It’s a fishing day

Kasilof River fishing conditions · Alaska

Tomorrow 7 pm to Tuesday 11 amSockeye salmon

The bite peaks at 68. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the south by tomorrow at 7:00 am.

Log a trip here
Right now: 68 for sockeye salmon, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Sockeye salmon, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 6811 pm
  2. 68Mon
  3. 68
  4. 682 am
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 685 am
  8. 68
  9. 45
  10. 458 am
  11. 45
  12. 45
  13. 4511 am
  14. 45
  15. 45
  16. 452 pm
  17. 45
  18. 45
  19. 455 pm
  20. 45
  21. 68
  22. 688 pm
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 6811 pm
  26. 68Tue
  27. 68
  28. 682 am
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 685 am
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 688 am
  35. 68
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Sockeye salmon range 40–60°

Wind
15 mph

From the south

Light
Dark

Sunrise 9:13 am

Sky
Partly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
34°F

NWS hourly forecast

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Alaska non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

68MarginalTomorrow 7 pm to Tuesday 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Sockeye salmon bite in 40–60° water, best near 52°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kenai Peninsula flowing waters: chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon 16" or longer are 3 a day in combination, 3 in possession, and only 2 of those may be coho. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Alaska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Aug. More on sockeye salmon

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalTomorrow 7 pm to Tuesday 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Catch and release only today. Kenai Peninsula flowing waters: 2 rainbow/steelhead a day in combination, 2 in possession, only 1 of which may be 20" or longer. North of Point Adam there is an annual limit of 2 rainbow/steelhead 20" or longer, recorded at harvest. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Alaska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

Why

Strong wind — chop and difficult casting. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 1 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. King salmon fishing in the Kenai River, the Anchorage area and most Kenai Peninsula fresh water is closed in 2026 by emergency order. Do not fish for kings, and release any you hook immediately. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Alaska non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.22 inHg

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise tomorrow9:13 am
  • Sunset tomorrow6:24 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 12:50 am–2:50 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 10:20 am–11:20 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 1:10 pm–3:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A glacial Kenai Peninsula river just south of the Kenai, known for strong sockeye and king salmon runs and a popular bank and drift fishery. The Kasilof opens earlier than many Cook Inlet streams and is a reliable early-season red-salmon destination.

Below the Sterling Highway bridge, 1 hatchery king a day May 1–June 30; king fishing is closed elsewhere on the river for 2026. Rainbow/steelhead are catch-and-release only. Residents dipnet sockeye at the mouth in summer.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Kenai River (Soldotna)13 mi · AlaskaBest now until Tuesday 1 am
80Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Kasilof River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Kasilof River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Kasilof River?

Kasilof River is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Sockeye Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Kasilof River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Kasilof River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Kasilof River have?

Kasilof River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Below the Sterling Highway bridge, 1 hatchery king a day May 1–June 30; king fishing is closed elsewhere on the river for 2026. Rainbow/steelhead are catch-and-release only. Residents dipnet sockeye at the mouth in summer.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Kasilof River?

state agency regulations apply at Kasilof River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Kasilof River tidal water?

No. Kasilof River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.