It’s a fishing day

Ninilchik River fishing conditions · Alaska

Nothing in seasonfor anything people fish for here

Every species people fish for here is out of season or closed today.

Log a trip here

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

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

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

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. Rainbow/steelhead are catch-and-release only and may not be taken out of the water. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Ninilchik River, lower 2 miles

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

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

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. Ninilchik River below the ADF&G markers: hatchery kings (adipose fin clipped) only, on set days May 23–June 29; 1 a day 20" or longer, recorded at harvest, and 10 a day under 20". Wild kings must be released in the water. After keeping a king you may not fish the river again that day. No king may be kept from July 16. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Ninilchik River, lower 2 miles

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

No water reading here right now. Coho salmon bite in 44–58° water, best near 53°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Coho salmon is here May–Oct. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. 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. The lower 2 miles open only on the hatchery-king days from May 23 to June 29, are closed June 30–July 15, and open July 16–October 31. Upstream of the markers, salmon fishing is closed year-round. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Ninilchik River, lower 2 miles

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden

Salvelinus malma

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

No water reading here right now. Dolly Varden bite in 38–58° water, best near 48°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Dolly Varden is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. Kenai Peninsula flowing waters: Arctic char/Dolly Varden are 2 a day, 2 in possession, no size limit, on the days the lower river is open. Alaska changes limits by Emergency Order in season, so check the ADF&G emergency orders the day you fish.

Verified Nov 6, 2026 · Ninilchik River, lower 2 miles

Season here: May–Oct. More on Dolly Varden

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.38 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:55 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

Fish in the river

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

  • Ninilchik River Chinook

    840 counted in 2026

    Counting ended Aug 19. A typical 2022–2025 run: 866.

    Most fish pass Jun 6 – Jul 28, half by Jun 21.

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 road-side stream at Ninilchik village with a hatchery king salmon fishery open on set days in late May and June, and coho later in summer. ADF&G counts the kings, and the lower river is fished from the Ninilchik River Campground.

Lower 2 miles: open only on set days May 23–June 29 for hatchery kings (1 a day, 20" or longer; wild kings released), closed June 30–July 15, open July 16–October 31 with no king retention. After keeping a king you may not fish the river again that day.

Nearby

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

Deep Creek (Ninilchik)1 mi · AlaskaSteelhead, best today 4 pm to tomorrow 12 am
68Marginal
Kasilof River24 mi · AlaskaBest today 4 pm to tomorrow 12 am
68Marginal
Homer / Kachemak Bay32 mi · AlaskaBest today 4 pm to tomorrow 12 pmSmall Craft Advisory
61Marginal
Kenai River (Soldotna)37 mi · AlaskaBest today 4 pm to tomorrow 6 am
80Worth the trip

Questions people ask

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

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Ninilchik River?

Ninilchik River is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Dolly Varden. 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 Ninilchik 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 Ninilchik 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 Ninilchik River have?

Ninilchik River has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Lower 2 miles: open only on set days May 23–June 29 for hatchery kings (1 a day, 20" or longer; wild kings released), closed June 30–July 15, open July 16–October 31 with no king retention. After keeping a king you may not fish the river again that day.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Ninilchik River?

state agency regulations apply at Ninilchik 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 Ninilchik River tidal water?

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