Silver Salmon
Silver (Coho) Salmon provide some of the most exciting, aggressive fishing of the season. Arriving in late summer and running deep into the fall, Silvers are known for their spectacular jumps and willingness to chase spinners, plugs, and flies. If you want action and a great fight, fall Silver fishing is unbeatable.
Aggressive Strikes
Silvers are predators. They will violently strike spinners, twitching jigs, and cured roe.
Fall Scenery
Fished in August through October, you will experience the crisp Alaskan fall and changing colors.
Excellent Eating
Silvers have mild, delicious meat that is highly prized, second only to Kings and Sockeye.
From the River
The Fall Run
The Kenai River gets two distinct runs of Silver Salmon. The early run arrives in August, providing a great combo opportunity with late Sockeye or Rainbow Trout. The late run pushes into September and October, bringing significantly larger fish — often 15–20 lbs — in cooler water with spectacular fall scenery.
Techniques We Use
Casting Spinners
Large, brightly colored Vibrax spinners cast into seams and eddies near the bank result in violent surface strikes. Our most productive method for active fish.
Twitching Jigs
Marabou or silicone jigs "twitched" through the strike zone. Silvers smash the jig on the drop — you feel a distinct thump when they commit.
Fly Fishing
An 8-weight rod swinging articulated streamers through resting pools. Watching a 12-lb Silver chase a fly in clear water is an experience you don't forget.
Backtrolling Plugs
When casting slows, we backtroll plugs wrapped in sardine or float bait clusters under a bobber to provoke reaction strikes from finicky fish.
Silver + Trout Combo Trips
August and September offer the unique opportunity for combo trips. After securing your limit of silver-bright Coho, we spend the remainder targeting the massive Rainbow Trout gorging on salmon eggs and flesh behind the spawning fish.