The Kasilof River or ‘the ditch’ as it is affectionately known, flows 18 miles from the outlet of Tustemena Lake to the salty waters of Cook Inlet. It hosts four of the five Pacific salmon species as well as steelhead, rainbow trout, and dolly varden. Due to its small size, the Kasilof is a drift boat only river. No motors are allowed while fishing which means it is generally a quieter, more peaceful experience than the Kenai.
Northwest Connection’s 19’ x 66” Willie drift boat can comfortably accommodate 4 people at a time. Accommodating larger groups is easily arranged with additional guides to ensure everyone gets a chance out on the water. There is no limit to the size of your group!
The last week of May is when we start seeing good numbers of ‘1st run’ king salmon with the bulk arriving around mid June. The 1st run fish are smaller in body size but they make up for it with spectacular fights and delicious table fare. You can expect to see fish weighing between 10 and 20 lbs, with a few fish in the high 20s. The limit is 2 kings per person, per day.
The start of the 2nd run officially begins on July 1st with a rule change. You are only allowed 1 king per person, per day. A typical 2nd run Kasilof king is much larger than the June kings with an average body weight between 25 and 30 lbs. July is when we usually encounter the largest fish of the season. Each year we encounter multiple fish in the 50 to 60 lb class!
Around late June is when we start seeing massive numbers of Sockeye (also known as reds) enter the river. Sockeye salmon enter the river in large groups—numbering in the tens of thousands. These tasty fish typically weight between 5 and 10 lbs and the limit is 3 per person, per day. Once the Alaska Department of Fish and Game decides enough fish have entered the river to achieve the escapement goal, the limit will increase to 6 fish per person! The action with these hard fighters can be fast and furious since they tend to move in large schools. Sockeye fishing is a great way to fill the freezer!
Near the end of July we start to see Silver (also known as Coho) salmon enter the Kasilof River. These acrobatic fish are many people's favorite salmon species to target due to their aggressive nature and excellent table fare. Silvers are very willing biters and are receptive to a wide range of fishing techniques. Casting spinners, floating salmon roe under a bobber, pulling plugs, back bouncing salmon roe, twitching jigs, and fly fishing are all very effective techniques when pursuing silvers. A typical silver salmon weighs 7 to 10 lbs with many reaching the mid to high teens. The limit on the Kasilof is 2 fish per person, per day.
During a full day of targeting Silver salmon we often run into a handful of Steelhead. These sea run rainbow trout are spectacular fighters, often leaving the water numerous times during a battle and are known for reel burning runs. Their awesomeness doesn’t end there. Steelhead are one of the most beautiful anadromous species (lives in both salt and freshwater) on the planet. You will definitely want a picture when your first steely hits the net. That being said, all steelhead must be released unharmed per ADF&G regulations.
The guide provides everything needed for a full day of fishing but here is a list of some personal items to make your trip more comfortable.
A 20% deposit is required at the time of booking. The full balance must be paid in full 30 days prior to trip date. Deposits will be returned if cancellation is made 30 days or more before scheduled trip. Trips cancelled in less than 30 days of trip date will forfeit deposit, or you may choose to book different dates within one year of the days you originally booked. For cancellations within 7 days or less of the trip date the customer will pay in full. The captain reserves the right to cancel any trip and provide full refund in the unlikely event that he is unable to guide due to circumstances beyond his control. Full refund will also be paid if the captain cancels trip due to unfishable conditions.
Forms of Payment: We accept checks, cash, and all major credit cards. All taxes and fees are included in price.
Checks can be mailed to:
Nolan Davis
3167 SE Midvale Dr.
Corvallis OR 97333
Larger groups can be accommodated upon request.
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