ITINERARY
The world-famous Kenai River.
The Road to Homer
Highway 1 allows for a fishing vacation for under $1,200 a week
yes, it’s possible to fish in alaska for under $1,200 for a
week. you’ll have to stick to a budget, but it’s definitely
doable. In order to do so you have to pick a place where you’re not
required to take another flight once you arrive in Anchorage. That
doesn’t leave you a lot of options, but one trip that has worked for
countless out-of-state anglers is to fish the Sterling Highway from
Anchorage to Homer.
The road sign says Highway 1, but it’s called the Sterling Highway
and it stretches for 222 miles. It is a stretch of road that is notorious for
moose kills, but more importantly it gives you access to a dozen rivers
to fish.
The best time to go is in August or September when the sockeye
and coho are returning. It’s possible to scratch out a few 15- to 20-inch
rainbows but don’t go with illusions of catching rainbows like those
in Bristol Bay watersheds. Unless you fish the Kenai, it’s not going to
happen. You might get lucky and catch a bigger char.
We used Seattle as a base for airfare and by simply searching
online you can rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle for under $200 — assum-
ing you’re going to fish with a friend. Budget $150 for gas and another
$150 for meals (remember, you’re on a budget), then look for a cheap
hotel or a bed and breakfast. And don’t forget to bring money to ship
your fish home.
Once you arrive in Anchorage you’ll have a plenty places to fish.
#1 Ship Creek
Flows through downtown
Anchorage and it’s best fished
below the Chugach power plant.
Combat fishing when the kings
are in. Less crowded when the
silvers arrive. Tidally influenced.
Location Downtown
Anchorage.
Access From the airport
14
head north on Hwy 1 and access
fishery via Loop Bridge and Port
of Anchorage.
Species/Season Kings in
June; Coho in August, September.
#2 Bird Creek
Anchorage’s most popular
fishery, there is a quarter-mile
section that’s open for fishing. Be
mindful of incoming tides and
don’t get stuck in the mud flats.
Location 20 miles east of
Anchorage on Hwy 1.
Access From Hwy 1 look for
the Bird to Gird Pathway.
Species/Season Coho in
early August.
#3 Twentymile River
One of three drainages that
falls under the Portage Creek
system, Twentymile has a good
run of silvers that is often under-
fished for Anchorage standards.
Tidally influenced.
Location 45 miles southeast
of Anchorage.
Access Hwy 1. Park north
or south end of river near the
mouth.
Species/Season Coho in
September.
#4 Russian River
A tributary of the Kenai
River, the Russian hosts excellent
sockeye, silver and trout fishing
(both rainbows and char). There
are campgrounds and trails that
allow access. This is a must-fish
river if you’re on a do-it-yourself
trip.
Location 112 miles south of
Anchorage.
Access Hwy 1. A privately
owned ferry system will allow
you to cross the Kenai River and
access the mouth of the Russian
River. A well-used trail follows the
river for its entirety.
Species/Season Sockeye,
July; Coho, September; Trout and
Char in August, September.
#5 Kenai River
The upper river is one of the
best fisheries for anyone wanting
to catch sockeye from the Kenai’s
second run (there’s an early and
late run of sockeye). It also boasts
good trout fishing early and late.
King fishing on the lower river is
a boat show where guide boats
dominate.
Location 150 miles south of
Anchorage.
Access Hwy 1 between Kenai
Lake and Skilak Lake.
Species/Season 1st season
Sockeye, June; 2nd season Sock-
eye, July; 1st season Coho, late-
July, August; 2nd season Coho,
September; Rainbow trout, June,
September.
#6 Kasilof River
Two king runs in May-June
and July-August (early and late)
are followed by sockeye and coho
runs. This is a popular fishery for
guides, but there is good access
for wade fishermen. The river gets
less crowded after the king run
ends. There is an under-fished
char fishery on the upper river
(close to Tustumena Lake).
Location 160 miles from
Anchorage via Hwy 1.
Access Most of the fishing
takes place from the Sterling
Bridge to Crooked Creek.
Species/Season Early Kings
May-June; Late Kings July; Coho
mid-August, September. Char in
September.
#7 Clam Gulch
Razor clams the size of your
big foot and a nice change of
pace. You can rent everything you