The Kasilof is quite possibly one of the most underrated rivers in the entire state of Alaska. On the surfaces it’s easy to see why. The river runs a meager 15 miles from Tustumena Lake straight into the Cook Inlet. It’s also located on the Kenai Peninsula and many times is overshadowed by its bigger, more famous neighbor, the Kenai River. Motorized fishing is not allowed in the Kasilof’s waters either.
However, once you get over initial impressions, the Kasilof is more than worth a trip. The Kasilof’s glacial waters are home to almost as many fish as the Kenai’s River, but they’re inhabited by a fraction of the fishermen. You may find hundreds of boats out on the Kenai every day during King Salmon season, but on the Kasilof you’ll likely only find a dozen or so. Unlike the Kenai, the river is drift fishing only, which limits your options somewhat, but also gives you a quieter atmosphere to experience the scenery and wildlife of the nearby Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. You’re also able to catch and release after you’re already retained a Chinook Salmon for the day, something you can’t do on the Kenai River.
The Kasilof River has an early and late run of King Salmon. The first is during mid-May and the fish generally weigh between 15 and 25 pounds. There are mostly hatchery born fish, but the daily limit during this time is two per day, unlike in most other areas where only one is allowed. The late run of Kings hits the Kasilof around the end of July, with the peak usually coming in the third week of July. These fish are native born and usually weigh around 35 to 40 pounds, however fish weighing over 50 pounds are not uncommon.
Sockeye salmon begin their run up the Kasilof in mid-June and keep running into the month of August. These fish average around 8 to 12 pounds, are hard fighters, and enter the Kasilof’s waters by the thousands daily. At the peak of their run, 30,000 to 50,000 Sockeyes can enter the river in one day. These fish are plankton feeders however, which gives them tasty deep pink meat but also deprives them of the chase and kill instinct of other salmon. Because of this, slightly different fishing techniques are needed.
Silver Salmon and Pink Salmon also have spawning runs up the Kenai. Silver Salmon start their run in early August and continue through September. They average 8 to 15 pounds, but many times are just as hard of fighters as Chinooks. They will aggressively hit any number of things, including lures, baits, and flies. Pink Salmon only spawn in the Kasilof during even numbered years. However, it’s worth the wait, and over a million of these “Humpback” Salmon enter the river from late July through early August.
Finally, the Kasilof River is within driving distance to the town of Kenai with it’s restaurants, shopping, lodging, and other amenities. If you’re planning on taking the vacation with your family, this allows lots of other things to do. You can walk around the waterfront searching for traditional Inuit artwork, like bear wood carvings, with your spouse in the morning, drive out to the river to fish during the day, and end the night with a family dinner downtown. The possibilties are endless.
When you look at the amount and size of the fish the Kasilof River supports, it is already almost on par with its more respected neighbor, the Kenai River. But, when you couple the fish with less anglers, a driftboat-only fishing experience, and the ability to keep fishing all day for Kings, you have a unique experience that is on par with anything anyone fishing on the Kenai will get.
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