Kenai River trips meet at the Pillars Boat Launch most days, Kasilof trips at the Kasilof State Recreation Area, Homer halibut trips at the top of Ramp 6 in Homer Harbor, and bear fly-outs at the Kenai Airport float plane basin. Beach halibut and ice fishing meet at a spot we text you the day before. Whatever the trip, bring your fishing licence (anglers 16 and older), warm layers with a waterproof shell, food and water, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray. We provide the boat, the rods and the tackle. Your booking confirmation has your exact time and place, and it wins over this page if they differ.
- Pillars Boat LaunchKenai River trips, most days
- 6:30 AMusual Homer meeting time
- Kenai Airportfloat plane basin, bear fly-outs
- (907) 268-2925call or text with questions
Where each trip meets, at a glance
| Trip | Where we meet | When |
|---|---|---|
| Kenai River | Pillars Boat Launch, Silver Salmon Drive, off the Kenai Spur Highway (occasionally Bing's Landing, later in summer and for fall trout trips) | Early morning; the 3/4-day also runs in the afternoon |
| Kasilof River | Kasilof State Recreation Area, off the Sterling Highway | Full day; your confirmation has the time |
| Homer halibut | Top of Ramp 6, Homer Harbor, on the Homer Spit | 6:30 AM most of the season |
| Bear fly-outs | Big River Lakes and Crescent Lake: Kenai Airport float plane basin. Chinitna Bay: Kenai Airport | Flights at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 AM and 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 PM; arrive 30 minutes early |
| Beach halibut | Cook Inlet beach between Anchor Point and Clam Gulch, with most trips starting from Whiskey Gulch; map pin the day before | Set by the tide |
| Ice fishing | A stocked lake near Soldotna; map pin the day before | about 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM in midwinter |
Our office is at 33978 Johnsons Dr, Soldotna. It is not otherwise a meeting point, so don’t go there to start a trip. Guests often stop by our Johnsons Drive address to be fitted for waders and boots before a river trip. If that isn’t possible, your guide brings the gear to the meeting spot. You drive to each trip, so it works from an RV, a campground, a hotel or a rental. Cell service is patchy on the Peninsula, so screenshot your confirmation before you leave town.
Still need a place to stay? All three Kenai Riverside lodges have private Kenai River access, and Kenai Riverside Resort offers all-inclusive lodging and fishing packages.
Kenai River trips
Where you meet. Most days, the Pillars Boat Launch, about halfway between Soldotna and Kenai. Occasionally, later in the summer and for fall trout trips, we meet at Bing’s Landing in Sterling instead; your confirmation says which. For the Pillars, from Soldotna, take the Kenai Spur Highway toward Kenai and turn left on Silver Salmon Drive. Pay the daily parking fee when you park, then walk down to the docks, where your guide and boat are waiting.
When. River trips start early in the morning. The 3/4-day trip also runs in the afternoon. In late summer and fall the start moves later with the sunrise. Your confirmation gives your exact time.
What we provide. The boat, your guide, rods and reels, bait, flies and tackle, waders and boots, and filleting. We provide waders and boots on river trips; we don’t supply rain gear on any trip. A river boat carries up to 5 guests.
What to bring and wear. Your licence, layers topped with your own waterproof jacket, a hat and gloves, food and drinks for the day, polarized sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray, and a camera or phone. Mornings on the water are cold even when the afternoon turns warm. Cotton gets wet and stays wet, so wear synthetic or wool underneath. Rubber boots are optional, and we provide waders and boots. Felt-soled wading boots are not allowed in Alaska, so leave them at home.
Extras. Bring a cooler for your fillets and leave it in your vehicle. If you forget something, Fred Meyer, Walmart, Safeway and Sportsman’s Warehouse are all a short drive from the launch. Kings come up on the Kenai now and then, so read this before you plan around them: 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.
Kasilof River trips
Where you meet. The Kasilof State Recreation Area. From Soldotna, take the Sterling Highway toward Homer for about 10 miles; right after the Kasilof River Bridge, turn left onto Spetz Avenue. Pay the daily parking fee and walk down to the launch.
When. A Kasilof trip is a full day, and your confirmation gives the start time. Every Kasilof trip is a drift-boat float, and a good part of it runs through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. We promote Kasilof kings when the Alaska Department of Fish and Game opens that fishery, and it is usually open for part of the early season (May 15 to June 30).
What we provide. The drift boat, your guide, rods, reels, bait, flies and tackle, waders and boots, and filleting.
What to bring. The same list as the Kenai, plus a real lunch. A drift-boat day is long, and there is no store along the river. Wear boots or shoes you can walk to the launch in.
Homer halibut charters
Where you meet. The top of Ramp 6 in Homer Harbor, on the Homer Spit. Your confirmation has the details for finding your boat and your captain. Come early enough to park and walk down. There are public bathrooms near the launch, so go before you board.
When. Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time. Your confirmation has your time.
What we provide. The boat and crew, rods and reels, bait and tackle, and filleting. Boats are heated and have a restroom.
What to bring and wear. Warm layers, a waterproof jacket and waterproof pants, and food, water and snacks for the day. We don’t supply rain gear, so bring your own. Rubber boots are best but bulky. Ankle-high, non-slip shoes are fine, and they keep the reel drip off your socks. Bring a camera: whales, sea otters and seals are common on Kachemak Bay. Beer and wine are fine for adults. No glass, no hard liquor, and no smoking on board.
Extras. See Homer halibut charter prices for what each trip includes.
Bear fly-outs and fly-in fishing
Where you meet. Big River Lakes and Crescent Lake fly-outs always leave from the Kenai Airport float plane basin. Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time. We provide a map, and your confirmation tells you your departure time and where to park. Chinitna Bay trips leave from the Kenai Airport. Use the restroom before you go: there are none at the lakes.
When. Flights depart at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 AM and 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 PM. The trip is about 6 hours, with about 4 hours at the lake.
What we provide. The flight, a boat and guide at the lake, rods and tackle for fly-in fishing, and waders and boots if your trip needs them. We don’t supply rain gear.
What to bring. A licence if you plan to fish (anglers 16 and older), layers and a waterproof jacket (it is cooler on the other side of Cook Inlet than in Soldotna), a hat and gloves, your own food and water (no lunch is provided), insect repellent, sturdy footwear, a camera and binoculars, and motion-sickness medicine if you get queasy. Crescent Lake guests pay a $12 per person National Park fee. Sales tax is extra.
Pack soft and light. Float planes are small. Bring a small or medium backpack or a soft duffel, not a hard-shell suitcase. The pilot decides what goes on the plane, so tell us at booking if weight or mobility could be an issue.
Leave behind. Firearms and bear spray. Neither goes on the plane. Keep a plastic bag with your food and trash, because bears have a good nose.
Beach halibut trips
Where you meet. On the Cook Inlet beaches between Anchor Point and Clam Gulch, with most trips starting from Whiskey Gulch. The day before, we text you where to meet, where to park and a map pin. Arrive 10 minutes early.
When. Start times are set by the tide; we confirm yours when you book. Trips run about 5 hours. The season is about May 15 to August 31.
What we provide. Rods, rigged and set in the holders, bait and tackle, and your fish cleaned. ATV helmets and gear for the ride-along option.
What to bring and wear. Warm layers and a waterproof jacket (wind and rain are normal on the inlet), rubber boots or waterproof shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, snacks and water, a cooler, and your licence. Children 5 and under are free. ATV drivers must be 16 or older with a valid driver’s licence.
Ice fishing trips
Where you meet. At a stocked lake near Soldotna, Kenai or Nikiski. We choose the lake the day before, by the ice and the bite, and text you the lake, where to park and a map pin. Arrive 10 minutes early.
When. Midwinter trips run about 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. From mid-February there are trips at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The season is about December 20 to March 15, ice permitting.
What we provide. A heated, insulated shelter over holes we have already drilled, augers, rods, bait and tackle.
What to bring and wear. Dress for the cold, not for the shelter: insulated boots, wool socks, warm pants, a parka, a hat that covers your ears and warm gloves. You will walk on snow and ice to get to the shelter. Bring a thermos and snacks, and your licence if you are old enough to need one. Read more on the Kenai Peninsula ice fishing guide.
Printable checklist
Print this page or screenshot this list. Start with the core list, then add your trip.
Everyone
- ☐ Fishing licence, a copy on your phone is fine (anglers 16 and older)
- ☐ Booking confirmation and a photo ID
- ☐ Layers: synthetic or wool base, warm middle, your own waterproof shell (we don’t supply rain gear)
- ☐ Hat and gloves
- ☐ Polarized sunglasses, with a retainer strap
- ☐ Sunscreen and bug spray
- ☐ Water, snacks and lunch
- ☐ Camera or phone, and a waterproof case or Ziploc
- ☐ Any medicine you take, including motion-sickness medicine
- ☐ Cash or card for parking and a tip
Add for your trip
- ☐ Kenai or Kasilof: a cooler in your vehicle for fillets; rubber boots are optional
- ☐ Homer: rain jacket and rain pants, non-slip shoes, a seasickness plan, a cooler if you plan to carry fish yourself
- ☐ Bear fly-out: soft small pack, binoculars, spare camera battery, a bag for trash, $12 park fee if you go to Crescent Lake
- ☐ Beach halibut: rubber boots, a cooler, a warm jacket for the wind
- ☐ Ice fishing: insulated boots, wool socks, a thermos
Leave behind: glass bottles, hard liquor, firearms, bear spray, felt-soled boots, and hard-shell luggage on a plane trip.
How to dress by season
- May and June: cool mornings, rain likely. Warm base layer, fleece, rain jacket, gloves and a hat.
- July and August: often 60s and 70s in the afternoon, but a river morning can still start cold. Use layers you can shed. Bug spray matters most in July.
- September and October: colder and wetter. Add a warmer jacket, wool socks, and gloves you can fish in.
- Winter: see the ice fishing section above. Dress for the lake, not the shelter.
Licence and king stamp
Anglers 16 and older need an Alaska sport fishing licence. Buy it online from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game or at a local store, and keep a copy on your phone; a phone copy is fine. Younger anglers don’t need a licence on most trips, but may need a free harvest record card. A king stamp is required only if we are able to fish for kings and you want to fish for them. Buy it close to your trip, because king closures are frequent. The Department sets these rules every year. Read our Alaska fishing license guide.
Seasickness on the boat
Most river trips are calm. Homer halibut trips are on open water, and some days are rougher than others. Talk to a pharmacist about motion-sickness medicine, and take it before you leave the dock, not after you feel sick. Eat a light breakfast, skip the greasy food, stay in fresh air, and watch the horizon. A 3/4-day trip is a gentler first try. Tell your captain if you feel off, and the crew will help.
Your fish after the trip
Your guide or crew fillets your catch. After that our shore staff can do the rest: trim, portion, vacuum-seal and freeze it, and pack it in an airline-approved box for you to take home on the plane. If you need it shipped, we hold it until you are ready and ship it. Processing is $3.50 a pound for river fish and $2.99 a pound for Homer fish. You can also take care of your own fish and keep it cold in a cooler. Read how to ship your catch.
Tipping, kids and groups
A gratuity is appreciated and never required. Most guests give 15 to 25 percent, in cash or by card, to the guide or crew. There is no minimum age. Parents decide what they are willing to handle. We have infant and kids’ life jackets and often take children; kids 8 and up usually do best, and we are happy to have children of all ages. Our guides are trained in first aid and CPR. A long Homer day is hard on small children, so consider the 3/4 day. Bear fly-outs are about 30 minutes by plane from a hospital, so think about that with infants. Anglers 16 and older need a licence.
Guests should be able to step into a boat and climb into a small plane. Tell us at booking if that is a concern, and we will tell you what to expect.
Weather and cancellations
If you cancel more than 30 days before your trip, we refund your payment less a 20% cancellation fee. If you cancel within 30 days of your trip, the booking is non-refundable. If we cancel for weather, a mechanical problem, safety or the float plane, you choose a full refund or a new date. Read our cancellation policy.
Pick a date for your Kenai River trip
Booking two or more trips takes 5% off all of them except bear fly-outs. Questions? Call (907) 268-2925.
Questions about where to meet and what to bring
Where do I meet for a Kenai River fishing trip?
Most days at the Pillars Boat Launch on Silver Salmon Drive, off the Kenai Spur Highway between Soldotna and Kenai. Pay the daily parking fee, then walk down to the docks. Occasionally, later in the summer and for fall trout trips, we meet at Bing's Landing in Sterling.
What time do Homer halibut charters meet?
Generally 6:30 AM; from about Labor Day weekend it moves gradually later as September mornings get dark; we confirm your time. Meet at the top of Ramp 6 in Homer Harbor.
Where do bear fly-outs leave from, and what time?
Big River Lakes and Crescent Lake leave from the Kenai Airport float plane basin; arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time, and we provide a map. Chinitna Bay leaves from the Kenai Airport. Flights depart at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 AM and 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 PM, and your confirmation gives your time.
What should I wear fishing in Alaska in July?
Layers. Afternoons are often in the 60s or 70s, but river mornings and the open water off Homer are cold. Wear a synthetic or wool base, a warm middle layer and a waterproof jacket, plus a hat and gloves. Skip cotton.
Do I need to bring waders or rain gear?
We provide waders and boots on river trips. We don't supply rain gear on any trip, so bring your own waterproof jacket, and pants for Homer halibut.
Do I need a king salmon stamp?
Only if we are able to fish for kings and you want to. Buy it close to your trip, because king closures are frequent.
Can I bring food and drinks?
Yes, and you should. Lunch is not provided on our trips. Adults can bring beer or wine, with no glass and no hard liquor.
How do I get my fish home?
Our shore staff trim, portion, vacuum-seal and freeze your fish and pack it in an airline-approved box to take on the plane, or hold and ship it on request. It is $3.50 a pound for river fish and $2.99 a pound for Homer fish. You can also take care of your own fish. See how to ship your catch.
How much should I tip a fishing guide?
A tip is appreciated and never required. Most guests give 15 to 25 percent.
What if I get seasick?
Ask a pharmacist about motion-sickness medicine and take it before you leave the dock. Eat light, stay in fresh air and tell your captain. A 3/4-day Homer trip is a gentler first try.
Can kids come fishing?
Yes. There is no minimum age; parents decide what they are willing to handle, and we have infant and kids' life jackets. Anglers 16 and older need a licence. On the beach halibut trip, children 5 and under are free, and ice fishing takes guests from age 5.
Is there a bathroom?
Homer boats have a toilet, and the Homer launch has public bathrooms. There are none at the bear lakes, so use the restroom before your flight.
What is the baggage limit on the float plane?
Pack soft and light: a small or medium backpack or soft duffel. Ask us if you are bringing camera gear or are unsure about weight.
Are bananas really bad luck on a fishing boat?
It is an old fishing superstition, not a rule of ours. Some captains take it seriously, so ask yours before you pack one.