Late August is bringing some great fishing opportunities to the Kenai River, with steady silver salmon fishing on the lower river and a rainbow trout bite that has heated up considerably over the last several days.
With silvers continuing to enter the river and king salmon beginning to spawn, this is also one of our favorite times of year for anglers who want to experience two very different styles of Kenai River fishing in a single trip.
Silver Salmon Fishing Remains Steady
Silver salmon fishing on the lower Kenai River has been steady this past week, with many trips producing limits of silvers. The current limit is two silver salmon per person, and we’ve been seeing consistent opportunities throughout the week.
Our most productive techniques have been fishing eggs—both back-bouncing and under divers—as well as sardine-wrapped plugs.
Favorable tides have also helped considerably this past week. Smaller, high tides have allowed guides to spread out and fish more areas of the lower river rather than concentrating boats into the limited stretches that remain fishable when larger tides push water into normally productive areas.
Overall, it’s been a solid stretch of late-August silver fishing, with plenty of opportunities to put fresh Kenai River coho in the boat.
Rainbow Trout Fishing Heats Up
Rainbow trout fishing slowed briefly after the sockeye salmon had all pushed up river, but that has changed quickly.
Over the last couple of days, the trout bite has been hot as king salmon have begun dropping eggs on their spawning beds.
This annual transition creates one of the most exciting periods of the Kenai River trout season. As king salmon begin to spawn, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden move into these areas to take advantage of the abundance of salmon eggs drifting downstream.
The result is concentrations of feeding trout and Dolly Varden that can be effectively targeted with a fly rod.
Right now, we’re primarily fishing a bead-and-indicator setup, with the bead imitating a salmon egg drifting naturally through the current. When the fish key in on eggs this time of year, it can produce some fantastic trout fishing.
Fish for Silvers and Rainbows in One Trip
Can’t decide between filling the cooler with silver salmon or spending the day chasing Kenai River rainbows?
You don’t necessarily have to choose.
We still have plenty of availability for late August and September, particularly for our combo trips, where we can target both species during the same day.
A combo trip gives anglers a chance to spend part of the day targeting silver salmon before switching gears and picking up the fly rods to pursue rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.
It’s one of the best ways to experience just how diverse the Kenai River fishery can be.
September Silver Salmon Fishing
September also brings another advantage for anglers hoping to take home salmon.
Beginning September 1, the Kenai River silver salmon limit increases from two to three fish per person per day.
Combined with the improving fall trout fishery, September can offer an excellent opportunity for anglers who want to target multiple species during their Alaska fishing trip.
Book a Late-August or September Kenai River Fishing Trip
There’s still plenty of fishing season ahead on the Kenai.
Whether your goal is putting silver salmon in the freezer, experiencing the Kenai’s famous rainbow trout fishery, or doing a little of both, we still have availability for late-August and September trips.
Contact Explore Kenai today to reserve your trip, or ask us about a silver salmon and rainbow trout combo trip.
