You’re about to have your dream come true. You’re
going fishing on the Kenai River - Alaska’s salmon
magnet. The great thing is you actually have two
windows of opportunity for each major species -
Chinook (King) Salmon, Sockeye (Red) Salmon, and
Coho (Silver) Salmon. Having three run times for
three types of salmon is unique, making the Kenai
River one of the richest sport fishing waterways on
the globe.
Chinook (King) Salmon Run Times
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Run times tend to vary a bit from year to year, but
they do follow the same basic pattern each year. The
initial run of Kings occurs from mid-May to early
July and the last starts in early July and ends on
July 31. However, as early as
April you’ll find King Salmon coming into the Kenai
River. Although not nearly as
plentiful as they will be by the middle of May,
Kings are often hooked as early as late April.
This initial run is the smaller of the two, but
because the water levels are lower, some people
prefer this time of year. The
world record for Chinook Salmon was set on the Kenai
River during the first run in May. That could be
reason enough to plan a trip for the initial
migration of Kings.
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The second run is focused on the lower part of the
river where the salmon have spawned.
July first is the designated date for the
beginning of the final King run of the season, with
large numbers of fish in the river by the end of the
first week. Mid-July finds a huge quantity of salmon
concentrated in the lower part of the primary
channel and attracting a maximum number of
sportsmen. Although the river
can become crowded with guide boats and fishermen,
the Kenai tends to be a very civil place with a
party-like atmosphere. It’s actually a great time to
be on the river with a community of anglers having
the time of their lives.
Sockeye (Red) Salmon Run Times
You’ll find the first Red Salmon run starting in
late May as they swim through the lower and middle
sections of the Kenai on their way to the Russian
River, a tributary of the Kenai.
The Reds become plentiful right around June tenth,
peaking sometime between the fifteenth and twentieth
of the month. They continue
their commute, however in fewer numbers, until the
end of the month. Sockeyes are
most plentiful in the upper regions of the Kenai.
Beginning in mid-July, the second run of the Reds
entices fishermen to take to the banks, standing in
crowds 15-20 thick. The Sockeye reach their highest
numbers by the third week and then start to dwindle
until their migration is over by the end of the
month. This atmosphere, when fishermen are virtually
packed together angling from a pool of thousands of
Reds, is called "combat fishing."
It can be a great time for trading fish
stories, filling your stringer, and enjoying your
sport with fellow enthusiasts.
Coho (Silver) Salmon Run Times
In
late July, the Coho Salmon are starting their
journey up the Kenai to spawn.
By early August, the Silvers are abundant and
fishing is fantastic. The run continues through the
month with angling abating in the fourth week of
August. Just a week or so later in early September,
the second and final migration of Silver Salmon
begins. Large numbers work their way up the river
until, at the end of September, the salmon season is
officially over.
It’s a wild four-and-a-half months on the Kenai with
fishermen from across the globe enjoying some of the
finest salmon runs they’ll ever find. Expert guides
adept at helping sports fishermen get the most out
of their time on the river help make each visitor’s
experience something they’ll remember and relish for
years to come.
Going salmon fishing? You can‘t beat the Kenai River
in Alaska.
About the author:
This article was written by Paul Mroczka sponsored
by
http://www.alaskafishon.com/ . Alaska Fish On is
a licensed and registered Kenai river fishing guide
service providing affordable packages for the novice
or experienced fisher. Let the experts at Alaska
Fish On tailor the perfect Alaska fishing trip
package suited to your needs for your next vacation.
Reproductions of this article are encouraged but
must include a link pointing back to
http://www.alaskafishon.com/
