Kenai River fishing is some of the best fresh water angling in all of Alaska.
The river is only a few hours drive south and west of Anchorage on the beautiful and pristine Kenai Peninsula.
The Kenai region is really beautiful, with glacier-topped mountains feeding pristine streams and rivers. The Kenai river runs 82 miles (132 km) from Kenai Lake to the Cook Inlet.
The river’s water is an amazing turquoise-blue color (it reminds me of the color of Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay or the mountain lakes in Switzerland and Austria).
The river's stunning color is due to the many glacier-fed streams that feed into it.
This nutrient-rich glacier runoff is also what attracts a tremendous number of salmon to the river, including king, sockeye, and silver (coho) salmon.
This abundance helps make the Kenai one of the most popular spots for salmon sport fishing anywhere in the world.
In fact, the current world record king salmon catch was hauled in on the Kenai river in 1985, weighing at an amazing 97 pounds.
The river is known for its exceptionally large salmon, with kings weighing in at an average of 50 pounds during the mid-summer run (in mid-July).
King salmon regularly run from 60 to 90 pounds in the river, making them a truly challenging and unforgettable catch.
Other popular fish in the Kenai include rainbow trout and Dolly Varden, both of which are available in trophy sizes.
Of course, in addition to its outstanding fishing, the Kenai Peninsula has some of the most beautiful scenery you will find anywhere.
While not receiving quite the same amounts of rainfall as some of the areas of the Iside Passage, the Kenai region is still wonderfully lush and green all summer long.
Kenai river fishing is some of the best in Alaska, and the secenery can't be beat. Add to that the easy access via Anchorage, and the Kenai really can't be beat.
