We are going to Alaska for 2 weeks next July. Part of that includes a 1-day fishing trip. Based on our location and itinerary there are 2 possibilities. First is the Cooper Landing Area. This offers drift and shore fishing on the middle and upper Kenai River and near the confluence of the Russian River. Second option is the Soldotna/Kenai area. This also offers several options and boasts the greatest fish catching in this part of Alaska. Anyone have direct experience with either location? Any recommended outfitters? Any other suggestions? We will have 4 or 5 people fishing. Any input greatly appreciated.

I've been through Cooper Landing on the way to Soldotna, nice area for wading and shore fishing. In Soldotna you can fish the Kenai or the Kasilof and been there many times. The guides there normally fish both rivers but the Kasilof is drift only. In July you'll still be in King Salmon season. You need to book a charter.

BTW, the Russian River in the Cooper area is all Sockeye salmon when I was there.

I lived in Anchorage, AK, 2009 to 2014. Soldotna was my preferred base of operation spending time on Kenai Peninsula whether I was camping, in a hotel, or crashing at a buddy's cabin. It has restaurants, sporting goods stores, and is about equidistant from anywhere you want to visit on the Peninsula.

The kasilof is what the OP is likely envisioning when fishing in Alaska. Our guide picked us up, we drove to the boat launch, the guide's partner picked the truck/trailer up to drive to end of river, we hopped in the boat with the little motor (I think 1.5hp or 2 hp is the legal limit on the river), and we spent the day floating down the river fishing and dropping anchor in spots the guide liked. It was tranquil and we saw so much wildlife (e.g. moose swimming across river) and we caught a bunch of salmon.

Cooper's Landing is "combat fishing" which everyone stands darn near shoulder to should and casts out empty hooks with the hopes a salmon will hit it in mouth (i.e. anywhere else is illegal). It's cool to see once, but I don't find it a relaxing form of fishing. Also, Alaska Dept. of fish & game patrols the banks with a ticket book in one hand (for the fishermen breaking one of the hundreds of Alaska's fickle fishing laws that can change daily) and a 12 gauge in the other hand (for the large, fat brown bear that like to fatten up on salmon).

As far as the Kenai River, I've unsuccessfully tried to river bank fish from a local's "secret spot" and got skunked every time. I've done the guide on the power boat, and it was fun. However, it's not very tranquil as the guide's boat is 150+ hp and everybody else is hauling ass to the next fishing spot with their 150+ hp motor full throttle.

Perhaps they've fixed it (I still talk to Alaskan friends, and they hadn't as of a year or two ago), but one of the flaws with anywhere on the Kenai River is whether or not there will actually be any fish. Approx. 1/3 of the days in a month they allow commercial net fishing prior to the mouth of the river and not very many get past on the days they're allowed to commercial net fish. I could never find the commercial net fishing schedule to find out if it was worth fishing that day but YMMV.

IMO, since the OP only has 1 day to fish I'd do the Kasilof and stop by Cooper's landing for an hour to watch other's combat fish.

Not familiar with those areas, but if you're heading out on the water? One word...scopolamine. Trust me. Get some before you go.

I did a Sitka trip about ten years ago and it was a lot of fun. Nowadays there's an outfit that flies in "fresh" frozen fish from Sitka and sells it out of a trailer that comes through town. I did the math and it ended up cheaper than taking a trip up there. Beautiful town and area...but I'll just stay home.

I can definitely recommend Kenai River Cowboys as a guide. Went with them a couple of years ago on the Kenai, absolutely slayed it and had a blast doing it. They do both the Kenai and Kasilof talk with them and get their recommendations on the time of year you’ll be there. Just keep in mind Mother Nature doesn’t always run on a schedule this year’s runs have been late and below average.

https://kenaicowboys.com/

I've fishing a lot doing the combat thing, and also done a fly-out out of Soldotna. Fished out of King Salmon as well. Do lots of research first. For less crowds consider a fly-out, but it will cost ya. Guides are no guarantee. I spent money on the best guide outta KS. We caught a 10 pound jack. We fished later with a camp host..not a guide and caught nice fish. You will see more wildlife on the fly out type adventures. I've never lived there, but have been on over a dozen trips since the late 80's. Good luck.

I've been to this place at Soldotna once with my Dad and brother. They've gone a couple of other times too. It was later in the season, a week or so after Labor Day, and silvers (Coho) were what was running. We limited out every day, rain or shine, fishing from a boat on the Kenai river with a guide.

We took a one-day side excursion down to Homer to go out for halibut, and did pretty well there too.

RW's Fishing

quote:

Alaska Dept. of fish & game patrols the banks with a ticket book in one hand (for the fishermen breaking one of the hundreds of Alaska's fickle fishing laws that can change daily)

Take heed, here. I'm sure your guide will keep you straight. F&G don't mess around.

I fished the Russian River a lot back in the early '80s. Limit was three per day or in posession, at least back then. Any thought about halibut fishing?

Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely look at the options and guides.