You’re about to have your dream come true. You’re going fishing on the Kenai River - Alaska’s salmon magnet. The great thing is you actually have two windows of opportunity for each major species - Chinook (King) Salmon, Sockeye (Red) Salmon, and Coho (Silver) Salmon. Having three run times for three types of salmon is unique, making the Kenai River one of the richest sport fishing waterways on the globe.
Chinook (King) Salmon Run Times
Run times tend to vary a bit from year to year, but they do follow the same basic pattern each year. The initial run of Kings occurs from mid-May to early July and the last starts in early July and ends on July 31. However, as early as April you’ll find King Salmon coming into the Kenai River. Although not nearly as plentiful as they will be by the middle of May, Kings are often hooked as early as late April.
This initial run is the smaller of the two, but because the water levels are lower, some people prefer this time of year. The world record for Chinook Salmon was set on the Kenai River during the first run in May. That could be reason enough to plan a trip for the initial migration of Kings.
The second run is focused on the lower part of the river where the salmon have spawned. July first is the designated date for the beginning of the final King run of the season, with large numbers of fish in the river by the end of the first week. Mid-July finds a huge quantity of salmon concentrated in the lower part of the primary channel and attracting a maximum number of sportsmen. Although the river can become crowded with guide boats and fishermen, the Kenai tends to be a very civil place with a party-like atmosphere. It’s actually a great time to be on the river with a community of anglers having the time of their lives.
Sockeye (Red) Salmon Run Times
You’ll find the first Red Salmon run starting in late May as they swim through the lower and middle sections of the Kenai on their way to the Russian River, a tributary of the Kenai. The Reds become plentiful right around June tenth, peaking sometime between the fifteenth and twentieth of the month. They continue their commute, however in fewer numbers, until the end of the month. Sockeyes are most plentiful in the upper regions of the Kenai.
Beginning in mid-July, the second run of the Reds entices fishermen to take to the banks, standing in crowds 15-20 thick. The Sockeye reach their highest numbers by the third week and then start to dwindle until their migration is over by the end of the month. This atmosphere, when fishermen are virtually packed together angling from a pool of thousands of Reds, is called "combat fishing." It can be a great time for trading fish stories, filling your stringer, and enjoying your sport with fellow enthusiasts.
Coho (Silver) Salmon Run Times
In late July, the Coho Salmon are starting their journey up the Kenai to spawn. By early August, the Silvers are abundant and fishing is fantastic. The run continues through the month with angling abating in the fourth week of August. Just a week or so later in early September, the second and final migration of Silver Salmon begins. Large numbers work their way up the river until, at the end of September, the salmon season is officially over.
It’s a wild four-and-a-half months on the Kenai with fishermen from across the globe enjoying some of the finest salmon runs they’ll ever find. Expert guides adept at helping sports fishermen get the most out of their time on the river help make each visitor’s experience something they’ll remember and relish for years to come.
Going salmon fishing? You can‘t beat the Kenai River in Alaska. |
