Kenai River Combo King-Sockeye Salmon Guided Fishing
There are just a handful of days each year when we’re able to target multiple salmon species on the same day of fishing. It’s amazing how these different species of fish have figured out how to share this river and all come back at their own special times. Almost like they’ve called ahead and made reservations. Just as one run is winding down the other run is starting. But not before they’ve overlapped a little bit – and allow us the fun of going after two different species.
Kenai River Combo King-Sockeye Salmon Guided Fishing
Available July 1 - July 31
Peak Dates: July 15 - July 31
For just a few days or weeks each year combination trips, where we target multiple species of salmon on the same day, are possible. One of the most popular combination trips we are able to offer are our Kenai River king salmon and Kenai River sockeye salmon combo trips.
On these trips, we’ll be focused on Kenai River sockeye salmon for part of the day and at other parts of the day, we’ll be focused on the mighty Kenai River king salmon. This means fishing for Kenai River king salmon from the boat using lures like Luhr Jensen Kwikfish and Spin-n-Glo lures. Hopefully with bait if regulations allow it. Other times we’ll find the perfect spot on the river bank to park the boat and we’ll all jump out, wade out about knee-deep in the water, and floss for Kenai River sockeye salmon.
Kenai River Combo King-Sockeye Salmon Guided Fishing - Peak Times
There are only 31 days each year when we can really offer the Kenai River king salmon and Kenai River sockeye salmon combination trips. Obviously, we’re going to need both king salmon and sockeye salmon in the Kenai River! Both of these salmon start to enter the river around July 1st and the good news is both runs peak within a few days of each other.
Both the late Kenai River sockeye salmon run and the late Kenai River king salmon run are counted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game so it’s pretty easy to tell which days will historically be the best days of fishing.
The stacked fish counts tell the story. The times that we can fish for Kenai River sockeye salmon are from July 1 – Aug 20. The times that we can fish for Kenai River king salmon are from May 15 to July 31 by regulation. Therefore July 1 to July 31 are the days we’re able to fish for both Kenai River king salmon and Kenai River sockeye salmon.
Which are the best days? Kenai River king salmon traditionally peak on July 21st and the peak time is generally July 14 to July 31. Kenai River sockeye salmon traditionally peak on August 4, however, Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing is historically considered “excellent” from July 15 to August 10. So, the best days to fish for both Kenai River king salmon and Kenai River sockeye salmon are between July 15 and July 31.
Kenai River Combo King-Sockeye Salmon Guided Fishing - What to Bring
We will provide nearly everything you need on our Kenai River king salmon and Kenai River sockeye salmon combination fishing trips. We’ll be bringing two different sets of rods and reels, bait for the Kenai River king salmon, leaders and hooks for the Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing, two different landing nets, and bait for Kenai River king salmon if bait is allowed at that time.
For part of the day, you’ll be in the water with waders and boots, so layers are important. Particularly for your feet. The other part of the day we’ll be in the boat fishing for king salmon where layers are still important because we’re relaxed and sitting on the water.
Here are a few things you can consider bringing in order to make your fishing with us more comfortable:
- Fishing license & king salmon stamp
- For Kenai River silver salmon fishing, it’s always a good idea to plan for cooler temperatures and plan for rain. Better safe than sorry! Dress in layers.
- Sunscreen
- Hat and Gloves
- Sunglasses & eye protection is need sockeye fishing more than any other type of fishing we do
- Lunch, Snacks, and Drinks. Adult beverages are allowed.
- A waterproof cell phone case is always a good idea. We don’t expect your phone to be dropped in the water, but rain is always a possibility
- A great attitude! No one wants to catch fish more than us! We’re in this together.
Kenai River Combo King-Sockeye Salmon Guided Fishing - What To Expect During Your Day
We usually like to start off our Kenai River king salmon and Kenai River sockeye salmon combination fishing days targeting the king salmon for a few hours. With the pressure off the fish from the evening before the king salmon have a chance to relax and group back up together. This makes the early morning fishing more productive.
After fishing for Kenai River Kings for a while we like to shift our attention to the sockeye where we can all get out and get involved with the fishing for a bit. We’ll take you to some of our favorite sockeye spots, teach the techniques for catching sockeye salmon, and hopefully, we’ll have a few fish in the net in no time. When things go really well, we have limits of Kenai River sockeye salmon in no time! Once we’ve got limits of sockeye, or when folks are just ready, we’ll go back to fishing for king salmon for the remainder of the time left for the day.
Our full-day trips are from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Our half-day morning trips are from 6:30 AM – 11:30 AM and our afternoon trips are from 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
