THE UPPER KENAI RIVER

The Upper Kenai-River, as defined for this webpage, is the upper 32 miles of river--from the outlet of Kenai Lake to the outlet of Skilak Lake. (see map below).

Following is a map that shows campgrounds, boat launches, and day-use areas along the Upper Kenai River. These are just the City, State, and Federal facilities. There are scores of private RV parks and campgrounds, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and cabins available along this reach of river; far too many for me to list them here. I provide this listing because many of these facilities provide river access, which will be discussed shortly.

The Upper Kenai River is "Fly-Fishing Only" waters, and is permanently closed to fishing for King Salmon. Even though you cannot fish for Kings in the Upper River, there is plenty of fishing here--for Sockeye, Silvers, Rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden. Because it is fly-fishing only, it attracts lots of fishermen who prefer to catch their fish by this means. The waters are highly productive, and when the salmon runs are on, even beginner fly fishermen have a great chance of catching some very fine fish.

The most famous fishery of the Upper Kenai River takes place at the mouth of the Russian River, which enters the Kenai River at about river mile 72. Each year tens of thousands of Sockeye salmon--called "Reds" by Alaskans--return to the clear waters of the Russian River to spawn. As many as one thousand fishermen per day come here with their fly rods to catch these feisty salmon.

To fish for the Reds, you will need fly rod and reel, leader no lighter than 20 pound test, and 30 is better, chest waders, and a good pair of glasses for eye protection. Fishermen will be lined up side by side in so-called "combat fishing" formation, casting in unison, trying to catch their Reds. When a Red hits a fly, about two out of three manage to free themselves, throwing hooks and lines wildly; thus the need for good eye protection. This is no joking matter. Many fishermen lose the sight of one eye each year because they ignore this advice.

Why the very heavy leaders? Because this is combat fishing. If you let your fish run 100 yards downstream and then the same distance upstream, you will possibly tangle the lines of about 20 other fishermen. You must, therefore, control your fish, which requires very heavy leaders. Besides, exhausting a fish on too light a leader is decidedly unsportsmanlike if you intend to catch and release. Hook 'em, land 'em, and quickly release 'em if you want them to go on living.