2027 Kenai & Kasilof River Guided Trips
Custom drift boat fly fishing and light tackle adventures with Captain Ian McDonald. Choose your target species, book individual seats or buy out a private boat, and experience Alaska angling at its absolute finest.
Our Guided Options
Select Your 2027 Fishing Adventure
Full-Day Upper Kenai River Drift
$325 / angler (Shared) or $1,200 (Private Boat up to 4)
Our hallmark Alaska wilderness drift. We launch into the crystal-turquoise waters of the Upper Kenai and float through the non-motorized heart of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Depending on the month, we target explosive June/July sockeye, sight-cast dry flies to rising rainbows, or dead-drift custom egg beads behind spawning salmon redds.
Included in Every Float:
- ✓ Custom Willies Drift Boat with cushioned swivel seats
- ✓ Sage & Loomis fly rods + Ross sealed-drag reels
- ✓ All custom-tied river flies, tippet & hand-painted beads
- ✓ High-end conventional tackle when preferred
- ✓ Gourmet riverside snacks, hot coffee & cold beverages
July Peak Sockeye Salmon Harvest Trip
$325 / angler (Shared) or $1,250 (Private Boat)
Witness the greatest salmon migration on Earth. In July, hundreds of thousands of hard-fighting sockeye push up the river daily. We position you on prime gravel bars and side-channels, coach your flipping rhythm to perfection, and net limit after limit of deep-ocean chrome. All retained fish are immediately bled, iced, and expertly filleted at our cleaning station.
Included in Every Float:
- ✓ Custom sockeye flipping rods and specialized leader setups
- ✓ Heavy-duty commercial coolers and ice on board
- ✓ Expert bleeding and riverbank filleting care
- ✓ Fish care guidance for Soldotna vacuum sealing processors
- ✓ Complete coaching for both beginners and experienced anglers
Fall Trophy Rainbow Trout & Char Expedition
$350 / angler or $1,300 (Private Boat)
The sacred season for passionate fly anglers. As millions of king and sockeye salmon complete their spawn, monster resident rainbow trout gorge on drifting eggs and flesh. We dead-drift hand-painted acrylic beads calibrated to the exact shade of the day's eggs. Fish regularly exceed 10 to 15 pounds with genuine 30-inch giants landed every autumn.
Included in Every Float:
- ✓ 100% Wild Catch & Release conservation handling
- ✓ Custom hand-painted bead selection (dozens of custom shades)
- ✓ Premium Sage 7wt and 8wt indicator outfits
- ✓ Rubber knotless conservation nets for gentle handling
- ✓ Heated drift boat features for brisk fall mornings
Kasilof River Drift Boat Float
$325 / angler or $1,200 (Private Boat)
The quiet, non-motorized sister of the Kenai River. Floating the glacial turquoise Kasilof feels like stepping back 50 years into old Alaska. With no roaring jet outboards allowed on the upper drifts, this float offers peaceful braided channels, incredible wildlife watching (moose, bald eagles, and brown bears), and exceptional early sockeye and silver salmon action.
Included in Every Float:
- ✓ Peaceful drift-only non-motorized float
- ✓ High-performance drift tackle and flies
- ✓ Full instruction in back-trolling and gravel wading
- ✓ Complete fish filleting and meat care
- ✓ Uncrowded gravel bar access
2027 Season Timing
Month-by-Month River Progression
Handcrafted Willies Drift Boats
Our 20-foot custom aluminum drift boats feature deluxe 360-degree swivel high-back seats, level non-skid casting decks, dry interior lock-boxes, and wide gunnels designed for seamless fly line management. You float in quiet, ergonomic comfort all day long.
Start Planning Your 2027 Alaska Trip
Prime July sockeye and September trophy rainbow dates are reserved months in advance. Secure your drift boat seat with Captain Ian today.