Alaska Fly Fishing
KENAI RIVER FLY FISHING
Alaska’s Kenai River offers some of the best fly fishing opportunities in the entire state. Whether you are a beginner or advanced fly angler, our guide staff will ensure you have a great day on the water on our Alaska fly fishing float trips.
With almost 100 miles of river to fish on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, any time is a great time to fly fish on our rivers. Float trips with Cooper Landing Fishing Guide, LLC provide opportunities to chase trophy king salmon, world-class rainbow trout and dolly varden, sockeye salmon, silver salmon and pink salmon in some of the most scenic country around.
The Kenai Peninsula offers the best fly fishing in Alaska. There are hundreds of river miles of fly fishing opportunities between these streams.
Fishing trips on the fly are low-cost, operate at peak times during the summer and fall and offer chances to learn how to fish for salmon and trout in Alaska.
EARLY SEASON FLY FISHING- MAY AND JUNE
Trophy fish is what this time of year is all about. Fishing for elusive King Salmon on the fly, chasing these giants makes it more of an intimate trip - we fish both the Kenai River and Kasilof River on the fly for King Salmon as this can be one of the best times to go fishing in Alaska.
It’s not so much about how many salmon you catch, it’s about landing that big fish of a lifetime on special fly equipment and using hand-tied flies for king salmon. Some trout fishing opportunities are available, but limited until the Upper and Middle Kenai River sections open up on June 11th.
ONE OF THE BEST MONTHS TO FISH FOR SALMON IN ALASKA - JULY
Fly fishing in July can be great, especially for hungry trout and migrating salmon. Peak runs of Sockeye Salmon begin to fill the river around the 15th of July, but prior to and during the Sockeye run, Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden eagerly take dry flies, nymphs, flesh flies, egg imitations, swung flies and other popular Alaska flies. We offer single hand fly rod (recommended fly rod sizes for Alaska) as well as double hand fly rod (also known as Spey rods) fishing on our trips and charters. July can also be a great time for fly out fishing trips for Artic Grayling and other species due to warmer waters and aggressive fish.
July also marks the peak of the second run of King Salmon. Often the largest fish of the two runs migrates into the Kenai River and Kasilof River, with the season ending on the 31st. Fly fishing for Kings this time of year can be challenging due to stronger currents and heavier flows, but landing a giant 50-80lb king on the fly can be life-changing!
FALL FLY FISHING TRIPS IN ALASKA - AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
Fly fishing enthusiasts flock to Alaska in the fall for some of the best fishing on the fly all year. The fall months are often thought of as the best time fly fish in Alaska. The best size fly rods to bring this time of year are 10’ 7wts for drift fishing beads and if you are chasing Silver Salmon on the fly, 9’ 8 or 9wt rods are great sized rods.
The fall season is known as the “bead bite” time of year when King Salmon and Sockeye Salmon begin to deposit eggs, usually starting around the 10th or so of August. This causes a feeding frenzy amongst the Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden who gorge themselves on salmon eggs. Fly anglers use plastic bead egg imitations for trout this time of year. It is not uncommon to hook and land 30 or 40 (or more) trout in a single outing during the bead bite.
Silvers are also taking flies aggressively during the fall fishing season in Alaska The best time for combo fishing trips in Alaska for Silver Salmon and Trout takes place during this window with the best month to fly fish usually being September.
Fly fishing opportunities are more wide-spread this time of year with most of the Kenai River being excellent for trout and salmon fishing. Fishing on the Kasilof River this time of year can be great for Silvers as well.
If anyone has every wanted to try fly fishing in Alaska for the first time, this is a great opportunity to learn how! The fish give you plenty of opportunities to mess up and learn.
KING SALMON FLY FISHING SEASON (May 15 - July 31)
Beginning in early May, the first run of king salmon start to enter our rivers. The lower water and easier wading makes this time of year excellent time for fly anglers to fish for kings, especially with 2-handed rods. The best fly fishing for Kings occurs on the shores of the Lower Kenai River below the Killey River as well as on the Kasilof River below the bridge.
The best part about fly fishing for kings during the earlier season is that you don’t have to cast very far or be very proficient in casting a fly rod. Many kings tend to hold a bit closer to shore and are catchable on the fly. It is also a great time to learn how to fly fish.
RAINBOW TROUT FLY FISHING SEASON (June 11 - May 1)
Fly fishing for rainbow trout on the Kenai River is legendary. It is not uncommon for fly anglers to schedule their fishing trips a year or more in advance to make sure they have a spot held during the prime months because of hoe good it can be during the best months.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to fly fish, the Kenai River is an excellent place to learn and hone your skills.
Fishing for Rainbow Trout begins after June 11th and runs until the following May when the Upper and Middle river sections close to allow trout to spawn. Peak fishing for Trout usually happens from late August through early October but savvy fly rodders know that catching trophy trout in Alaska can happen any time of the year.
Rainbow trout and char can be caught in high mountain lakes during the summer months on fly out and fly in fishing trips.
SILVER sALMON fLY fISHING sEASON (August 1 - October 31)
Any time you bring up catching salmon on the fly, Silver Salmon or Coho Salmon go to the top of the list as one of the most fun fish to catch on a fly rod in Alaska. Silvers usually enter the Kenai River and Kasilof River in late July/early August and are catchable through the end of October.
Silvers aggressively take flies on our rivers. Anglers can wade the shallows for silvers, strip flies from a boat, swing flies with 2-handed rods or throw top water flies for Silvers.
Coho Salmon can also be caught on the fly on remote streams on fly out fishing trips across Cook Inlet this time of year as well.
The best way to fly fish for Silver Salmon is to cast and retrieve or “strip” flies in front of an aggressive fish. Silvers will often chase the fly in fast and grab ahold in the blink of an eye!