Rainbow trout fishing the Kenai river is always something I look forward too, even on day 100 I still find the motivation to get gear together and make my way to the river. It is always helpful to see the river when the water is very low. At Cooper Landing the Flow was around 600 CFS and below Skilak lake it was flowing around 840 CFS. This gives me a lot of information for the following guide season on where rainbow trout might be holding.
We picked up a few rainbow trout around Princess rapids on the upper Kenai River. The temperature was in the low 20’s all morning and eventually came up to were we could fish without freezing up to bad. Thanks to the Jet-boil we were able to take a break and have some hot coffee.
Not removing the fish from the water on very cold days is a great idea, plus it’s much better for your hands!
I’m sure that leeches and flesh flies would have picked a few fish up but there were a lot of
silver salmon spawning. We knew that we would be fighting almost dead silvers all day were we were fishing if we used streamers. Egg patterns seemed to be the ticket and we didn’t pick up many silvers at all. Both dead egg patterns and fresh egg patterns picked up a few
rainbow trout and
dolly varden.
TIGHT LINES,
SCOTT SAGER
907-382-6808
Dolly varden guide trips on the Kenai river are available throughout the guide season on the Kenai peninsula and Alaska. Some of the longer hikes into the Kenai River can produce the best fish. Also I find that the more effort it takes me to get to the river the less competition I find for my favorite fishing spots. This particular trail leads us into the middle Kenai River and is three miles from the parking lot. We are happy to share information with you so give us a call and we will do our best to point you in the right direction. If a do it yourself fishing trip isn’t something that you are interested in we are happy to take you on a guided trip for any of the species found on the Kenai Peninsula.
The Kenai River offers a variety of species to fish for and dolly varen is one of them. Year round we can find Dolly Varden in the Kenai River just like this one. This day was beautiful and a balmy 29 degrees. Dead drifting the right color egg pattern fooled this fish.
Dolly Varden in mid February on the middle Kenai River.
Good fishing,
Scott Sager
907-382-6808 
With the open water you could find a 
The boat launches along the kenai river don’t get used much during the cold Alaska winters.
There will be no 
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