KASILOF RIVER KING SALMON FISHING TRIPS
We offer both half and full day guided drift boat trips on the Lower Kasilof in May and June for early run Kasilof River king salmon. The Kasilof gets a combined return of both hatchery and naturally produced kings that are both largely returning to Crooked Creek, a small tributary just above tidal reach. We fish the section of the Kasilof (roughly 8 miles) from just above Crooked Creek to within a couple of miles of the ocean (Cook Inlet).
It is a beautiful drift with several different holes to fish and bald eagle and moose sightings are common. The Kasilof is a drift boat only experience where motors are not permitted while fishing and this make for a very peaceful fishing experience.
Where we fish for Kasilof King Salmon
For king salmon on the Kasilof we fish exclusively from the Sterling Highway Bridge to one of the takeouts just above tidewater and Cook Inlet. This is a very scenic and enjoyable float that begins just above Crooked Creek, the tributary that all the early run kings are returning to. The river has a very nice number of holes and long runs where kings transitioning from Cook Inlet will travel rest and for some, get caught. Fishing tidal movements of salmon is very important on the Kasilof as most of the consistent fishing occurs at precise portions of each tide.
Kasilof River King Salmon Limits
Unless changed by emergency order, The Kasilof River opens to fishing for early run king salmon with bait on May 16 and the limit is two hatchery fish per person daily and/or one hatchery fish and one wild fish Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays. The limit changes on July 1 to one king salmon per day either natural or hatchery produced, and the season closes on August 1.
*It is important to note that the period of low abundance the Kenai River early and late run is experiencing does and has affected management of the Kasilof River. Closures and restriction on the Kenai in recent season have led to no bait restrictions on the early run of hatchery Kasilof Kings and the July fishery was closed last season to all fishing and will likely remain closed until Kenai stocks show signs of recovery.
The Kasilof, despite all the restrictions and area wide closures, does remain one of the most viable places in late May and early June to catch a king salmon. The early run does receive several thousand hatchery and naturally produced king salmon returning to Crooked Creek and we do have consistent success even without using bait. These fish arriving off the Cook Inlet tides are chrome bright and fight extremely hard the lower water conditions of the Kasilof. This is always one of our favorite early season fisheries with some very amazing fish to encounter all from the peace and solitude of the drift boat.
Kasilof King Salmon Fishing Rates
May / June / July
Kenai Half Day – $295pp
Up to 5 hours
Kasilof Half Day – $295pp
Up to 5 hours
Kenai Full Day – $350pp
Up to 8 hours
Kasilof Full Day – $350pp
Up to 8 hours
Kenai/Kasilof Full Day King/Sockeye or Trout Combo – $450pp
Up to 10 hours
Things To Know About Kasilof River King Salmon:
*The Crooked Creek Hatchery, established in the mid-1970s, was instrumental in enhancing sport fishing opportunities by producing early-run Chinook salmon. The inaugural significant adult return of these salmon occurred in 1978. Although the hatchery no longer functions as an incubating or rearing facility, its role in salmon enhancement continues. Currently, eggs are collected from ocean-age-2 and older adult Chinook salmon returning to the Crooked Creek Facility and are transported to the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery for rearing to the smolt stage. In early June, these smolt are moved back to the Crooked Creek Facility, where they undergo a 7 to 10-day imprinting period in concrete raceways before being released into Crooked Creek.
*Since 2014, approximately 140,500 smolt have been stocked yearly and will continue to be stocked annually into Crooked Creek.
*Late Run Kasilof Kings are main stem spawners and rival the size of the legendary Kenai Kings. Fish well over 80 lbs. have been recorded on the Kasilof and fish in the 40-50 lb. range are not uncommon.
How we fish for Kasilof King Salmon
Fishing from a drift boat for Kasilof Kings is a very challenging but even more rewarding fishing experience. While there are always days where fishing seems easy at time, the majority of the Kasilof King fishing involves searching and waiting for that perfect moment to occur. By far the most effective and popular method is backtrolling or sending out diving lugs or cured salmon eggs with divers in front of the boat. Presented effectively this spread of lures will illicit some super memorable strikes as large kings are capable of very hard take downs. Another very effective method is to bounce eggs below or just in front of the boat with lead. Bobber fishing with eggs or soft beads is another exciting way to catch these very impressive early run Kasilof King Salmon.
FAQ’s About King Salmon Fishing
Can you keep king salmon in Kasilof River?
What month is best for king salmon fishing?
Where is the best place to catch king salmon?
Where to fish on the Kasilof River?
More Information on King Salmon Fishing
Running a fishing business on the world famous Kenai River may seem like a dream job to some but those that have “lived this dream” know it’s not always about bent rods and screaming drags. Fact is even though we love to fish, during the peak of the season and the business, we really get …
There is certainly no doubt the Kenai is the world’s most famous salmon river, home to the largest kings on earth and the place of piscatorial dreams. Yet just 20 minutes down the Sterling highway is the Kasilof, a river slightly smaller than the Kenai, but equally rich in historic angling lore and yes, huge …
Prior to this past season, it had been several summers since I guided for kings on the Kenai. With low returns and restrictions, we largely refocused our efforts on the more abundant and predictable sockeye salmon. 2016 seemed to be a pivotal moment for the Kenai with improved king salmon returns not only here, but …
Early Run Kasilof Kings! Low water and fresh fish makes for some great action. If you are looking for that first fresh salmon of the season, look no further than the Kasilof in late May and early June. After a long winter in Alaska, there is just something special about the first salmon returning to …
Kasilof Sockeye: Drift below Tustumena Lake offers solitude and good numbers of sockeye salmon. Changes in our king salmon fisheries have led us to further diversify and look for additional and exciting new fishing trips. One of these is the float from Tustumena Lake on the Kasilof River down to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Sockeye salmon migration …
Here is another good read covering the latest information on king salmon management… https://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/new-tools-biologists-aim-avert-another-kenai-king-disaster