It’s a fishing day

Kasilof River fishing conditions · Alaska

Today 4 pm to tomorrow 12 amSteelhead

The bite peaks at 68.

Log a trip here
Right now: 63 for steelhead, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Steelhead, 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. 6312 pm
  2. 63
  3. 63
  4. 603 pm
  5. 65
  6. 65
  7. 686 pm
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 689 pm
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 68Sun
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 683 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 686 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 689 am
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 6812 pm
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 683 pm
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 686 pm
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 689 pm
  35. 68
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
5 mph

From the northeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:52 pm

Sky
Slight Chance Light Snow

24% chance of rain

Air
31°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalToday 4 pm to tomorrow 12 am

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Kasilof River: rainbow/steelhead are catch-and-release only. They may not be taken out of the water and must be released immediately. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Kasilof River

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Sockeye salmon is here Jun–Aug. 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 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Aug. More on sockeye salmon

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

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Chinook salmon is here Apr–Oct. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 1 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. Kasilof River below the Sterling Highway bridge: May 1–June 30, 1 hatchery king 20" or longer a day (adipose fin clipped). King fishing is closed outside those dates, and above the bridge it is closed for 2026. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Lower Kasilof River

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.42 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:52 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow8:47 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarToday 10:40 am–12:40 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 11:10 pm–1:10 am

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

Emergency orders in effect

Alaska changes limits and seasons in season. These ADF&G orders cover the Northern Kenai area and override the limits below where they differ.

From the ADF&G emergency order list, checked daily; the list last changed Nov 5. Read the order itself before you fish.

Fish in the river

Daily Alaska Department of Fish and Game counts at this water, against the last four seasons. Every Alaska count station

  • Kasilof River (sockeye) Sockeye

    1,055,565 counted in 2026

    Counting ended Aug 7. A typical 2022–2025 run: 1,009,848.

    Most fish pass Jun 28 – Aug 2, half by Jul 20.

Counts are fish past the station, not a catch forecast, and are preliminary. Checked daily; the numbers last changed Nov 5.

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 today 4 pm to tomorrow 6 am
80Worth the trip
Ninilchik River24 mi · AlaskaSteelhead, best today 4 pm to tomorrow 12 am
68Marginal
Deep Creek (Ninilchik)25 mi · AlaskaSteelhead, best today 4 pm to tomorrow 12 am
68Marginal

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.