The Kasilof River flows 17 miles from Tustumena Lake to Cook Inlet, and is home to numerous runs of salmon and steelhead. This glacial-fed river winds through the heart of the Kenai Peninsula and parts of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, carving a path through wild Alaska and providing crucial spawning habitat for multiple species of salmon and steelhead.
The Kasilof is born from Tustumena Lake, the largest body of freshwater on the Kenai Peninsula. The river carries the melt water from Tustumena Glacier and surrounding Kenai Mountains. Due to the glacial origins, the river has a high turbidity and flows in a range of colors from turquoise to grey-ish blue. Huge boulders deposited by retreating glaciers dot the gentle bends and sweeping corners of the stream, adding rapids and interest to this river’s journey to Cook Inlet. At the lower tidal sections, the banks are cut from silty grass covered banks that flood with each incoming tide.
Moose browse along the banks, with many cows and new calves in the area in early summer. The lower tidal sections hold wading birds and waterfowl such as norther shovelers and mallards, and mergansers.
The upper river features faster water and defined gravel bars. As it progresses downstream, the river widens and slows, creating more extensive gravel bars and side channels.
King Salmon arrive in two distinct runs on the Kasilof. The early run is hatchery supported and begins in mid-May. Early run fish arrive chrome-bright and range from 10-25 pounds. Hatchery kings are marked by their clipped adipose fins, making it easy for anglers to identify and retain them. The late run arrives in July, and consists of only wild kings. The kings in this run are larger on average, approaching or surpassing 40 pounds. Kings are primarily targeted on the lower river.
Sockeye salmon enter the Kasilof in tremendous numbers, with annual runs often exceeding half a million fish. The first sockeye arrive in mid-June, with the run continuing through the month of July. Most fish pass through the river to Tustumena Lake and tributary streams, their ultimate spawning destination, turning the glacial waters red with their numbers during peak migration. Sockeye are primarily fished on the upper river.
Silver Salmon arrive in early August, with fresh fish continuing to enter the river through September and even into October. These aggressive fish range from about 8-12 pounds with some approaching 15 pounds.
Pink Salmon return in moderate numbers to the Kasilof, primarily during even-numbered years, typically arriving in late July and August. Pinks, also known as “humpies” are usually not targeted by anglers.
The Kasilof hosts one of the world’s most northerly steelhead runs with sizeable fish regularly exceeding 30 inches in length. These sea-run rainbow trout enter the river in the fall. The run arrives in September and October, with these fish overwintering in the river before spawning in spring. In May and June the spawned out steelhead return to the ocean, and may potentially return again to spawn in future years.
Drifters Lodge is a small, locally owned and operated fishing lodge with a long history of repeat guests and satisfied anglers. We have been in operation since 1998.
Drifters Lodge is permitted to operate on public lands under special use permits from the Chugach National Forest, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and Alaska State Parks. Drifters Lodge is an equal opportunity provider.
© 2024 Drifters Lodge. All rights reserved.