The Best Time to Fish for Salmon on the Kenai River
Hey party people, welcome back! It’s me Mike, one of the top fishing guides in Cooper landing. If you count being in the top 100 as top. Today you are going to hear my option on the best times to salmon fish the Kenai river. I’ll go through the best time to sockeye salmon fish, the best time to silver fish, and touch on a few other common salmon questions. Including how to fly your salmon home for maximum freshness and minimal expense. So let’s get into it.
Salmon in the Kenai River
Sockeye Fishing on the Kenai
As all Alaskan school children learn, there are 5 types of Pacific salmon. If you hold your hand out you can remember it an easy way. The thumb is the Chum, the pointer finger is the Sockeye(cause you poke em in the eye), Middle finger is the king because it’s the biggest, ring finger is the silver salmon or Coho, and the pinky is the Pink salmon. The Kenai every year gets the main three. Kings(lol), sockeye, and silvers. On even numbered years the Pink salmon return.
King Salmon: lol don’t ask cause they ain’t here no more
Here is what I have to say about Kings; I’d love to be fishing for them. I wish this was the late 90’s early 2000’s when the kings were in thick. But thats not how it is anymore. People over fished them to pretty much the brink of extinction. We will see if Alaska as a state can bring the populations back by closing the fishery. But we will see. My expectations are low. Yours should be too. So all that to say, I do not guide for Kings.
‘Ohh but we heard you can catch kings on the Kasilof.’ Yes you can. That is a different river, not as scenic, pretty crowded, and you’re hoping to hit a hatchery king because you cant remove the wild ones from the water. Ohh and you have to spend the day on ‘the ditch.’ So no, I don’t do that because I like to have fun and enjoy my days. Feel free to go book that trip with another company. I assure you, you will get to know your guide well. Plenty of time to chit chat.
Sockeye Salmon on the Kenai
A successful day of fishing on the Kenai
Sockeye Salmon, commonly referred to as ‘reds’, on the Kenai river come in two distinct waves or runs. The first run of the year starts around June 11th(when the Kenai River opens annually) and runs through the end of the month. This run is known as the Russian River run. Approximately 50,000-70,000 fish will make this run during said time frame.
In the middle of July the sockeye salmon begin to pour in. This second run goes on into early August and ends when the fish start to get soft and start to turn red. Once they turn red on the outside the meat inside has become soft and of 0 quality. This run can be between 750,000-1.5 million fish. The second run of sockeye averages larger fish. These are the fish that everyone thinks of in Alaska. This bright red salmon that you need to catch in Alaska! They look like this:
It is fun 1 time. To take one set of pictures. Then, I’d ask you to leave them alone. When they are red like in the photo above, they are deep in the spawn. They are weak and vulnerable. You probably snagged it, thats illegal. Just leave them alone. If you do floss one on accident, yes hold it up let’s take the picture because ultimately its the shot everyone still wants.
You want them to look dime bright! Shinny Chrome darts!!! Like this:
Make sure you check the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s website for the most up to date limit info as well as for the rules and regulations:
ADFNG REGS
You can also check out a previous post in the blog bout flossin.
Silver Salmon or Coho Salmon
Two names for the same beast. If you thought the salmon window closed when the sockeye start to turn your wrong. Just be patient. We get about a week long break, and then the big boys show up. Silver salmon are the second largest salmon on the Kenai. They fight like crazy and actively attack lures. They are the noble salmon. The one I hate fishing for the least.
The silver fishing tends to stink the first two weeks about the September. Other than that it can be pretty good most days.
Again check with ADFnG for current limit regulations as well as fishing regulations.
Frigging PINKS: Pink Salmon
Ugh. Yes they are known as humppys. They have a giant hump on their back. If you are on my boat you can not keep them. Pinks are nasty. Most of the time they are just getting in the way when we trout fish and while they do make the trout big fat and angry, the pinks just break stuff and take forever to get in. They suck. UNLESS you have little kids, cause then we can catch a million and they will have a blast! Here is a picture of one:
(INSERT PINK SALMON PHOTO)
Conclusion
As you can tell by now there are many ways to Salmon fish the Kenai River. Maybe its a Guided sockeye trip, maybe its a 3/4 day Silver salmon trip kinda day. Give us a call and we will help you plan you Guided Kenai River Fishing Trip where you will be sure to have an incredible experience!
Until then, happy fishing, get ‘em all!