Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Fishing Charter
Home To The World's Largest King Salmon
Our Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Fishing Charters, like our Kasilof River King Salmon Fishing Charters are some of our most sought after trips in the early parts of the summer. Fishing for sockeye salmon on Alaska’s Kasilof River is a great experience with a large portion of it flowing through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. It gives anglers a chance to harvest some wild Alaskan caught sockeye salmon to take home. The Kasilof River is an amazing fishery that would be a lot more famous if it weren’t located so close to the mighty Kenai River.
Kasilof River sockeye salmon are typically a couple pounds smaller than their Kenai River brethren. Many of our rivers support two different runs of salmon but the Kasilof River simply has 1 very large run that begins June 11 and get stronger throughout the entire summer before ending around mid-August. The peak dates for fishing Kasilof River Sockeye are between 6/23 and 8/12. We are able to do combo trips from 6/23 – 7/31. After July 31st, we can no longer target king salmon by regulation.
Fun Fact: Kasilof sockeye salmon stocks are one of the most heavily fished in Alaska. The Kasilof River is the second biggest producer of Upper Cook Inlet sockeye salmon, representing nearly 20 percent of the area’s commercial sockeye harvest and sometimes considerably more.
| Kasilof River Best Fishing Dates | |||
| Species | Description | Available Dates | Best Dates |
| King Salmon (Chinook) | Early Run | 5/16 – 6/30 | 6/4 – 6/19 |
| Late Run | 7/1 – 7/31 | 7/13 – 7/31 | |
| Sockeye Salmon (Red) | 6/14 – 8/27 | 6/23 – 8/12 | |
| Silver Salmon (Coho) | 8/1 – 9/30 | 8/15 – 9/15 | |
| Rainbow Trout & Steelhead | 6/11 – 9/30 | 8/15 – 9/30 | |
Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon
Most of the sockeye fishing on the Kasilof River is done with the aid of a drift boat and a guide. Unlike the Kenai River there just are not very many public access points to the Kasilof River.
The River is divided into two section and most of the time we’ll float one section or the other. The upper section is from Tustamena Lake to the Sterling Highway bridge. The lower section is from the Sterling Highway bridge to the lower river pull out which is located about 2 miles from the mouth of the river.
During the early king run we focus on the lower portion as most of these kings will not come up past the bridge. Around June 16th we’ll consider moving to the upper river and targeting sockeye salmon. The upper Kasilof River is less developed, has lots of gravel bars, and is even more scenic than it’s lower river counterpart.
Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon Fish Counts
We have an entire page dedicated to understand the Kasilof River sockeye salmon fish counts. As we’ve said a number of times, better show up when the fish do. Luckily, we have tools that let us know when they are coming!
The Kasilof River is known for its excellent sockeye salmon run. The fish count for sockeye salmon, indicated by the green graph, shows that good fishing typically begins around June 15 and lasts until late August. Sockeye are abundant throughout the river, including in Tustamena Lake.
From June 16 until July 31st we can do king salmon and sockeye salmon combo trips. Then starting August 1st we can provide sockeye salmon and silver salmon sockeye trips until around August 16th. At that time, most of the sockeye will have already passed through the river for the year and we will move our focus to silver salmon, rainbow trout, and steelhead!
Each year, around 1,000,000 sockeye salmon are estimated to pass through, with some years starting as early as mid-May.
Kasilof River Silver Salmon Fishing
The Kasilof is also well known for it’s silver salmon runs that take place each fall.
Silver salmon fishing on the Kasilof River in Alaska, is considered excellent from from August 1st to October 30th. These Coho salmon, ranging from 5 to 20 pounds, are known for their aggressive and acrobatic nature.
The river experiences two distinct runs of Silver Salmon, with the early run starting around late July to early August, and the peak season occurring in September when larger and more numerous fish arrive. Anglers should be prepared for early mornings and flexible plans to make the most of their fishing trip on this drift boat fishery, renowned for its beautiful scenery and technical rowing requirements.
Make sure to check out our dedicated page to Kasilof River Silver Salmon Fishing for more details.
Kenai Sportfishing charters
Kenai River Fishing
- Available: 5/16 – 9/30
- 7 Hour Fishing Trip full-day
- 5 Hours Fishing 3/4-day
- Up to 4 anglers per boat
- Large groups use multiple boats
- All equipment provided
- Combo Trips Available
- Private Boat Options Available
Kasilof River Fishing
- Available: 5/16 – 9/30
- 7 Hour Fishing Trip full-day
- 3/4-day not offered on Kasilof
- Up to 4 anglers per boat
- Large groups use multiple boats
- All equipment provided
- Combo Trips Available
- Private Boat Options Available
Bear & Fly-in Fishing
- Big River Lake: 6/10 – 9/30
- Crescent Lake: 6/20 – 9/30
- Brooks Falls: 7/1 – 8/2
Homer Halibut Fishing
- Available: 5/15 – 9/30
- Lingcod Available Starting 7/1
- Halibut, Combo, and Multi-species avaialble
- Overnight Trips!
- Private Boat Options Available
Ready to go Fishing?
Ready to cast your line into the stunning waters of the Kenai River? For more information or to book your unforgettable fishing adventure, visit our ‘Trips & Bookings’ page. Dive deeper into the Kenai River experience and secure your spot with Kenai Sportfishing today – where epic catches and breathtaking scenery await!