A Local's Guide to Fishing the Kasilof River in Alaska

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.

​​*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or 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 AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

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.

What to Know About 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 Tours on the Kenai Peninsula : 
- Half Day Fishing Tour
- Full Day Fishing Tour

Fishing Logistics 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.

​Where to Fish on the Kasilof :
The only three public accesses to fish the Kasilof river are Crooked Creek State Recreational Site, Kasilof River State Recreational Site, and the mouth of the Kasilof River. The mouth of the river is typically where local Alaska Residents dipnet. Each of the other two parks listed above has a parking fee of $5 (or you can purchase an annual parking pass at REI for $60) and have large parking lots where you can leave your car and then walk down to the river.

Crooked Creek State Recreational Site has different areas with metal stairs leading down to the river, in addition to a beach area where you can spread out a bit. Kasilof River State Recreational Site has a large boat landing access point, and if you walk down a little ways along the river you can find flat areas to base at for your fishing.

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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