2025 was a Banner Year for Kasilof Sockeye
2025 – A Banner Year for Kasilof Sockeye
In a year that saw record sockeye returns to the Kenai River, the Kasilof River delivered an equally impressive showing. By August 9, a total of 1,197,471 sockeye had passed the sonar at river mile 8, surpassing the previous record of 971,604 set in 2022. Peak run timing occurred between June 30 and July 26, with most days seeing 25,000 to 40,000 fish moving upriver. On June 25, 2025, the sockeye salmon limit on the Kasilof River was increased from three to six fish per person, per day. All of our Kasilof Sockeye Salmon Fishing Trips were booked solid and there was no rest for the weary!
What Made This Year Different?
I’ve been guiding on the Kasilof for over three decades, and 2025 stood out for more than just the numbers. The consistency of the numbers was remarkable. Instead of the usual peaks and valleys, we had steady action throughout the entire run. Early July trips that I’d normally expect to be hit-or-miss turned into reliable producers. The fish also staged differently this year. We found them holding in spots that don’t typically concentrate sockeye, particularly in the slower water between river miles 6 and 8. Water temperatures stayed cooler longer, which likely kept fish moving upriver at a more gradual pace instead of pushing through in concentrated pulses.
The limit increase to six fish came at exactly the right time. By late June, we were consistently putting clients on limits by mid-morning, and having the option to keep fishing made for much better days. Several groups caught and released sockeye for hours after hitting their limits—something you rarely get to do in Alaska fisheries managed this tightly.
Planning for Future Kasilof Seasons
If you’re thinking about booking one of our Kasilof River Sockeye Fishing Trips based on this year’s success, keep your expectations realistic. Years like 2025 don’t come along often, even though the Kasilof has been trending upward since 2015. What you can count on is good fishing from late June through mid-July in most years, especially if you’re flexible on dates. The biggest mistake I see anglers make is locking in specific dates months in advance. Sockeye run timing can shift by 7-10 days depending on water temperatures and conditions. If you can leave some flexibility in your travel plans, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of being here during the peak.
Mark and Cindy Glassmaker have been married for 28 years, and their business, Alaska Fishing with Mark Glassmaker, has been operating since 1990. Over the past 34 years guiding on the Kenai River, we’ve witnessed many changes. Through early diversification and the dedication of our entire guide staff and team, we’ve built and maintained what we believe is the premier Kenai River fishing experience.
We take great pride in our work and in the reputation our business stands for. Your trip becomes part of that legacy, and we are committed to making it exceptional. Every outing is approached with 100% effort and service, ensuring that your Alaska fishing trips not only meets but exceeds expectations.