ABOUT EXPLORE KENAI

Dustin Voss, Head Fishing Guide

Dustin is a life-long Alaskan who grew up in Barrow, a town located above the Arctic Circle. After High School he attended the University of Alaska Anchorage and used every excuse to fish the Kenai and surrounding rivers between classes. After graduation, he landed a job as a professional fire fighter on the Kenai Peninsula giving himself ample time to fish. Using his flexible fire fighting schedule, Dustin is able to guide during the summer and fall months.

A member of the Kenai River Professional Guide Association, Dustin runs a 20ft North River Scout for kings, sockeye and silver salmon and, of course, rainbow trout.

Dustin Voss

Dallas Voss, Fishing Guide & Trip Planner

Running a 20-foot Willie Predator, Dallas guides clients of Explore Kenai to trophy fish right in her backyard. Based in her hometown of Kenai, she has access to five species of salmon and world-class rainbow trout, with steelhead and grayling fisheries just minutes away.

A lifelong Alaskan, Dallas moved to Kenai with her family at age three. Nearly every memory growing up revolves around fishing—exploring big rivers, small streams, and the waters of Cook Inlet. Her family not only fished for recreation but also worked in several commercial fisheries, including salmon gillnetting, halibut longlining, and oyster farming.

As a teenager, Dallas spent several summers working at Inlet Salmon, a commercial fish processing plant, and later worked for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Soldotna. These experiences helped shape her deep understanding of the Kenai River and the broader fishing community.

In the off-season, Dallas hosts women’s fly fishing trips around the world with Women’s Fly Fishing, leading adventures in Belize, Honduras, and Mexico. She also co-hosted Fishing TV’s World Fishing Day on June 23, 2018, which was broadcast globally. Dallas is a member of the Kenai River Professional Guide Association and serves as an ambassador for Dryft Waders and Trout Unlimited’s Kenai Guide Ambassador program.

Dallas is married to fellow guide Dustin, and together they are raising their son Blake and daughter Andrea.

Dallas Voss

WHERE YOU MEET US

Private Lot on Canal

When fishing with Explore Kenai on the lower Kenai River, you'll meet your guides at a private, safe lot that is situated on a canal off the main stem. You'll find an outhouse to use prior to the start of your trip as well as a covered, wader changing area with benches.

Meet The Deckhands

Daisy, Pax & Stella.
Our four-year old Australian Shepherd, Stella, regularly joins us on the Kenai River. If you or anyone in your party is allergic - or doesn't like dogs - please let us know and she can stay at home.

Kenai, Alaska History

The city of Kenai is named after the local Dena'ina word 'ken' or 'kena', which means 'flat, meadow, open area with few trees; base, low ridge', according to the Dena'ina Topical Dictionary by James Kari, Ph.D., published in 2007. This describes the area along the mouth and portion of the Kenai River near the City of Kenai. Archaeological evidence suggests that the area was first occupied by the Kachemak people from 1000 B.C., until they were displaced by the Dena'ina Athabaskan people around 1000 A.D. Before the arrival of the Russians, Kenai was a Dena'ina village called Shk'ituk't, meaning "where we slide down." When Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village. The traders called the people "Kenaitze", which is a Russian term for "people of the flats", or "Kenai people". This name was later adopted when they were incorporated as the Kenaitze Alaskan Natives in the early 1970s.

In 1985, a world record largest sport-caught Chinook (or "king") salmon was taken from the Kenai River, weighing in at 97 lbs 4oz. Eight of the ten largest king salmons caught in the world have come from the same river, making the city a popular fishing tourist location.

LEAVE NO TRACE Principles

1. Plan ahead and prepare. Know the regulations and identify the LNT practices appropriate for your area. LNT practices in marine environments are different from practices in the desert.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Learn when to hike together and when to spread out across the tundra. And, when it’s time to camp, avoid that lush bench of soft green heather and camp on the gravel bar.

3. Properly dispose of:

i. Human waste. That includes burning toilet paper or carrying it out.

ii. Cooking waste.

iii. Hunting and fishing waste. Follow ADF&G regulations and recommendations.

4. Leave what you find, so that others experience the joy and wonder that you have.

5. Minimize campfires. Build fires in places where they will not leave a scar, like the gravel river bank.

6. Respect wildlife. Follow recognized practices in bear country, and maintain appropriate viewing distances.

7. Be considerate of other people. When you make camp, find a spot well off the trail so you minimize your impact on other groups.