Kenai Reds at a Glance
Best Time: Mid-June – mid-August
Open Season: All year
Fish Size: 4-10 lbs., up to 15 lbs.
Gear: Medium rod and reel, 10-17 lb. line
Tackle: Streamer and yarn flies, beads
Techniques: Wet fly swing, drifting, lining
Hot Spots: Lower/Upper Kenai River, Russian River
RED SALMON IN THE KENAI RIVER
The Kenai River drainage is an immensely productive system for red salmon as it has an abundance of lakes and streams that facilitate perfect spawning and rearing conditions for the species. Up to 1.5 million reds may enter the river from spring into fall with an average year producing around 1 million salmon. The number of fish entering the river is tallied by a sonar counter located at river mile 19.5 on the lower Kenai.
Two main populations are present in the Kenai; tributary fish and mainstem Kenai fish. All of the early-arriving salmon are bound for clearwater tributaries while the significantly larger late run contains fish that will spawn in both tributaries and the mainstem. In addition to being more numerous, the late run also produces bigger fish. Distribution within the Kenai system is vast, with most spawning occurring in rivers and streams connected to lakes.
Description
Ocean Phase: Dark steel blue to greenish blue on back; sides are silvery, fading to silvery white on belly. Very minute black freckles or specks may occasionally be seen on back but usually none at all. Flesh color is ruby red.
Spawning Phase: Brilliant red body with distinct olive green head. Base of tail is often a lighter shade of orange. Males develop a humped back, a tooth-filled kype, and crimson bars may appear on sides. Females retain seagoing shape but color same as males. Flesh color is white.
Timing: Early-run fish appear in May and June and spawn in clearwater tributaries during July and August. Russian River is the only major producer of early reds. Late-run fish arrive in July and August and spawn in September and October. Both mainstem Kenai as well as tributaries receive late run salmon.
Size: Common weight for early-run fish is 5 to 7 pounds with rare specimens up to 12 pounds. Late-run reds typically appear in a greater size range and may average anywhere from 4 to 10 pounds along with a fair number of fish up to 12 pounds. A few trophies to 14 pounds or more are caught every season. The state record red salmon was caught in the Kenai River in 1974, measured 31 inches long, and weighed 16 pounds.
FISHING FOR KENAI REDS
Kenai River supports the largest run of red salmon on the road system in Alaska and is renowned as one of the most productive fisheries in the world for the species. This is the most sought-after salmon on the Kenai, with anglers harvesting an average of around 100,000 fish per year. Almost all angling for reds is done from shore with only a small percentage taken by boaters. The methods, techniques, and presentations described here are primarily used by those casting off the bank, although some may be applied by anglers in boats as well.
Red salmon are the perfect target for anglers since they are very abundant and easy to catch without much experience or specialized gear. Fish caught most anywhere in the drainage during the peak of the runs are great table fare and locals as well as visitors to the area take advantage of the liberal bag limits to stock their freezers.
When & Where
Although a few fish are available as early as May and as late as September, the months of June, July, and August are typically viewed as the best times to pursue red salmon. Excellent opportunities exist virtually throughout the mainstem Kenai, from near its mouth to Kenai Lake – including the Russian River. The majority of anglers seeking reds target these fish on the lower river right around Soldotna with the “middle” river in Sterling and upper section near Cooper Landing also being very popular.
Timing
| Location (Area) | Rating | Best Time |
| Lower Kenai River | 1) Poor-fair | early June – mid-June |
| (Kenai/Soldotna) | 2) Excellent | mid-July – early August |
| Middle Kenai River | 1) Fair | early June – mid-June |
| (Sterling) | 2) Excellent | mid-July – early August |
| Upper Kenai River | 1) Good | mid-June – late June |
| (Cooper Landing) | 2) Excellent | late July – early August |
| 1) Early run; 2) Late run |
Tip: The Reds Are Coming!
For good and consistent action to take place during the late run, a push of some 20,000 fish per day through the lower river is necessary. Pay attention to the sonar counts and be prepared to hit the Kenai within 24 hours of a spike in numbers. Sonar counts are reported daily in the local media and available online at the ADF&G website.
Structure
Red salmon may be found almost anywhere on the river but prefer to migrate upstream near shore. Although you may see a significant amount of activity in slack water areas, such as sloughs or the calm flow of a high tide, reds are not easily lined or prone to strike in such places. Instead, focus all efforts in areas that display at least a moderate current.
Seek out gravel bars or areas that have a fairly gentle sloping bottom. In the Kenai, the fish will usually travel in a corridor about 10 to 20 feet from shore at a depth of three to four feet. Avoid places that have a very strong current or where the river bottom drops off steeply, as the fish will actually be too close to the bank to successfully work the line and fly. In the Russian, reds are generally found in the deepest channel of the river.
What & How
Red salmon are very different from other salmon species when it comes to basic techniques, tackle, and flies to use. Not being big fish eaters at sea means that standard hardware such as spoons, spinners, plugs, and the alike are rendered useless. A few large males will occasionally lash out and grab ordinary tackle out of irritation, yet it is rather the exception than the rule. Small chunks of salmon roe fished stationary on the bottom can be effective. As far as techniques are concerned, there is only one thing you need to know when fishing for reds: the wet fly swing.
Gear and Setup
While many anglers use plain spinning or bait casting rods and reels, the most popular and effective gear for the Kenai and Russian rivers is an 8-weight fly rod with floating line and 20-pound leader. The gear identified below represents the optimum in performance for sport rather than utility, with the heavier gear recommended for crowded conditions and/or strong current.
Fly-Fishing: 7- to 9-weight, 9- to 10-foot medium-fast action rod and salmon class reel with a reliable drag system. Use 100 to 150 yards of 20- to 30-pound backing, WF full float or sink tip Type II-IV lines, 200 to 400 grain lines with salmon leader, 3- to 6- foot leader, and 12- to 17-pound tippet.
Spin-/Bait-Casting: 7- to 8 ½-foot, medium action salmon rod and matching high performance freshwater reel with reliable drag system and 150 yards of 14- to 17-pound test line.
Fly Patterns
Since the vast majority of reds caught every season are probably “lined,” the question of what are the best fly selections becomes a non-issue. Most anglers simply use a size 2 to 4 single hook with a one-inch tuft of yarn attached at the knot. Popular colors include chartreuse and orange. The Coho/Russian River Fly is a perennial favorite. Beads in 6 to 8 mm can be used with success. For fly-fishing purists, traditional patterns work as well, especially streamers, nymphs, and egg imitations.
Best Flies: Smaller, darker, and sparser patterns are generally best on the middle and upper Kenai and Russian rivers but larger and more colorful ones (Fat Freddie, Glo Bug) can be deadly in low-light conditions and on the lower Kenai and the tidal zone. Battle Creek, Polar Shrimp, Sockeye Willie, Simple Stealth, Comet, Fall Favorite, Sockeye Orange, Mary Ann, Green Butt Skunk, Sockeye Charlie, and Soft Hackle Stealth in sizes 2 to 6 are all good choices.
Techniques and Presentation
Unlike when fishing for other game fish, reds will generally not move any distance to intercept a fly or any other lure. Flies are good, but only when properly presented. Allow fly to work the water column in the fish’s line of vision, not a foot above or below as it will more than likely be ignored. Select an area with moderate to swift current for best results. The two most widely used techniques are drifting (wet fly swing) and lining.
Drifting: This is the basis for most techniques involving red fishing on the Kenai. Streamers, nymphs, and egg imitations as well as beads are used.
Lining: This technique has proved extremely productive on tight-lipped reds with the basic procedure being the same as the wet fly swing. Length of line between fly and sinker is about three to five feet, creating a trap in which the line between the two slides into the mouth of the fish and with the help of the current pulls the fly right into the fish. Throughout the drift, the angler keeps the rod tip low, sweeping the rig downstream ahead of the current, pulling the line with one hand to keep it tight but slow enough to keep the sinker and fly along the bottom. Do not jerk or tear the line and fly through the water at any time during this procedure, as this constitutes snagging.
Rules & Regulations
Lower Kenai River: Open season is January 1 through December 31. The daily bag limit is three (3) fish but is increased to six (6) when escapement is projected to be met or exceeded, which is frequently the case.
Upper Kenai River: Open season is June 11 through April 30. The daily bag limit is three (3) fish but is increased up to six (6) when escapement is projected to be met or exceeded.
Consult the ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations for more information.