What is the Kenai River?
The Kenai River is the longest river in the Kenai Peninsula and is called Kahtnu in the Dena’ina language. It runs 82 miles (132 km) westward from Kenai Lake to the Cook Inlet of the Pacific Ocean near Kenai and Soldotna.
Fishing in the Kenai River
The Kenai River is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Alaska-especially for king salmon (Chinook). The Kenai River experiences two runs of king salmon each year, along with sockeye, coho, and pink salmon. The world record king salmon was caught in 1985 at the Kenai River and weighed about 97lbs. The Kenai is also home of trophy size rainbow trout and Dolly Varden to a whopping 20lbs!
It’s not as prolific as other Alaskan rivers, but the Kenai is famous for its large fish. The average king salmon weighs 15-30lbs and can be much larger, with instances of the fishery being entirely closed or restricted to certain fishing methods in recent years because of low returns of fish.
Coho salmon are also a favorite fish to catch on the Kenai in August through October. They’re more favored by the locals, who enjoy the aggressive nature and fatty meat.
If you’re looking for sockeye salmon, their runs typically happen starting late June and peak through July and early August. These fish are considered the best for eating, canning, and smoking.
And finally, if you want pink salmon, keep a weather eye open. The pink salmon only comes around in even-numbered years. Every other year, these salmon litter the lower river by 100’s of thousands. A heavy fishing day might bring in dozens of the species.
Fishing in Alaska is awesome, and the best place to fish is on the Kenai Peninsula. That’s where Kenai Kingpin comes in. We provide some of the best fishing Kenai River Fishing Charters, Kasilof River Fishing Charters and Cook Inlet Halibut fishing on the Kenai Peninsula.
Our experience in the fishing charter industry stretches 19 years, and with our knowledgeable and experienced guides, we can help fishermen of any skill level have an absolutely fantastic fishing experience.
So if you’re looking for some of the best fishing in the world, explore Alaska’s rivers and wilderness today. With so many rivers to choose from, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. Our guides are there for you when you need them, and the Alaskan wilderness is there for exploration. Take a minute and get in contact with Kenai Kingpin today!
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