The Kasilof River is located just minutes from the world famous Kenai River. Often overshadowed by the Kenai’s popularity, Kasilof can be comparativly less crowded, but has great salmon runs to fish. It is also an extremely popular dipnetting location, although dipnetting is open to Alaska residents only. For out of state visitors there is still so much to see and do.
About the Kasilof River
Kasilof Fishing Season & Species
The Kasilof is approximatly 17 miles long and begins in the large sockeye spawning lake, Tustumena Lake. It hosts multiple species of fish including salmon, Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, and steelhead trout. Although there are many different species of fish in this river, salmon are the most popular target. Many anglers will fish from the river bank while others prefer to fish from a drift boat.
The river is tidally affected, therefore anglers can fish the estuary as salmon begin to migrate up river. Salmon are at their freshest and brightest as they leave the ocean before they make their long trek upstream. In several seperate runs across the spring and summer months, thousands and thousands of salmon swim from the Pacific Ocean into the Cook Inlet and up the Kasilof River to spawn. At the end of the season in 2022 for instance, ADF&G counted nearly a million sockeye salmon in the Kasilof.
There are three state recreation sites along the Kasilof, these sites allow for boat launches additionally these sites offer day use, parking, bathrooms, hiking and camping.
Read all about Kasilof fishing:
Kasilof River Reds
Kasilof River Fishing Story and photos by Nick Ohlrich Are you looking to find an alternative to the shoulder-to-shoulder “combat fishing” found on the Russian and Kenai Rivers in June and July? The Kasilof Read More...
Kasilof River Kings
Just 15 miles south of the world-famous Kenai River lays a hidden gem that may be a smaller river but has king-size stature.