SILVER SALMON FISHING ON THE KENAI & KASILOF RIVERS
Silver salmon — coho — are the fish that surprise people. Anglers come to Alaska for kings and sockeye, and then they hook a silver and wonder why nobody told them about these things sooner.
They jump. They run hard. They hit flies and lures with an aggression that kings and sockeye don’t always show. They show up in big numbers on both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers from August through mid-September, and when a school of them is keyed up in a pool and willing to bite, it’s some of the most fun fishing you’ll have on either river.
RiverRise Fishing Guides has been running fully guided silver salmon trips on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers for over 25 years. We know where the fish hold as water levels drop in September, which presentations trigger the most aggressive responses, and how to keep a boat full of people busy when the silvers are stacked. Let’s get you into them.
When And Where We Fish For Silver Salmon
Silver salmon share a lot of characteristics with king salmon — similar water, similar gear, similar techniques. The main difference is size and the time of year they show up. We fish silvers on both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers across two distinct runs.
KASILOF RIVER SILVER SALMON
The Kasilof typically sees its first silvers before the Kenai does — usually around the start of August — giving our Kasilof clients first crack at the early run every year. A second, larger run pushes in around the start of September. As water levels drop through September, fish stack in the deeper pools and the fishing gets serious. Second run silvers on the Kasilof commonly run 10 to 15 pounds.
KENAI RIVER SILVER SALMON
The Kenai holds two runs as well, with similar timing to the Kasilof. The Kenai gets a run of around 100,000 silver salmon and they taste similar to king salmon — rich, fatty, excellent on the grill or in the smoker. Second run fish push in around September and the fishing heats up significantly as the river drops and fish concentrate.
PEAK WINDOW
Late August through mid-September is when silver salmon fishing on both rivers is at its best. Lower water, concentrated fish, aggressive bites. If you’re planning an August or September Alaska trip, silvers are a strong reason to be on the Kenai Peninsula.
HOW WE CATCH SILVER SALMON
Silvers are the most versatile species we target all season. They respond to more presentations than any other salmon in the river, and half the fun is experimenting to find what they want that day.
We use several different methods depending on conditions and how the fish are responding:
Back-Bouncing — cured salmon eggs worked along the bottom through holding water. Highly effective when fish are deep and lethargic.
Back-Trolling — wrapped plugs and Kwikfish worked through deeper slots and runs. Same technique as kings, scaled down for silvers.
Twitching Jigs — one of the most exciting ways to fish for silvers. A stiff 7-foot spinning rod, a jig worked through the current seams, and silvers that absolutely crush it on the pause.
Spinners — Blue Fox spinners in purple and blue are reliable producers when fish are active and aggressive.
Topwater Flies — when silvers are kegged up and willing, surface presentations can produce explosive takes. One of the most memorable ways to hook a silver salmon on the fly.
When we find a school of silvers stacked in a pool, we love to work through multiple presentations and find out what they’ll eat. That’s the kind of session you remember.
THE GEAR WE USE FOR SILVER SALMON
All rods, reels, and tackle are provided. Rods
— Custom Stryker Fishing Rods built specifically for RiverRise. Conventional rods are 9-foot diver/plug rods. Spinning rods are 10-foot, 10–20lb float rods. We also run 7-foot stiff spinning rods specifically for twitching jigs. Reels
— Shimano Tekota 400s with line counters for conventional. 13 Fishing AL-13 reels for spinning. Line
— P-Line throughout. 12–20lb braid mainline with 10–20lb fluorocarbon leader. Baits & Lures
— Wrapped plugs, cured eggs, twitching jigs, Blue Fox spinners in purple and blue.
We come loaded for whatever the fish are responding to that day.
READY TO CATCH YOUR SILVER SALMON?
Our Silver Salmon season runs August 1st – September 15th, with peak fishing in late August.
What’s Included…
2026 & 2027 Trip Pricing…
Silver salmon (coho) are smaller than kings — typically 8–15 pounds vs. 20–50+ pounds for kings — but are significantly more aggressive and acrobatic. They jump repeatedly, run hard, and hit a wider variety of presentations. Many anglers who come for kings end up saying silvers were their favorite fish of the trip.
Great option for beginners. Multiple techniques work on silvers, the fish are aggressive and entertaining, and the bite is instinctive — when a silver hits a jig or a spinner, you know it. Your guide walks you through every setup and technique from the start.
Yes. Silver salmon are harvestable throughout the season on both rivers. We’ll help you clean and bag your fish at the end of the trip.
Second run silvers commonly range 10 to 15 pounds. Some fish push larger — silvers built like kings aren’t uncommon on either river during a strong return year.
The first run starts around the end of July and runs through August. The second, larger run pushes in around September and fishes well through mid-month as water levels drop and fish stack up.
Yes. Their aggressive nature makes them one of the most beginner-friendly salmon species.
Spinners, spoons, and flies are all effective, especially when fish are actively moving upriver.
Coho are known for explosive strikes, acrobatic jumps, and aggressive behavior, making them extremely fun to catch.
Coho salmon fishing is best from August through September, offering some of the most aggressive salmon action of the year.
