Alaska Trout Fishing Trips

Alaska Trout Fishing On The Kenai River

The Kenai River offers one of the most prolific trophy trout fisheries in all of Alaska and you can get there within a couple hours drive from Anchorage. With headwaters in the glacier capped and snow covered Kenai Mountain Range the mighty Kenai River begins at the outlet of Kenai Lake near the town of Cooper Landing.  It then flows thirty miles where it empties into Skilak Lake.  From the outlet of Skilak, it begins again for its final 50 mile journey passing through the town of Soldotna before emptying into the turbid waters of upper Cook Inlet in the town of Kenai.

Trout season on the Kenai River opens on June 11 after a six week closure to protect them while spawning. While June and July trout fishing can be very productive, the fish are generally spread out and focused on a variety of food sources such as aquatic insects, residual salmon flesh, leeches and out migrating salmon smolt.

As we move into the fall months of August, September and October, Kenai River rainbow trout will congregate behind spawning salmon beginning with the king spawn in late July though mid August. Kenai River kings spawn throughout the system, from just above tide water in the lower river to the upper portion of the Kenai below Kenai Lake.  The next salmon to spawn from mid August into late September are the pink salmon (even years only) along with the sockeye salmon.  Pinks spawn primarily from Skilak Lake down while the sockeye spawn exclusively below both Kenai and Skilak Lakes. Finally the last Kenai salmon to spawn are the silver salmon and they spawn from September well into the winter months.  The majority of Kenai silver salmon spawn in the tributaries and main stem of the upper Kenai as well as in the first several miles below Skilak Lake.

This annual parade of spawning salmon creates a literal banquet of food for resident rainbow trout and dolly varden populations.  It allows Kenai River rainbows to commonly exceed the magical 30 inch mark, a size that is very uncommon in most trout fisheries, even within Alaska.

Kenai River Trout fishing is all catch and release and we can use both conventional and fly fishing gear.  For those looking for the most exclusive and effective fly fishing experience, we recommend booking a private charter with two anglers max.

KENAI RIVER RAINBOW TROUT FISHING

Even though the Kenai River has a very robust population of wild rainbows, there are definitely more productive times and methods for catching them in big numbers.

Top Producing Methods for Alaska Trout Fishing on the Kenai River.

  • Drift fishing with a spinning rod and floats
  • Indicator fishing with a single hand fly rod
  • Swinging flies with a single hand fly rod or spey rod

Top Producing Flies for Kenai River Rainbow Trout:

  • Single Egg Patterns
  • Flesh Flies
  • Leech Patterns
  • Nymphs

KENAI RIVER DOLLY VARDEN FISHING

The Kenai River has an abundant population of Dolly Varden, one of the most diverse sportfish in all of Alaska and includes both resident species as well as the sea-run variety. Technically, Dolly Varden are not a trout but are a subspecies of Arctic Char. These popular sportfish spawn in the late fall and exhibit some of the most spectacular spawning colors on any fish in the state.

Top Producing Methods for Alaska Dolly Varden Fishing on the Kenai River.

  • Drift fishing with a spinning rod and floats
  • Indicator fishing with a single hand fly rod

Top Producing Flies for Kenai River Dolly Varden:

  • Single Egg Patterns
  • Flesh Flies
  • Nymphs
  • Smolt Patterns

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Planning Your Fishing Trip

Trophy Rainbow Trout

Trout Fishing Articles

Alaska Rainbow Trout Photos