Soldotna sits on the Kenai River at the Sterling Highway bridge, where the river changes from middle river to lower river. You can fish from the bank at city and state access points all through town, or hire a boat. Sockeye are the big summer run, silvers come in late summer and fall, and rainbow trout fish best in the fall. Our guided Kenai River trips are $300 per person for a full day and $250 for a 3/4 day, all gear included. To book a guide, see our Kenai River fishing guides.
- Sterling Highway bridgemiddle river above, lower river below
- Jul 23–Jul 29usual sockeye peak week
- About 2.5 hoursdrive from Anchorage
- $250–$300per person, guided Kenai River trip
Where Soldotna sits on the Kenai River
The Kenai runs about 82 miles from Kenai Lake to Cook Inlet. Anglers split it into an upper, middle and lower river. Soldotna is where the middle river ends and the lower river begins: the Sterling Highway bridge in the middle of town is the usual dividing line. Check the current Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) wording for the exact boundary.
That position matters for fishing. Upstream of town the river runs toward Sterling and Skilak Lake. Downstream it gets bigger and deeper and runs toward Kenai and the tidal mouth. Fish heading upriver pass Soldotna on the way. Sockeye follow the bank, which is why bank anglers can reach them here. Silver salmon and pinks use the lower river heavily.
Public river access in Soldotna
Soldotna has more public bank access than any other town on the river. These are the main sites, upstream to downstream. Facilities change, so check with the City of Soldotna or Alaska State Parks before you go.
| Site | What’s there |
|---|---|
| Swiftwater Park | Campground, picnic area, boat launch and a boardwalk |
| Soldotna Creek Park | Boardwalk and stairs to the river; the park hosts summer events |
| Soldotna Visitor Center | Boardwalk below the bridge; the center displays the 1985 record Kenai king |
| Centennial Park | Campground, boat launch, river stairs and fishing platforms |
| Slikok Creek | Day-use access below town |
| Poachers Cove | Boat launch |
| Pipeline and Ciechanski | Day-use sites on the lower river |
| Stewarts | Boat launch |
Bank fishing here gets crowded in sockeye season. People stand shoulder to shoulder along the bank, which is why locals call it combat fishing. Give each other room, keep your line in front of you and move along the bank when you land a fish.
What the bank can’t reach. From the bank you fish the water in front of you. Sockeye run close to shore, so it works, but you can’t follow the fish, you can’t reach the deeper seams where silvers and trout hold, and you share every foot of bank with other anglers. A guide in a boat can move to the fish, anchor on a quiet bar, and put you on water you’d never reach from the shore. For first-timers, a guide also takes care of the gear, the rigging and the rules.
What runs past Soldotna, month by month
Every Kenai River run passes through the lower river before it reaches Soldotna. The dates below come from our own run-timing data; the chart shows how the sockeye run builds, and the full set is on our Kenai River run timing page.
- 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
| When | What’s running | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early season | Early king run | 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. |
| Jul 1 to Aug 19 | Sockeye | The main run. Usual peak week is Jul 23–Jul 29, with the halfway point in most years around Jul 23–Aug 3. |
| Even-numbered years, summer | Pink salmon | Pinks run in even years, below the bridge. |
| August 1 to August 31 (early run) and September 1 to September 30 (late run) | Silver salmon | The fall favorite. Silvers fight hard and bite well on a drifted bait or lure. |
| August 8 to September 30 | Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden | Catch-and-release. Best mid-August to October 1, when trout feed on salmon eggs. |
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
Fishing with us from Soldotna
Our office is in Soldotna. Our Kenai River trips meet most days at the Pillars Boat Launch, about halfway between Soldotna and Kenai: from Soldotna, take the Kenai Spur Highway toward Kenai and turn left on Silver Salmon Drive. Pay the daily parking fee and walk down to the docks. You do not need to bring a boat or a trailer. The Pillars is a short drive from town. Occasionally, later in the summer and for fall trout trips, we launch at Bing’s Landing in Sterling instead. Where the day’s fishing takes us depends on the species and the water, and your guide will tell you.
| Trip | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kenai River, full day | $300 | About 7 hours, all gear included, May 15 to September 30 |
| Kenai River, 3/4 day | $250 | About 5 hours, all gear included |
| Kasilof River, full day | $300 | About 10 miles south of Soldotna. Every Kasilof trip is a drift-boat float, and a good part of it runs through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. |
| Bear viewing fly-out | from $650 | Leaves from the Kenai Airport float plane basin, a short drive from Soldotna |
Book two or more of our trips and you get 5% off all of them except bear fly-outs. See Kenai River charter prices for the full breakdown, or fishing and bear viewing packages.
Rules to know before you fish in Soldotna
- License. Anyone 16 or older needs an Alaska sport fishing license, from ADF&G. Read our Alaska fishing license guide.
- Limits and closures. ADF&G sets limits, open waters and emergency orders for the Kenai River and changes them from year to year, sometimes in the middle of the season. Check the current regulations and emergency orders before you fish. A guide on your trip keeps up with them.
- Kings. 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.
- Guides. Guides on the Kenai must be permitted, licensed and insured. Ours hold the State Parks Kenai River guide permit, a USCG captain’s licence and the Kenai River Guide Academy certificate, and we show them on request.
- Boat rules. Motor and boat rules on the river are strict and change. If you plan to run your own boat, read the current rules from ADF&G and Alaska State Parks first.
Getting to Soldotna
Soldotna is about 2.5 hours by road from Anchorage on the Seward and Sterling Highways. Most visitors drive or rent a car at Anchorage airport. Scheduled flights land at Kenai Municipal Airport, a short drive from Soldotna. Soldotna also has a small airport, but not scheduled airline service. The town has hotels, restaurants, groceries and tackle shops, so many anglers stay here and drive out to fish.
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.
Beyond the river
- Kasilof River, about 10 miles south of Soldotna: all our Kasilof trips are full-day drift boat floats. See Kasilof River fishing.
- Winter: lakes around Soldotna and Kenai are stocked, and we run ice fishing trips. See ice fishing trips.
- Bears: fly out from the Kenai Airport float plane basin. See bear viewing prices.
- Nearby towns: the lower river is covered in our Kenai fishing guide; the middle river in our Sterling fishing guide.
- Choosing a guide: read how to choose a Kenai River fishing guide, or see all of our trips.
Book a Kenai River trip: from $250 per person
Questions? Call (907) 268-2925. Or see all Kenai River fishing guides.
Questions about fishing in Soldotna
Where can I fish from the bank in Soldotna, Alaska?
Swiftwater Park, Soldotna Creek Park, the Visitor Center boardwalk below the bridge and Centennial Park all have river access, stairs or platforms. Slikok Creek, Pipeline and Ciechanski are quieter sites below town. Facilities change, so check with the City of Soldotna or Alaska State Parks.
What is the best time to fish in Soldotna?
For sockeye, late July: the usual peak week is Jul 23–Jul 29. For silvers, August 1 to August 31 for the early run and September 1 to September 30 for the late run. For rainbow trout, mid-August to October 1.
Do I need a guide to fish in Soldotna?
No. Many people fish from the bank with a license and the right gear. A guide helps if you want a boat, if you're new to salmon fishing, or if you want to reach water the bank can't.
Where do your Soldotna fishing trips meet?
Our Kenai River trips meet most days at the Pillars Boat Launch, about halfway between Soldotna and Kenai (occasionally at Bing's Landing later in the summer and for fall trout trips). Take the Kenai Spur Highway toward Kenai and turn left on Silver Salmon Drive. There is a daily parking fee.
Can I catch king salmon in Soldotna?
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.
How far is Soldotna from Anchorage?
About 2.5 hours by road. Scheduled flights land at Kenai Municipal Airport, a short drive from Soldotna.
Can I fish the Kasilof River from Soldotna?
Yes. The Kasilof is about 10 miles south. Our Kasilof trips are full-day drift boat floats at $300 per person.