Updated July 29, 2026

Sockeye season is in full swing on both rivers, but this year they’re telling two different stories.

Kasilof River

The Kasilof has been the better bet for sockeye the last two weeks. ADF&G’s sonar counted 145,582 fish on July 24 alone — the biggest single day of the run so far — and the river has now passed 949,000 fish for the season through July 28. That puts this year right in line with 2024 and ahead of both 2022 and 2023 at this point in the season. If you’ve been waiting for a good sockeye day on the Kasilof, this is it.

Kenai River

The Kenai’s late-run sockeye are running behind the pace we’ve seen the last several years. Through July 28, the sonar at river mile 19 has counted just over 909,000 fish — well behind last year’s 2.59 million and behind 2022–2024 as well. The historical peak for the Kenai typically falls between July 22 and 27, so the run may still bunch up, but we want you going in with realistic expectations. Fishing has still been productive, just not the fast pace we saw in 2025.

King Salmon

A reminder for anyone planning around king salmon: the Kenai River’s late-run king fishery is closed through August 15 by emergency order, with no retention and no catch-and-release, as ADF&G works to protect a return projected near record lows. The Kasilof’s king fishery is also under restricted regulations through August 15. We support these closures — protecting this run means there’s a fishery left for the next generation of anglers.

What’s Next

Silver salmon start showing up on both rivers in mid-August, and we’re already looking forward to it. If you’re planning an August or September trip, now’s a good time to lock in your dates.

As always, give us a call if you have questions about current conditions before you book — 907.971.1223.

— The RiverRise Crew