ADF&G WEIR · COUNTS REFRESHED OCTOBER 24, 2026

RUSSIAN RIVER
FISH COUNT

EARLY & LATE RUN SOCKEYE • ESCAPEMENT GOALS • FISHING REPORT

THE QUICK ANSWER

HOW MANY SOCKEYE REACHED THE RUSSIAN RIVER WEIR IN 2026?

47,093 early-run and 56,206 late-run sockeye passed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Russian River weir in 2026, 103,299 in all. The early run finished above its 22,000–42,000 escapement goal, and the late run finished within its 44,000–85,000 goal.

EARLY RUN · 2026

47,093

sockeye through the weir, 06/03 to 07/14

Peak day July 3 with 3,275 fish. 4% below the 6-year average of 48,969. Goal: 22,000–42,000 (above).

LATE RUN · 2026

56,206

sockeye through the weir, 07/15 to 09/02

Peak day August 3 with 3,514 fish. 44% below the 6-year average of 100,306. Goal: 44,000–85,000 (within).

Source: ADF&G Fish Counts, early run and late run. Counts refresh automatically each time this site is built. Page last updated October 23, 2026.

DAILY COUNTS

WHAT DID THE 2026 RUSSIAN RIVER RUNS LOOK LIKE DAY BY DAY?

Early run sockeye, 2026

Daily weir counts from June 3 to July 14, with the running season total.

Russian River early run sockeye, 2026. 42 days of counts. Peak 3,275 on 07/03. Season total 47,093. 0 0 2k 24k 3k 47k 06/03: 0 fish 06/04: 0 fish 06/05: 1 fish 06/06: 2 fish 06/07: 3 fish 06/08: 65 fish 06/09: 251 fish 06/10: 269 fish 06/11: 333 fish 06/12: 1,049 fish 06/13: 1,393 fish 06/14: 1,474 fish 06/15: 1,221 fish 06/16: 1,451 fish 06/17: 1,844 fish 06/18: 1,710 fish 06/19: 2,911 fish 06/20: 3,220 fish 06/21: 3,115 fish 06/22: 2,063 fish 06/23: 2,044 fish 06/24: 1,106 fish 06/25: 1,347 fish 06/26: 1,531 fish 06/27: 1,448 fish 06/28: 696 fish 06/29: 601 fish 06/30: 626 fish 07/01: 1,265 fish 07/02: 1,637 fish 07/03: 3,275 fish 07/04: 2,072 fish 07/05: 1,610 fish 07/06: 1,200 fish 07/07: 991 fish 07/08: 648 fish 07/09: 455 fish 07/10: 730 fish 07/11: 675 fish 07/12: 292 fish 07/13: 242 fish 07/14: 227 fish 06/03 06/10 06/17 06/24 07/01 07/08 07/14 DAILY SEASON TO DATE
Bars are daily counts (left axis); the line is the running season total (right axis). The solid bar is the peak day.

Late run sockeye, 2026

Daily weir counts from July 15 to September 2, with the running season total.

Russian River late run sockeye, 2026. 50 days of counts. Peak 3,514 on 08/03. Season total 56,206. 0 0 2k 28k 4k 56k 07/15: 399 fish 07/16: 719 fish 07/17: 678 fish 07/18: 724 fish 07/19: 758 fish 07/20: 901 fish 07/21: 637 fish 07/22: 772 fish 07/23: 741 fish 07/24: 1,060 fish 07/25: 901 fish 07/26: 671 fish 07/27: 575 fish 07/28: 403 fish 07/29: 380 fish 07/30: 786 fish 07/31: 2,193 fish 08/01: 2,633 fish 08/02: 2,402 fish 08/03: 3,514 fish 08/04: 2,354 fish 08/05: 1,538 fish 08/06: 1,312 fish 08/07: 1,231 fish 08/08: 1,343 fish 08/09: 854 fish 08/10: 2,031 fish 08/11: 1,730 fish 08/12: 1,710 fish 08/13: 1,832 fish 08/14: 2,497 fish 08/15: 1,297 fish 08/16: 1,264 fish 08/17: 894 fish 08/18: 1,249 fish 08/19: 871 fish 08/20: 1,165 fish 08/21: 1,107 fish 08/22: 1,051 fish 08/23: 808 fish 08/24: 831 fish 08/25: 840 fish 08/26: 914 fish 08/27: 782 fish 08/28: 691 fish 08/29: 735 fish 08/30: 471 fish 08/31: 409 fish 09/01: 329 fish 09/02: 219 fish 07/15 07/22 07/29 08/05 08/12 08/19 08/26 09/02 DAILY SEASON TO DATE
Bars are daily counts (left axis); the line is the running season total (right axis). The solid bar is the peak day.

MULTI-YEAR COMPARISON

HOW DOES 2026 COMPARE TO PAST RUSSIAN RIVER RUNS?

YEAR EARLY RUN EARLY PEAK LATE RUN LATE PEAK
2026 47,093 07/03 56,206 08/03
2025 37,153 06/20 66,681 08/06
2024 34,677 06/24 70,009 08/07
2023 66,818 06/20 160,430 08/05
2022 61,098 06/24 124,561 07/29
2021 46,976 06/22 123,950 08/06

Season totals and peak days from the ADF&G Fish Counts database. Early-run goal 22,000–42,000; late-run goal 44,000–85,000 (adopted in 2020, replacing 30,000–110,000).

THE CALENDAR

WHEN DO THE EARLY AND LATE RUNS HIT THE RUSSIAN RIVER?

The early run arrives mid-June to mid-July and the late run mid-July to the mid-August closure, according to ADF&G's run-timing chart.

RUN ADF&G TIMING 2026 WEIR PEAK
Early-run sockeyeMid-June to mid-JulyJuly 3
Late-run sockeyeMid-July to closure, mid-AugustAugust 3
Coho (silver) salmonEarly August to end of SeptemberNot counted at the weir

Read the weir with a lag in mind. The weir is at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake, about 78 miles from the mouth of the Kenai, and ADF&G estimates sockeye take 7 to 10 days to get there from the lower river. Fish showing at the confluence today will not reach the count for days. The full calendar for every species is on our Alaska salmon run timing chart. Source: ADF&G Kenai Peninsula run timing.

RUSSIAN RIVER FISHING REPORT

HOW IS THE RUSSIAN RIVER FISHING RIGHT NOW?

Sockeye counting for 2026 is over: the late-run weir count ended September 2. ADF&G's September 4, 2026 area report described trout fishing on the Russian River as good, with coho present in catchable numbers.

ADF&G's fishing reports say Russian River coho fishing is usually best near the end of the second week of September. For conditions on the Kenai mainstem, see our Kenai River fishing report. Source: ADF&G Northern Kenai fishing report.

2026 REGULATIONS

WHAT CHANGED ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER IN 2026?

DATES ACTION ORDER
June 18 – July 14 Russian River Sanctuary Area opened early for sockeye (normally July 15 – Aug 20). Fly-fishing-only; 3 per day, 6 in possession for sockeye or coho 16 in. or longer, only 1 coho. 2-RS-1-26-26
June 25 – July 14 Sockeye limit raised to 6 per day, 12 in possession on the Russian River and the upper Kenai from Skilak Lake to above Sportsman's Landing. 22,375 sockeye had passed the weir by June 22. 2-RS-1-29-26

ADF&G asks anglers to take fish out of the clear Russian River water and clean them at the mainstem Kenai cleaning tables at the confluence and the ferry crossing. Always check the current ADF&G emergency orders before you fish. Access, gear and trip planning are on our Russian River fishing guide.

YOUR HOME BASE

WHERE CAN YOU STAY TO FISH THE RUSSIAN RIVER?

Marlow's on the Kenai is a family-run lodge on the middle Kenai River in Sterling, Alaska, down the Sterling Highway from Cooper Landing and the Russian River. It has four riverfront cabins with kitchens, private docks and a fish cleaning station, so you can fish the Russian one day and the Kenai from the dock the next.

FAQ

RUSSIAN RIVER FISH COUNT QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE RUSSIAN RIVER FISH COUNT FOR 2026?

47,093 early-run and 56,206 late-run sockeye passed the ADF&G Russian River weir in 2026, 103,299 in all. The early run peaked on July 3 (3,275 fish) and the late run on August 3 (3,514).

WHAT IS THE RUSSIAN RIVER SOCKEYE ESCAPEMENT GOAL?

ADF&G manages the early run to a biological escapement goal of 22,000–42,000 sockeye and the late run to a sustainable escapement goal of 44,000–85,000, both counted at the weir. In 2026 the early run finished above its goal and the late run finished within its goal.

WHEN DO THE RUSSIAN RIVER SOCKEYE RUNS ARRIVE?

ADF&G lists the early run from mid-June to mid-July and the late run from mid-July to the season closure in mid-August. ADF&G’s fishing reports point to the last week of July and first week of August for late-run fish at the Russian River and the confluence.

WHERE IS THE RUSSIAN RIVER WEIR?

At the outlet of Lower Russian Lake, about 78 miles from the mouth of the Kenai River. ADF&G says sockeye take roughly 7 to 10 days to travel from the lower Kenai to the weir, so the weir count trails the fish anglers see at the confluence.

WERE RUSSIAN RIVER LIMITS RAISED IN 2026?

Yes. ADF&G opened the Russian River Sanctuary Area early on June 18 (emergency order 2-RS-1-26-26) and raised the sockeye limit to six per day and twelve in possession on the Russian River and part of the upper Kenai from June 25 through July 14 (2-RS-1-29-26), after the early run passed the bottom of its goal.

WHAT FISHING GEAR IS LEGAL ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER?

ADF&G describes the Russian River area as fly-fishing-only: an unbaited, single-hook artificial fly with a hook gap of 3/8 inch or less. If weight is used it must be fixed at least 18 inches ahead of the fly. Check the current regulation booklet and emergency orders before you go.

CAN I FISH THE RUSSIAN RIVER FROM MARLOW’S ON THE KENAI?

Yes. Marlow's is a family-run lodge on the middle Kenai River in Sterling, Alaska, along the Sterling Highway from Cooper Landing and the Russian River, with four riverfront cabins with kitchens, private docks and a fish cleaning station. Call 907-341-4966.

Related: Kenai River fish counts · Kasilof River fish count · Alaska salmon run timing

START PLANNING

PLAN YOUR TRIP
AROUND THE RUSSIAN RIVER RUNS

Call the lodge or check dates online.

CALL 907-341-4966 CHECK AVAILABILITY