• Homer halibut. The halibut season is May 15 to September 30, so the earliest trips start in late spring. The best Homer halibut fishing comes later: June 1 to September 15.
• Saltwater kings and rockfish. Our Homer boats fish for both in May.
• Beach halibut. Our beach halibut trips run May 15 to August 31.
• Kenai River. Nothing we count is running yet. We have no Kenai king trip to sell you in May. See the king note above.

Where to fish in May

The Kasilof River, fished by drift boat, is the one river to be on. In Homer, the boats fish Kachemak Bay and out toward Cook Inlet. Trout are spawning in spring, so leave rainbows on their beds alone and wait for the fall trout fishing.

How we fish it

On the Kasilof we back-troll plugs and fish bait for kings from the drift boat. Every Kasilof trip is a drift-boat float, and a good part of it runs through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Our guide to how to fish for king salmon covers the method.

Trips to book in May

• Kasilof River king salmon trips: full day, $300 per person, drift boat. Open only when ADF&G opens the season.
• Homer halibut charters and beach halibut trips.

Weather and daylight

Long days and cool mornings. Dress in layers, with a rain shell. The weather is the least settled of the season, so leave a spare day if you can.

A tip from the guides

If a Kasilof king bite is on, it is a morning bite. Plan on an early start rather than a long lunch break.

Kenai River fishing in June

The full June guide, with photos →

June is when the sockeye begin. The Kasilof’s king fishing runs into early June and then the sockeye take over there, starting June 11. On the Kenai, the first sockeye are pushing up the river, and the early Russian River run peaks Jun 20–Jun 26. Homer halibut and bear flights are both under way.

What's running in June

• Kasilof kings, when open. Best fishing May 15 to June 11, then the river turns to sockeye.
• Kasilof sockeye. Trips start June 11. The run is counted from Jun 15, and a quarter of it has passed by Jul 6 in a usual year.
• Kenai River sockeye. June sockeye in the Kenai are the early run, headed for the Russian River. The main Kenai run is counted from Jul 1.
• Russian River sockeye, early run. Peak week Jun 20–Jun 26.
• Kenai kings. Not a trip we count on. See the king note above.
• Homer halibut. Inside the best window (June 1 to September 15).
• Bear viewing. Big River Lakes flights run June 10 to August 31, with the best viewing June 15 to July 31.

Where to fish in June

The Kasilof by drift boat, the Kenai from the Pillars Boat Launch toward the lower river, where sockeye travel close to the bank, and the upper Kenai by drift boat for the Russian River early run. In Homer, Kachemak Bay. Kenai River trout fishing opens June 11, and trout fishing is closed until then. Our own rainbow trips are in the fall and run August 8 to September 30.

How we fish it

Sockeye don’t chase lures the way kings and silvers do, so on both rivers we fish for them with flies and rigs set where the fish travel, close to the bottom along the bank. Our sockeye fishing guide explains it step by step.

Trips to book in June

• Kasilof sockeye trips: full day, $300 per person.
• Kenai River sockeye trips: $300 for a full day, $250 for a 3/4 day.
• Homer halibut and Big River Lakes bear tours.

Weather and daylight

June has the longest days of the year, with light through most of the night. It is usually dry and mild by Alaska standards. Rain still comes, so bring a shell.

A tip from the guides

Our best June fishing is Kasilof River sockeye from June 11; before that the Kasilof is kings only. On the Kenai the run is still building in June, so the full day gives the guide time to find fish.

Kenai River fishing in July

The full July guide, with photos →

July is the busiest month, and the best single month for Alaska fishing if sockeye are what you want. The Kenai’s main run peaks the week of Jul 23–Jul 29 (about 23% of the run in that one week), and half of it is past between Jul 23 and Aug 3 in most years. If you are searching for Alaska fishing in July, this is the month people mean. Book early.

What's running in July

• Kenai River sockeye. The heart of the run: peak week Jul 23–Jul 29.
• Kasilof sockeye. Peak week Jul 16–Jul 22; half the run is past by Jul 17–Jul 20.
• Russian River sockeye, late run. Counted from Jul 15, with its peak week Aug 4–Aug 10.
• Homer halibut. Prime time (June 1 to September 15).
• Bear viewing. Big River Lakes is in its best stretch (June 15 to July 31), and Crescent Lake flights start (July 15 to September 30).
• Trout. The trout feed on sockeye flesh as the salmon die, but our rainbow trips are in the fall (August 8 to September 30).

Where to fish in July

The Kenai from the Pillars Boat Launch is the main sockeye water, and the Kasilof is the alternative when you want a drift-boat day with fewer boats around. In Homer, Kachemak Bay is as busy as the rivers.

How we fish it

Same sockeye method as June, with more fish to find. Guests who want to catch fish on a fly rod, or keep the day relaxed, do well in July because the fish are everywhere. Our guide to choosing a Kenai River fishing guide explains what to ask.

Trips to book in July

• Kenai sockeye ($300 full day, $250 3/4 day) and Kasilof sockeye ($300 full day).
• Kenai River and Homer halibut combo: book more than one trip and you get 5% off all of them except bear fly-outs.
• Fishing and bear viewing packages.

Weather and daylight

Long days, the warmest weather of the year, and the most traffic on the river and in town. Mornings can still be cool on the water.

A tip from the guides

Late July is a popular week, and the best guides fill first. Pick your dates around the peak week above, and book months ahead.

Kenai River fishing in August

The full August guide, with photos →

August is the changeover. The sockeye run is winding down (the Kenai count has usually finished by Aug 19), the early silvers show up from August 1 to August 31, and the trout fishing starts August 8 to September 30. It is a good month to fish if you want silvers, which fight harder than sockeye.

What's running in August

• Kenai sockeye. The tail of the run. Late fish are darker and less bright, but still on the line.
• Kasilof sockeye. Its counted season usually ends around Aug 14.
• Silvers (coho). Early run August 1 to August 31 on the Kenai. Kasilof silver trips run August 1 to September 30. The Russian River silver count has peaked Aug 27–Sep 2.
• Rainbow trout. Our trout trips start August 8 to September 30 and the best fishing is mid-August to October 1. Steelhead on the Kasilof start August 10.
• Pinks, in even-numbered years. Our pink salmon trips make sense then.
• Halibut and bears. Homer halibut is still in its best window, and Big River Lakes flights run June 10 to August 31.

Where to fish in August

The lower and middle Kenai for silvers, the Kasilof for silvers and the first steelhead, and the middle river for trout once salmon eggs start drifting down.

How we fish it

Silvers hit lures and flies stripped fast and bait on a float. Trout feed under the spawning salmon, so we fish beads and flesh patterns near the bottom. Read how to fish for silver salmon and how to fish for rainbow trout.

Trips to book in August

• Kenai silver salmon trips and Kasilof silver salmon trips.
• Kenai rainbow trout trips and Kasilof rainbow trout trips.
• Sockeye and silver combo in the first days of the month.

Weather and daylight

Daylight is shortening fast and the nights are dark again. Cooler, with more rain than July.

A tip from the guides

Trout eat what the salmon give them. Early August is the flesh bite, then fish switch to eggs as the salmon spawn. If you are not sure which month, ask which food the trout are on.

Kenai River fishing in September

The full September guide, with photos →

September is the month for silvers and big rainbows, with the fewest people of the summer. Late-run silvers run September 1 to September 30, and the trout fishing is at its best (mid-August to October 1). Our Kenai and Kasilof seasons (May 15 to September 30) and our trout trips (August 8 to September 30) end with the month, so this is the last month to book.

What's running in September

• Late-run silvers. Kenai: September 1 to September 30. Kasilof: best mid-August to mid-September.
• Rainbow trout. Trophy rainbows feed on salmon eggs. The best fishing is mid-August to October 1.
• Kasilof steelhead and trout. Catch-and-release.
• Bears. Crescent Lake flights (July 15 to September 30) are in their prime (July 15 to September 15).
• Homer halibut. The best window runs to the middle of the month (June 1 to September 15).
• Pink salmon, in even-numbered years. The spawned-out pinks give trout a second meal.

Where to fish in September

The Kenai and the Kasilof for silvers, and the middle and lower Kenai for trout. Crescent Lake and Chinitna Bay for bears if you want a day away from the river.

How we fish it

Trout get beads and egg patterns drifted at the depth they hold, and every rainbow goes back. Silvers get the same lures and bait as August. Bring warmer layers.

Trips to book in September

• Kenai silvers and Kenai rainbow trout.
• Kasilof silver and trout combo.
• Crescent Lake bear tours, or fly-in fishing trips.

Weather and daylight

Fall colour, cooler days, frost in the mornings and more rain. Good rain gear and warm layers matter more now than any other month.

A tip from the guides

Fall rain changes the river, and a rising, muddy river can slow the bite for a day. Be flexible on your dates if you can.

Kenai River or Kasilof River: which is better each month?

Both rivers are close together on the western Kenai Peninsula and you can fish both on one visit. They fish differently: the Kenai is a big, glacial river that we fish from a boat anchored or drifted from the Pillars Boat Launch, and every Kasilof trip is a full-day drift-boat float.

Rule of thumb: June and July, fish the Kenai for the peak sockeye week and the Kasilof for kings in May or a quieter float. August and September, fish whichever has the better silver or trout dates for your week. Our Kenai charter prices and Kasilof River fishing pages have the rest.

Which month should you pick?

Want a fishing day with a bear-viewing flight? See our fishing and bear viewing packages. Not sure how to split days? Our fishing packages are a start. For gear and the meeting spot, read what to bring and where to meet. Looking for a guide near a particular town? See fishing guides in Soldotna, Kenai and Sterling.

Fishing outside May to September

Our river season runs May 15 to September 30, and the salmon rivers are quiet from October until spring. If you are here in winter, we run ice fishing trips from December 20 to March 15. Otherwise, plan for next year: the best dates, like July’s sockeye peak and the fall trout fishing, fill first, and booking early gets the dates you want.

Questions about the best time to fish the Kenai Peninsula

What is the best month to fish the Kenai River?

July for sockeye. The fish counts show the Kenai sockeye peak week is Jul 23–Jul 29. For silvers, pick August or September, and for trophy rainbow trout, mid-August to October 1.

When does Kenai River fishing season start?

Our Kenai River trips run May 15 to September 30. Kenai River trout fishing opens June 11; it is closed until then. The salmon aren't all in the river that early: sockeye start building in June and peak in July. ADF&G sets the legal seasons, so check the current regulations.

Can you fish the Kenai River in May?

Our season is May 15 to September 30, but the Kenai's big runs come later. May is for Kasilof kings when ADF&G opens them (May 15 to June 11) and for halibut in Homer.

Is king salmon fishing open on the Kenai River?

Don't count on it. 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 emergency orders before you plan around Kenai kings. The Kasilof is our king alternative when it opens.

What is biting on the Kenai River in June?

Sockeye, building through the month. The Kasilof's sockeye trips start June 11. Kasilof kings are best May 15 to June 11 when open. Trout are mainly a fall fishery for us.

Is July the best month for fishing in Alaska?

For sockeye, halibut and bears together, yes. Kenai sockeye peak the week of Jul 23–Jul 29, Homer halibut are in their best window, and Big River Lakes bears are at their best. It is also the busiest month, so book early.

When do silver salmon start on the Kenai River?

The early run starts August 1 to August 31 and the late run September 1 to September 30. On the Kasilof, silvers run August 1 to September 30, best mid-August to mid-September.

When is the best time for trophy rainbow trout?

mid-August to October 1, when trout feed on salmon eggs. Our trout trips run August 8 to September 30 and are catch-and-release.

Is September a good time to fish Alaska?

Yes, for silvers and big rainbows, with the fewest people. It is cooler and wetter, so pack warm layers. Our Kenai and Kasilof seasons run May 15 to September 30.

Should I fish the Kenai or the Kasilof?

Kenai for the peak sockeye week (Jul 23–Jul 29) and the trout. Kasilof for kings in May and a drift-boat float. You can fish both. See the comparison table above.

Do I need a fishing license and a king stamp?

Anglers 16 and older need an Alaska sport fishing license, and a king salmon stamp if kings are open and you want to fish for them. Buy them online from ADF&G. See our license guide.

How far ahead should I book?

For the sockeye peak in July, as early as you can. Guides fill first for the dates around Jul 23–Jul 29. May and September have more room. Call (907) 268-2925 if your dates are tight.