KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
KENAI RIVER
FISHING
SALMON RUNS • RIVER SECTIONS • 2026 RULES • WHERE TO STAY
THE QUICK ANSWER
WHAT IS KENAI RIVER FISHING LIKE?
The Kenai River on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is known for salmon fishing: sockeye (red) salmon from mid-June to mid-August, silver (coho) salmon from late July into October, and rainbow trout and Dolly Varden, fished from the bank, from docks, or from guided drift boats. King salmon fishing on the Kenai was closed for both runs in 2026, so most visitors now plan around the July sockeye run or the August and September silver run.
Run timing on this page comes from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G); rules come from the 2026 Kenai River regulations and ADF&G emergency orders.
Last reviewed October 2026.
AT A GLANCE
KENAI RIVER FISHING AT A GLANCE
| SPECIES | BEST MONTHS | HOW TO FISH | WHERE ON THE RIVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sockeye (red) salmon | Early run to the Russian River mid-June to mid-July; late run in the main river mid-July to mid-August | From the bank, from private docks, or from a guided drift boat | Whole river; the early run concentrates at the Russian River confluence |
| Silver (coho) salmon | Late July through mid-October | From a boat or the bank | Mouth to Bing’s Landing open through November 30; upstream to Kenai Lake through October 31 |
| King (Chinook) salmon | Early run mid-May to late June; late run July. Both runs closed to fishing in 2026 | No king fishing of any kind in 2026, including catch-and-release | Below Skilak Lake only; the river above Skilak is always closed to kings |
| Pink salmon | Mid-July through August | From the bank or a boat | Throughout the main river |
| Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden | Above Skilak Lake open June 11 to April 30 (closed May 1 to June 10); below Skilak open year-round except marked areas | Drift boat or bank; one unbaited, single-hook fly or lure only above Skilak | Cooper Landing stretch and the river below Skilak Lake |
Months: ADF&G Kenai, Soldotna & Homer Run Timing. Seasons and areas: 2026 Kenai River regulations and 2026 emergency orders. Run timing shows when fish are present, not whether a fishery is open.
THE RIVER
THE UPPER, MIDDLE AND LOWER KENAI RIVER
The Kenai flows from Kenai Lake at Cooper Landing through Skilak Lake and past Sterling and Soldotna to Cook Inlet at the city of Kenai. Anglers usually split it into three stretches. ADF&G's regulation booklet names them differently: it calls the Cooper Landing stretch the “Middle Kenai River” and everything from Skilak Lake to the mouth the “Lower Kenai River,” so check which section a rule refers to.
UPPER RIVER: COOPER LANDING AND THE RUSSIAN RIVER
From the outlet of Kenai Lake down to Skilak Lake, the river is clear, fast, and fished by drift boat or from the bank. Motors are prohibited year-round from the Skilak Lake inlet up to river mile 80.7, only one unbaited, single-hook fly or lure is allowed, the section is closed to all fishing from May 1 to June 10, and it is always closed to king salmon. The early sockeye run to the Russian River draws crowds to the confluence from mid-June to mid-July, with a second, late run from mid-July to mid-August.
More: Russian River fishing, Cooper Landing fishing, and the Russian River fish count.
MIDDLE RIVER: SKILAK LAKE TO SOLDOTNA, INCLUDING STERLING
Below Skilak Lake the river is bigger and fished from both drift boats and powerboats, past Sterling, Bing's Landing, and the Moose and Funny River confluences to Soldotna. Motors are limited to 50 horsepower (four-stroke or direct injection), and from May 1 to July 31 Mondays are drift-only between the Skilak outlet and the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna. Several confluence areas, including the Moose River, Funny River, Lower Killey River, and Morgan's Hole, are closed to fishing from boats from May 1 to July 31, and coho fishing above Bing's Landing closes after October 31. Sockeye pass through here in July and August, and silvers follow into the fall.
Marlow's on the Kenai is on this stretch, in Sterling, about 15 minutes from Soldotna.
LOWER RIVER: SOLDOTNA TO THE MOUTH
Below the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna the river slows toward tidewater and Cook Inlet. The personal use dipnet fishery at the mouth runs from July 10 to July 31 for Alaska residents only. On drift-only Mondays below the bridge, fishing is not allowed from a boat with a motor over 10 horsepower. If you keep a bag limit of coho on the Kenai, you may not fish downstream of the Soldotna Bridge for the rest of that day.
More: Kenai River dipnetting for visitors and the Kenai River fishing report. Nearby rivers: Kasilof River fishing.
WHAT YOU CAN CATCH
KENAI RIVER SALMON AND TROUT
- Sockeye (red) salmon. The Kenai's biggest run and the main fish for bank anglers. Below Skilak Lake the 2026 limit was 3 per day, rising to 6 per day from June 20 to August 15. Sockeye salmon fishing.
- Silver (coho) salmon. Late July through mid-October. ADF&G kept the 2026 limit at 2 per day through November 30 instead of the usual increase to 3 on September 1. Silver salmon fishing.
- King (Chinook) salmon. Closed for both runs in 2026, including catch-and-release, after a low preseason forecast. King salmon on the Kenai.
- Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. The limit is 1 per day, and it must be under 16 inches, so most fish are released. Rainbow trout fishing.
- Russian River sockeye. Two runs into the Kenai's best-known tributary at Cooper Landing. Russian River fishing.
Learn to tell the five species apart on our Alaska salmon species page.
THE 2026 SEASON
KENAI RIVER 2026 SEASON RECAP
- Late-run sockeye: ADF&G's Kenai River sonar counted 1,111,781 sockeye through its final count on August 10, with the biggest day on July 24 (171,844 fish). That was well below the 4,286,091 counted in 2025.
- Russian River sockeye: the weir counted 47,093 early-run and 56,206 late-run sockeye. The early run passed its escapement goal, so ADF&G raised the limit to 6 per day on the Russian River and upper Kenai from June 25 to July 14.
- King salmon: both runs closed preseason on February 9. The 2026 forecast of 2,325 large early-run kings was below the optimal escapement goal of 3,900 to 6,600.
- Silver salmon: ADF&G held the limit at 2 per day through November 30, citing below-average coho returns across Cook Inlet.
Sources: ADF&G Kenai sockeye counts, Russian River weir counts, EO 2-KS-1-8-26, EO 2-KS-1-7-26, EO 2-RS-1-29-26, and EO 2-SS-1-49-26. Daily numbers are on our Kenai River fishing report.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
PLANNING A KENAI RIVER FISHING TRIP
- License: required for residents 18 and older and nonresidents 16 and older. Alaska fishing license guide.
- Regulations: limits, closures, and boat rules change by section and by emergency order. Kenai River fishing regulations.
- Run timing: Alaska salmon run timing.
- Fish counts: Kenai River fishing report and sonar counts.
- Guides: how to choose a Kenai River fishing guide, or let us coordinate a guided trip.
- Cost: what an Alaska fishing trip costs in 2026.
- Where to stay: where to stay for Kenai River fishing and our Kenai riverfront cabins.
YOUR HOME BASE
FISHING THE KENAI FROM MARLOW'S
Marlow's on the Kenai is a family-run lodge owned and operated by Dan Rusk in Sterling, Alaska, on the middle Kenai River. It has four riverfront cabins, each with a kitchen and a private dock, plus a fish cleaning station, and a 5.0 Google rating. We coordinate guided trips with local guides, so you can fish from the dock between trips and clean your catch on site.
The lodge is road-accessible, about 3 hours from Anchorage and about 15 minutes from Soldotna.
EXPLORE OUR CABINSCOMMON QUESTIONS
KENAI RIVER FISHING FAQ
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FISH THE KENAI RIVER? +
It depends on the fish. ADF&G run timing puts the early Russian River sockeye run from mid-June to mid-July, the main late sockeye run from mid-July to mid-August, and silver (coho) salmon from late July through mid-October. Plan July to mid-August for sockeye and late August into September for silvers.
CAN YOU FISH FOR KING SALMON ON THE KENAI RIVER IN 2026? +
No. ADF&G closed both the early run (May 1 to June 19, EO 2-KS-1-8-26) and the late run (June 20 to August 15, EO 2-KS-1-7-26) from the mouth to Skilak Lake, including catch-and-release. Kings hooked by accident may not be removed from the water. The river above Skilak Lake is closed to king fishing every year.
HOW MANY SOCKEYE CAN YOU KEEP ON THE KENAI RIVER? +
Below Skilak Lake the 2026 limit for sockeye 16 inches or longer was 3 per day and 6 in possession, rising to 6 per day and 12 in possession from June 20 to August 15. Above Skilak Lake (the Cooper Landing stretch) it was 3 per day and 6 in possession. ADF&G can change limits by emergency order during the season, as it did on the Russian River in late June 2026.
CAN YOU FISH THE KENAI RIVER FROM THE BANK? +
Yes, at public access points or where you have permission, such as a lodge dock. From July 1 to August 15, ADF&G closes marked stretches of riverbank to fishing; there you may fish only while standing in the river at least 10 feet from shore or from a boat more than 10 feet out. Some confluence areas are closed to fishing from boats from May 1 to July 31.
DO YOU NEED A GUIDE TO FISH THE KENAI RIVER? +
No. You can fish from the bank or a dock without one. If you want to fish from a boat, a guide supplies the boat, gear, and knowledge of the boat rules: motors are banned on the river from Skilak Lake up to river mile 80.7 near Cooper Landing, limited to 50 horsepower below Skilak, and from May 1 to July 31 Mondays are drift-only between Skilak Lake and Soldotna.
WHAT LICENSE DO YOU NEED TO FISH THE KENAI RIVER? +
An Alaska sport fishing license, required for residents 18 and older and nonresidents 16 and older. A king salmon stamp is required to fish for kings, but Kenai River king fishing was closed in 2026.
CAN VISITORS DIPNET ON THE KENAI RIVER? +
No. The Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery, open July 10 to July 31 at the mouth, is for Alaska residents only. Nonresidents may not take part or even help handle or clean the catch. Visitors fish the river under sport fishing rules.
WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY TO FISH THE KENAI RIVER? +
Staying on the middle river puts you within reach of every section. Marlow's on the Kenai is a family-run lodge in Sterling with four riverfront cabins with kitchens and private docks, a fish cleaning station, and guided trips coordinated with local guides. It is about 15 minutes from Soldotna and about 3 hours by road from Anchorage.
SOURCES
WHERE THESE FACTS COME FROM
Run timing, rules, and counts come from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and were last checked on October 23, 2026. Emergency orders override the regulation booklet, so check the current list before you fish.
- ADF&G: 2026 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations, Kenai River (PDF)
- ADF&G: Kenai, Soldotna & Homer Run Timing (PDF)
- ADF&G: 2026 Northern Kenai emergency orders
- ADF&G: EO 2-KS-1-8-26, Kenai River early-run king salmon closed (PDF)
- ADF&G: EO 2-KS-1-7-26, Kenai River late-run king salmon closed (PDF)
- ADF&G: Russian River and upper Kenai sockeye limits increased (EO 2-RS-1-29-26)
- ADF&G: Kenai River coho limit remains at two (EO 2-SS-1-49-26)
- ADF&G: 2026 Kenai River late-run sockeye sonar counts
- ADF&G: 2026 Russian River weir counts
- ADF&G: 2026 Southcentral personal use regulations (PDF)
- ADF&G: 2026 Southcentral licensing requirements (PDF)
START PLANNING
BOOK YOUR
KENAI RIVER FISHING TRIP
Stay in a riverfront cabin on the middle Kenai and let us coordinate your guided days. Call or check availability to start planning.