A Local's Guide to Fishing the Kasilof River in Alaska (First Timer's Guide)

The Kasilof river is one of the most popular rivers to fish, mostly in part due to the fact that it is located near the ultra-famous Kenai River in Alaska. With a huge Sockeye Salmon run in the summers and one of the only fishable Chinook salmon runs left in the state, it is a popular river for both locals and tourists. Since this river doesn't have too many public accesses, it's a bit harder to access without booking a private charter - however, below I've gathered my most helpful tips to fish the Kasilof River.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates.
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To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Staying Safe While Fishing the Kasilof River

The Kasilof River can be dangerous to fish as it is a fast and large river, but if you follow the steps below you will have a great time and hopefully go home with your own limit of salmon and maybe even catch a prized Chinook salmon. The first step of any fishing adventure in Alaska is to get your Alaska State Fishing License. Currently, Annual Sport Fishing License prices are $20 for Alaska Residents and $100 for Out of State/Non-Residents. If you plan to fish for King Salmon you'll also need to purchase a King Salmon Stamp in addition to your license.
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Similar to the Kenai River, if this is your first time fishing the Kasilof River in Alaska I highly recommend booking a charter to help show you the techniques of fishing for salmon as well as to teach you the layout of the river. During Salmon runs in Alaska, it's also highly important to carry bear spray with you, just in case you run into a grizzly or black bear eating the dead salmon along the banks.

​In addition to the strong sockeye salmon run, the Kasilof River has a strong Chinook hatchery salmon run and one of the only fishable Chinook salmon runs left in the entire state. The sockeye run is usually one of the first of the summer season, making it a popular place for locals to start filling their freezer for the following winter.

Whichever fishing method you decide to use, the most important thing to do is to make sure you are safe when venturing into the river. Make sure you know where you are, and stay aware of how far you are from the river banks - the river water is very cold and very fast - and it can be easier than you think to lose your footing and get swept down river. Most parks also have life preservers for children as a part of the "Children Don't Float" initiative, so make sure to grab one before heading down if you need it.

My Favorite Fishing Tours on the Kenai : 
- Half Day Fishing Tour
- Full Day Fishing Tour

Where to Fish on the Kasilof River

Kasilof River Layout :
The Kasilof river is just south of the famous Kenai river, and starts at Cook Inlet and flows into Tustumena Lake. The mouth of the river is popular for locals to dipnet while the rest of the river is popular for both tourists and locals to fish with their rod and reels. There are only three public access areas on this river, so make sure you look out for and follow any signs to make sure you're not trespassing on private property.

How to Fish & Fishing Gear :
The most common fish to fish for in the Kasilof River is the sockeye salmon. To do this, you will need either a spinning rod or fly rod, some weights, a red hook, and yarn or bead. I also recommend wearing waders or knee high waterproof boots as chances are you'll need to stand in the banks of the river. The method most commonly used here is "flossing" - since you'll be flossing your line through the mouth of the salmon swimming up river. Sockeye salmon do not bite when they enter freshwater but they do swim up stream with their mouths open - making it fairly easy (or "lucky") to "floss" them.

You'll first set up your fishing pole by tying on a bead or some yarn at the top of your red hook. You'll then put some weights on the line approximately six feet up from the hook. The amount of weight will depend on where you are fishing as you'll want your weights to hit the bottom but not continuously get stuck - so you may have to adjust your weight as you fish. To begin flossing you'll have to let out about ten feet of line, throw the line up river and let it drift down river - the same direction of the current. At the end of the drift give the line a little tug. You could also catch Chinook salmon using this method. Depending on the current year's regulations you might also be able to use live bait for Chinook salmon, but because this changes each year you'll have to check the current regulations.

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Salmon Fishing on the Kenai
-> 7 Best Things to Do in Kodiak

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