Fly Fishing the Kenai Peninsula

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What You Need to Know Before You Go


šŸ§­ Thinking About Fly Fishing in Alaska?

If youā€™ve ever dreamed of landing a wild salmon or drifting a bead for trophy trout while surrounded by snow-capped peaks and bald eagles overheadā€¦
Welcome to the Kenai Peninsula.

Fly fishing here isnā€™t just productiveā€”itā€™s immersive. And if itā€™s your first time fishing in Alaska, weā€™ll help you get your expectations set and your gear dialed.


šŸ“ Where Should You Go?

Kenai River

  • Upper = scenic floats, trout & sockeye

  • Middle = big bows, long seams, great drift boat water

  • Lower = coho chaos in Augustā€“September

Kasilof River

  • Drift-boat only = quiet, no motors

  • Solid for sockeye, kings (hatchery only), and coho

Coastal Creeks (DIY-Friendly)

  • Anchor River, Ninilchik, Deep Creek

  • Great for steelhead and walk-in fly fishing


šŸŸ What Can You Catch on a Fly Rod?

  • šŸŸ„ Sockeye Salmon (Juneā€“August) ā€“ precise drifts, combat casting

  • šŸŸ  Silver Salmon (Augustā€“October) ā€“ explosive topwater eats

  • šŸŸ¢ Rainbow Trout & Dolly Varden (Juneā€“October) ā€“ beads, flesh, and streamers

  • šŸ”µ Steelhead (Fall, Lower Peninsula)


šŸŽ£ Donā€™t Have All the Gear? Weā€™ve Got You.

When you book with Kenai Fly Fish, we provide:

  • šŸ›¶ Jet or drift boat access

  • šŸŽ£ Rods, reels, terminal tackle

  • šŸ§„ Waders & rain gear (no extra charge)

  • šŸ§Š Fish filleting and prep

  • šŸ§­ Flexible launch times and daily trip customization

Whether youā€™re casting dry flies for fun or hunting salmon for dinner, weā€™ll match the river, technique, and species to your goals.


šŸ§  Pro Tips Before You Go

  • āœ… Donā€™t stress about fly choice. Your guide has it covered.

  • šŸ§Š Bring a soft cooler or plan to have fish vacuum-packed for the flight home

  • ā˜• Dress in layersā€”even summer mornings start cool

  • šŸ“ø Bring your phone or a waterproof camā€”this place is unreal

  • šŸ§¾ Buy your fishing license online before your trip: ADFG Website


šŸ‘‹ Letā€™s Go Fly Fishing

Fly fishing the Kenai Peninsula is the perfect balance of wild and accessible. Whether itā€™s your first Alaska trip or your fiftieth, weā€™re here to make it count.

šŸ“ž Call Ian: (907) 301-6957
šŸ“§ Email: [email protected]
šŸŒ kenaiflyfish.com
šŸ“² Instagram/Facebook: @kenaiflyfish


āœ… Quick Recap

šŸŽÆ Target Species šŸ—“ļø Best Time to Go
Sockeye Salmon Mid-June to Early August
Silver Salmon August to October
Rainbow Trout June to October
Dolly Varden July to September
Steelhead September to October (Lower streams)
 
 

Kenai River Fish Species

Rainbow Trout

Kenai River rainbows can be well over 30 inches and up to 20lbs!

Dolly Varden Char

Dollies range of all sizes and can reach up to about 12 lbs.

Steelhead

Steelhead are very uniform in shape and average around 28 inches. These amazing, acrobatic fish are often a fly fishermanā€™s favorite to target.

King Salmon

The Kenai River is open to motorized boats, allowing us chase the bite, and stay on the fish!

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon (also called red salmon) are the most popular salmon to catch on the Kenai Peninsula.

Coho Salmon

Ranging anywhere from 5-20lbs, coho are acrobatic and are probably the most aggressive salmon out there.

Pink Salmon

Pinks are completely underrated, they are extremely aggressive to catch and come in by the millions!

Halibut

Guided ocean fishing on the world-famous Kenai Peninsula