Salmon Run Times in the Kenai River

You're about to have your dream come true.You'll find the first Red Salmon run starting in late
You're going fishing on the Kenai River - Alaska'sMay as they swim through the lower and middle
salmon magnet. The great thing is you actuallysections of the Kenai on their way to the Russian
have two windows of opportunity for each majorRiver, a tributary of the Kenai. The Reds become
species - Chinook (King) Salmon, Sockeye (Red)plentiful right around June tenth, peaking sometime
Salmon, and Coho (Silver) Salmon. Having threebetween the fifteenth and twentieth of the
run times for three types of salmon is unique,month. They continue their commute, however in
making the Kenai River one of the richest sportfewer numbers, until the end of the month.
fishing waterways on the globe.Sockeyes are most plentiful in the upper regions
Chinook (King) Salmon Run Timesof the Kenai.
Run times tend to vary a bit from year to year,Beginning in mid-July, the second run of the Reds
but they do follow the same basic pattern eachentices fishermen to take to the banks, standing
year. The initial run of Kings occurs from mid-Mayin crowds 15-20 thick. The Sockeye reach their
to early July and the last starts in early July andhighest numbers by the third week and then start
ends on July 31. However, as early as April you'llto dwindle until their migration is over by the end
find King Salmon coming into the Kenai River.of the month. This atmosphere, when fishermen
Although not nearly as plentiful as they will be byare virtually packed together angling from a pool
the middle of May, Kings are often hooked asof thousands of Reds, is called "combat fishing." It
early as late April.can be a great time for trading fish stories, filling
This initial run is the smaller of the two, butyour stringer, and enjoying your sport with fellow
because the water levels are lower, some peopleenthusiasts.
prefer this time of year. The world record forCoho (Silver) Salmon Run Times
Chinook Salmon was set on the Kenai RiverIn late July, the Coho Salmon are starting their
during the first run in May. That could be reasonjourney up the Kenai to spawn. By early August,
enough to plan a trip for the initial migration ofthe Silvers are abundant and fishing is fantastic.
Kings.The run continues through the month with angling
The second run is focused on the lower part ofabating in the fourth week of August. Just a
the river where the salmon have spawned. Julyweek or so later in early September, the second
first is the designated date for the beginning ofand final migration of Silver Salmon begins. Large
the final King run of the season, with largenumbers work their way up the river until, at the
numbers of fish in the river by the end of theend of September, the salmon season is officially
first week. Mid-July finds a huge quantity ofover.
salmon concentrated in the lower part of theIt's a wild four-and-a-half months on the Kenai
primary channel and attracting a maximumwith fishermen from across the globe enjoying
number of sportsmen. Although the river cansome of the finest salmon runs they'll ever find.
become crowded with guide boats and fishermen,Expert guides adept at helping sports fishermen
the Kenai tends to be a very civil place with aget the most out of their time on the river help
party-like atmosphere. It's actually a great time tomake each visitor's experience something they'll
be on the river with a community of anglersremember and relish for years to come.
having the time of their lives.Going salmon fishing? You can't beat the Kenai
Sockeye (Red) Salmon Run TimesRiver in Alaska.