In honor of National Salmon Day, we are sharing stories from a part of the country where the ecological, economic and cultural importance of salmon cannot be overstated.
Alaska’s famed Kenai River is a phenomenal fishing destination in any year, but 2025 was one for the record books. Over 4.2 million sockeye salmon returned to the Kenai this year. For 21 straight days, more than 100,000 salmon per day pulsed up the Kenai. This seasonal abundance delighted anglers and brought a feast for the fish and wildlife who feed on salmon and their eggs.
Trout Unlimited’s Kenai Guide Ambassador Program works with local guides to promote sustainable angling and fish habitat conservation on the Kenai Peninsula. Five of our Kenai Guide Ambassadors shared their experiences from a record-breaking run:
Dallas Voss – Explore Kenai
This past July and August, the Kenai River witnessed a sockeye salmon run for the ages —sending both locals and visitors home with full limits before their coffee cooled. Even with a six-per-angler bag limit, turnover on the gravel bars was quick, and spirits were sky-high. Add in weeks of sunshine, the sister towns of Kenai and Soldotna were buzzing with energy.
From a guide’s perspective, the second run was pure magic. There were more than enough fish to keep every rod bent, and most trips wrapped up faster than we ever expected. For us, that meant something extra special; free afternoons to spend on the water with our own kids. As parents of a six-year-old and a four-year-old, we’d been waiting for the day they could try their own hands at catching sockeye. We picked July 21 for their first trip — a day that turned out to be the second biggest of the season, with nearly 250,000 fish recorded on sonar.
We found a spot at the famous “sockeye factory” on the lower Kenai, and our oldest, Blake, was up first. At just under 50 pounds, he steadied himself against the fast current and cast with determination. With one of us on the net and the other standing close, Blake hooked into fish after fish, fighting them on his own and grinning ear to ear with every tug on the line.
His younger sister, Andrea, didn’t have to wait long. After 20 minutes of cheering her brother on, she was ready for her turn. At just 25 pounds, she needed a little help with her cast, but the sockeye didn’t mind — she hooked into her limit just as quickly. Watching her hang on to the rod with everything she had is a memory we’ll never forget.
This summer will be remembered as one of the greatest sockeye runs the Kenai has ever seen, but for us, it was about more than just numbers. Not only did our clients experience the kind of fishing people dream about their whole lives, but our own children got to share in that same unforgettable magic.
Jack Mister – Mister Kenai Sportfishing
The record-breaking sockeye run filled lots of freezers this year. Most first time Kenai River sockeye salmon anglers thought this was business as usual. You walk out into a black line of fish, catch your limit and celebrate. If you lose one, no worries, there are 10,000 more behind them. No matter how crazy you reiterated this run was, some people had a hard time understanding just how lucky they were to be here this year.
Joe and Etta have been fishing with me for almost five years now. They have seen tough runs, great runs and runs in between. In the past, they fished hard for eight hours just to catch their three fish limit as time almost expired on our day.
This year, it was easy to see the delight on their faces as they knew they were part of truly EPIC RUN. Their jaws were on the floor as sockeye flooded by. It was amazing to share this run with so many great people, but just a little extra special to share it with returning guests who really could wrap their head around and appreciate the incredible sight we were witnessing.
Drew Petrie – Lost Boys Fishing
Incredible is the only word to describe the 2025 sockeye season on the Kenai Peninsula. With millions of sockeye salmon pouring into the rivers, anglers enjoyed easy limits, big smiles and plenty of action on the water. Some days were so successful that our guides were filleting nearly 90 fish between just three groups—a true testament to the abundance of sockeye this year.
Silver salmon (coho) also made a strong return, with runs far better than in recent years. This opened the door for new opportunities, including a memorable moment when a good friend of mine hooked his very first silver on the fly rod.
As the season shifted into fall, the sockeye spawn brought rainbow trout and Dolly Varden to the middle and upper Kenai River, creating some of the most exciting trout fishing of the year. From salmon limits to trophy rainbows, 2025 will be remembered as a season of abundance, adventure and unforgettable days on the water.
JJ Brown – Kenai River Trout Anglers
This season was my 25th season guiding on the Kenai, and it was extraordinary. The largest sockeye run in recent history provided an incredible amount of food for the resident fish. I have never seen so many eggs in the system. It made trout fishing harder than usual for a good part of September on the upper river. When it finally turned on, we found some truly fat fish.
Lori Price – Fish Em
We are honored to host trips with The Fallen Outdoors, where we share this river and create memories with the men and women who have served our country. This annual trip has turned into a tradition where men vs women compete for first fish, biggest and most fish per day. The day also includes fun banter, checking out the wildlife, meeting new people and sharing experiences. This day is priceless and a great mental health day to take care of our active duty & retired military.
Many memories were made this year, from catching massive fish during the best sockeye run, to literally catching an iPhone on our annual trout fishing trip (that takes skill) to teaching others how to run the river.
Salmon recovery beyond AK
Alaska’s waters are some of the last strongholds for these incredible fish. Trout Unlimited’s 15 Alaska–based staff work to safeguard and restore salmon habitat across the state to ensure these fish continue to support our communities, jobs and way of life.
This good news from Alaska reminds us of what was once possible in the contiguous United States and gives urgency to Trout Unlimited’s work to restore salmon populations across the country. From the Kennebec in the East to the Snake and Klamath Rivers in the West, TU is working to restore fragmented habitat and degraded salmon populations. Together, these conservation and restoration efforts are creating a brighter future for the keystone species that were once prolific in waters across our coastal communities.