Know Before You Go
Fish counts are one of the best tools we have for predicting how a trip is going to fish. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) runs sonar counters and weirs on the Kenai, Kasilof, and Russian Rivers all season long, tracking how many salmon are moving through in real time. We watch these numbers closely to help plan trips around where the fish actually are — and you’re welcome to watch right along with us.
2026 Kenai & Kasilof Fish Counts: Final Season Totals
Here’s how the 2026 runs finished, from ADF&G’s daily counts. The live counters start again in late May and June 2027, and the graphs below update every day once they do.
| Counter | 2026 season total | Biggest single day | Counted through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai River late-run sockeye (sonar, river mile 19) | 1,111,781 | 171,844 on July 24 | August 10 |
| Kasilof River sockeye | 1,055,565 | 145,582 on July 24 | August 7 |
| Russian River sockeye, early run | 47,093 | 3,275 on July 3 | July 14 |
| Russian River sockeye, late run | 56,206 | 3,514 on August 3 | September 2 |
| Russian River coho | 746 | 78 on September 1 | September 1 |
Kenai River king salmon were closed to all fishing in 2026 to protect a weak run. Source: ADF&G Fish Counts.
Kenai River Fish Counter, Kasilof Sockeye Count & Russian River Fish Count
The Kenai River fish counter is a sonar station near river mile 19 that counts sockeye moving upstream every day of the late run. The Kasilof has its own sockeye counter, and the Russian River counts come from an ADF&G weir on the Russian River. Open any section below for that counter’s daily and season-to-date graphs.
Where to Check Counts
ADF&G keeps official, up-to-date counts for our rivers through their Fish Counts tool. Tap a river below for this season’s daily and cumulative run graphs, updated straight from ADF&G:
ARIS sonar counts of king salmon passing river mile 14 on the Kenai, tracked separately for the early run (May–June) and late run (July–early August).
Sonar counts of late-run sockeye passing river mile 19 on the Kenai, the run our July and August trips are built around.
Sockeye counts for the Kasilof, the river we lean on when the Kenai gets crowded or conditions favor it.
Weir counts of early-run sockeye on the Russian, a popular combat-fishing run where it meets the Kenai.
Weir counts of late-run sockeye on the Russian, typically the bigger of the two runs.
Weir counts of coho (silvers) on the Russian River as they move through late in the season.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
A big daily count doesn’t always mean a big day of fishing, and a slow count doesn’t always mean a slow day — river conditions, water clarity, and weather all play a role too. What counts are genuinely good for is spotting trends: is a run building, peaking, or tapering off? That’s information we use every week of the season to help decide where to put you on the water.
Timing Your Trip?
If you’re trying to time a trip around a specific run, give us a call. We watch these counts daily during the season and are happy to talk through what we’re seeing before you book.
Reach out and we’ll help you plan it, or check availability and book your trip.
What the Counts Mean for Your Trip
When the daily Kenai or Kasilof count jumps into the tens of thousands, fresh fish are moving through and that’s the week to be in the boat. In 2026 both rivers had their biggest day on July 24. Planning ahead? Our season guide shows typical run timing, and you can check availability for your dates on the Kenai or Kasilof.
Fish Count FAQ
When does the Kenai River fish counter start?
The late-run sockeye sonar count starts July 1 and runs into mid-August. Kasilof sockeye counting starts in mid-June.
Where is the Kenai River sonar?
Near river mile 19, below Soldotna, so fish counted there are still a day or more from the middle and upper river.
What is a good daily sockeye count?
There’s no single number, but daily counts in the tens of thousands usually mean steady fishing. In 2026 the Kenai topped 171,000 fish in a single day.
How often are fish counts updated?
ADF&G posts counts daily during the season. The graphs on this page pull straight from ADF&G, so they update as soon as ADF&G does.
