KENAI RIVER

The Kenai River is a sportfishing mecca conveniently located just three hours south of Anchorage.  This legendary river is well known for producing eight of the largest king salmon ever taken by rod and reel, including the world record king weighing 97 lbs. caught in 1985.  The Kenai also supports one of the largest returns of sockeye salmon in all of Alaska and is home to robust returns of both pink and silver salmon, as well as prolific populations of resident rainbow trout and dolly varden.

The Kenai River is the longest river on the Kenai Peninsula originating from Kenai Lake in the Kenai Mountain Range near Cooper Landing.  From there the river narrows and flows nearly 20 miles before emptying into Skilak Lake.  This section of the river is popularly know as the “Upper Kenai” and is primarily fished with drift boats, targeting rainbow trout and dolly varden.  Seven miles below Kenai Lake, the river is joined by the famous Russian River which receives the first run of sockeye salmon that return to the Kenai.  This occurs in late May through late June, and the Russian River and the upper Kenai open to fishing on June 11.  Below the Russian River confluence, the Kenai flows through a spectacular canyon section and eventually meets the 15-mile long Skilak Lake.