The Kenai River offers excellent fishing for big trout, salmon, and char for anglers of all abilities. Extensive permits for upper, and lower Kenai means more options to catch salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden. Enjoy comfortable log cabins and relaxing main lodge with riverside deck, fire pit and a wood fired sauna. Fine dining in the wilderness served family style. 6wt to 7wt rods with floating lines.
The Kenai River is home to several species of salmon, as well as rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Stretching 82 miles between Kenai Lake and Cook Inlet, the river has three distinct, and unique, fisheries: Upper Kenai River, Lower Kenai River, and Resurrection Bay.
The Upper Kenai River is great for fishing sockeye and silver salmon in season, but the fun really begins late season, when the fattened trout and Dollies start hitting the flies! Trout up to 30” are caught in this scenic stretch.
The Lower Kenai is home to hard fighting, hard hitting king salmon action. It's hard to beat landing a 55+ pound king salmon! Also popular on the Lower Kenai are silver salmon, a fun fish to catch for any angler.
Resurrection Bay is best when silver salmon are in season. The guides take the power boats to Seward, load up the fishermen and gear, then head out onto the water for a day full of hauling in silver salmon. This is a great way to extend a Kenai River trip – with a different fishery and change of scenery. Anglers seeking Alaska’s ‘barn door’ halibut can charter through Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge with halibut captains in Seward, AK.
Door to door service from Anchorage to the lodge is included in the trip package. All you are required to do is book your ticket and inform the lodge on when you will be arriving. The lodge's Alaska Wildland Adventures coach will pick you up at an Anchorage hotel or the airport in the mid afternoon. Travel from Anchorage to the lodge will take around 2 ½ hours on the Seward Highway, along scenic Turnagain Arm, through the Chugach Mountains and alongside the Kenai mountains. On the final day, anglers will be taken back up to Anchorage to the airport, arriving by noon.
A typical day of fishing on the Kenai starts early, as the Land of the Midnight Sun means an early start to the fishing day. On the river, the guides are patient teachers as well as competent historians, naturalists, and species-experts. They know what’s working, and will have you pre-rigged and ready to go before you get in the boat. The guides at Kenai River Sporting Adventures are experts at making sure every anglers' style and pace is accommodated and all their needs on the water are met. Many of the guides have 5, 10 or even 20 years of experience on the Kenai.
Depending on the species, anglers should expect to fish until mid afternoon, or until limits are reached. The fishing regulations are subject to change by Fish & Game, and guides will always know the exact bag limits and exceptions for that day of fishing.
Back at the lodge, a support crew will de-rig the boat , take care of any gear, and even set up photo shoots so that anglers can document the days' catch. After de-rigging anglers will be free to relax in their cabins, sit out on the expansive riverside deck, or stop into the lounge for a cold beer. At dinner, and around the bonfire, share stories of the days’ excitement with the other fishing and lodge guests while you keep a sharp eye out for moose, bears, eagles and more.
Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge includes a main log-style lodge with comfortable seating areas, wood fired stove, and lounge area. The cabins are nestled in the woods near by, each with 2 (or a few with 3) beds, attached private bath, deck and Adirondack chairs. Soft flannel sheets and cabin-style interior décor allow anglers to easily relax after a long day of fishing.
Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge serves hearty, family-style meals, ranging from salmon to beef, halibut and more, accompanied by fresh vegetables, salads, side dishes and decadent desserts. Beer and wine are available; a credit card tab is kept for each guest, and then settled up on the last day.
Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge encourages and welcomes spouses and families to fish together on the Kenai River. Children 13 and up can be accommodated, and a float trip can be arranged on the Kenai or guided hike in the Chugach for those who choose not to fish, or would like to take in the scenery of Cooper Landing in a different way for the day. Guests meet back up mid-afternoon to enjoy the lodge grounds, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton, or a good book on the deck.
The lodge's prime location on the banks of the Upper Kenai River in Cooper Landing gives it a front row seat for major wildlife viewing. Eagles soar above the river, while bears can often be seen busy fishing for their own sockeye snack! Surrounded by the Chugach National Forest, the Kenai Mountains, and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, the Sportfishing Lodge is truly a wilderness experience as well as a fishing destination.
Alaskan summers are short, with a lot of light but not a lot of heat. Expect overnight lows in the 40s to 50s, and daytime highs in the upper 50s to upper 60s. Please come prepared to be damp at least one day of your trip, as it often rains in the summer. Lightweight, breathable raingear (jacket and pants) along with a cap and waterproof/resistant gloves will help keep you comfortable. For heavier rain or for those without raingear, we do provide heavy duty raingear and rainboots. The Alaskan sun may not be strong, but it does still burn so sunscreen is also highly recommended. Mosquitoes are a wilderness reality, but not a major issue near such swift water. Still, it never hurts to bring some mosquito repellent, especially if you’re extra sensitive.
The Kenai River fishery is subject to nature’s own cycles; early and late sockeye and silver salmon runs, but we cannot guarantee them. We also have to strictly monitor Fish and Game regulations and be prepared to adjust fishing plans if necessary. Often this means fishing for a different species than planned, or adjusting bag limits, and/or heading to another fishery (Resurrection Bay) and fishing in a different location. Rarely do we have severe summer weather that would preclude fishing on the Kenai, however, occasionally the winds are high, and if there is any question of safety, the guides will make arrangements for early departure.
Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge likes to say that gratuity is not expected but deserved. The lodge usually sees 5 – 10% of the package price, which is distributed to the guides as well as all of the other people who contributed to the trip. Truly, tips are appreciated in any amount and if you feel your guide has outdone himself, a generous tip certainly sends a strong thank you.
For guests looking to take a day or more to see more of Alaska, Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge can easily accomadate. As a division of Alaska Wildland Adventures, they are able to suggest and provide alternative activities for a day of your fishing trip (a guided hike, a raft trip, even horseback riding or a flightseeing trip!) as well as a seamless connection to a 2, 3 or up to 11 day tour of the Kenai Peninsula and up to Denali National Park.
Kenai River Sport Fishing Lodge also owns two other lodges two other lodges: Kenai Backcountry Lodge is a boat-in only secluded wilderness lodge on the banks of Skilak Lake, and Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, a boat-in only seacoast lodge nestled on Pedersen Lagoon in Kenai Fjords National Park. This lodge features sea kayaking, canoeing and amazing glacier and marine wildlife experiences that complement your fishing adventure perfectly.
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To book a trip with Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge call 1.800.478.4100. For extensive details visit www.alaskasportfish.com. You may also email at info@alaskasportfish.com for more information.
