When it comes to King salmon fishing in Alaska, the Kenai River is a can’t-miss opportunity. The lower river still holds the world record for 97 lbs 4 oz and wide enough that you’re likely find back trolling early seasons May through July with big kings like this guy!

July and August offer the best chance for salmon fishing in this area. With access to lots more fish than other months, these two seasons should be enough to get you stocked up with delicious Sockeye! The Lower Kenai River will hold an abundant run that lasts through September before things start getting scarce again.

FAQ: How to get to the Kenai Peninsula

Once you arrive in Anchorage, you can rent a car and drive the scenic Seward Highway South for about 2.5 hours to Soldotna. You can also fly straight into Soldotna on a small plane from Anchorage, but you will still need a rental vehicle to get to the boat launches.  Please keep in mind that the traffic will be slow on Alaskan highways in the summer because of the short construction season and heavy tourism traffic, you may want to add an hour or two to your expected drive time.

Accommodations

With long hours of fishing and early morning starts, I highly recommend finding a place to stay overnight while visiting the Kenai Peninsula. I recommend Aspen Hotel Soldotna.  Booking.com , Airbnb and VRBO can also be great tools for finding available options on the Kenai Peninsula. I am more than happy to help you find a place to stay, so feel free to give me a call at any time. Please be sure to book far in advance as prime summer dates book up fast!