Two Rivers, Twenty Minutes Apart

Why Fish the Kasilof River? That’s a great question! While there is certainly no doubt the Kenai is the world’s most famous salmon river, home to the largest kings on earth and the place of piscatorial dreams. Yet just 20 minutes down the Sterling highway is the Kasilof, a river slightly smaller than the Kenai, but equally rich in historic angling lore and yes, huge salmon. While they have many similarities, the differences between the two glacial streams are vast.

The Kenai has the luxury of two great lakes in its system which act as enormous filters settling out glacial silt and giving the Kenai its trademark turquoise hue. The Kasilof takes a less interrupted journey from glacial headwaters to salt. It flows from Lake Tustumena, the largest lake on the Kenai Peninsula which is fed by multiple glaciers thus making the Kasilof more turbid. Despite the milkier water color, the Kasilof is every bit as potent at producing world class salmon and steelhead.

Kasilof King Salmon – First of the Season

Beginning in May, the Kasilof sees the first kings of the season, all headed for a small tributary named Crooked Creek located just above tidal reach. Thats when we fire up our first Kasilof River King Salmon Fishing Trips of the year. There has been a hatchery on this tributary sine the 1970’s and they enhance the run each year with stock from Crooked Creek origin. There is also a naturally produced component to the run that spawns on its own in Crooked Creek. This combined return makes for a very productive drift boat only sport fishery for king salmon from mid-May until late June.

Sockeye Runs From May Through July

The Kasilof sockeye return also begins in May and extends well into July with an average escapement of around 500,000 fish. These fish dash from salt to many miles upriver in a matter of hours and when they are present in peak numbers, many shoreline locations will yield limits.

Wild July Kings and August Silvers

In July, the Kasilof sees its second run of kings and these are all wild and largely main-stem spawners. They rival the Kenai Chinook in size with a number of fish over 50 lbs. landed annually. With the extreme water volume the Kasilof experiences in July, catching huge kings from a drift boat can be quite a challenge and very exciting.

August on the Kasilof brings silver salmon and lots of them. Headed for tributaries of Tustumena Lake, the cohos hit the river in mid-August and remain present well into September. Behind the silvers is my favorite of all, the steelhead trout! They first arrive in late August with the bulk of the run arriving in October. With a backdrop of falling leaves and autumn colors, these chrome bright sea-run rainbows are a perfect way to end the season.

Indeed, the Kasilof has just about everything a visiting angler can want—incredible scenery, a peaceful float, vibrant runs of salmon and steelhead. And let’s not forget, the Kenai is just 20 minutes away. You can learn more about booking one of our guided Kasilof River salmon or steelhead fishing trips for trip options, or give us a call to plan a trip that covers both rivers.

Mark Glassmaker

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.