Visiting & Fishing Soldotna - Fishing Lodges, Fishing Guides, Activities & More

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Soldotna, Alaska is a small town at the heart of the Kenai Peninsula that provides easy access to world-class outdoor activities, a range of lodging options, and good food, including grocery stores. Logistically, Soldotna offers fantastic opportunities to explore much of the Kenai Peninsula as the town is central to many other locations. It is about 160 miles from Anchorage and takes a little over two hours to drive from Anchorage or a short 25-minutes by air. If you are in a hurry, local flights out of Anchorage drop in you the town of Kenai, which is about 10-miles away, from there you can rent a car, arrange pickup with your lodge or guide, or hop a taxi. Soldotna offers a mix of activities that the whole family will love. It is safe to say that Soldotna is the perfect destination for the die-hard anglers, families looking to experience Alaska, and for those who want to explore at their own pace.

The township of Soldotna is around 4,500 people and offers some amenities that you would not find in smaller villages, such as grocery stores, a mix of dining options, festivals, and plenty of outdoor activities. For those of you who are here to fish, Soldotna offers many perks. You can rent waders and fishing gear or bring your own. Remember, though, that felt-soled waders are not legal in Alaska.

Why Visit Soldotna, Alaska?

One of the best reasons to choose Soldotna is its location. You are minutes from the town of Kenai, the Kenai River runs through Soldotna, and historical towns such as Homer are under an hour away by car. There is also a long list of outdoor activities for the whole family, including many festivals. For those of you looking to Soldotna for your Alaska fishing trip, you are a short trip from the Russian River, Skilak Lake, the Kasilof River, local creeks, and fly-out fishing options. The location makes it easy to enjoy the best of the Kenai Peninsula without being limited on choices for fishing, outdoor activities, and family fun. It is also civilized enough to be comfortable and wild enough for wildlife viewing.

Expect to find a range of dining options from high-end restaurants to national fast-food joints. Lodging options include luxury fishing lodges to local motels and even campgrounds. Many lodges have kitchenettes, so the convenience of grocery stores here is significant. Soldotna is a place where you can find just what you need to make your Alaskan Vacation a dream come true. Activities include many year-round options, including winter activities such as snowshoeing and snowmobiling. For the warmer times of the year, many people come for the festivals, wildlife viewing, canoeing, guided and self-guided hiking trips, shopping, museums, and exhibits, including viewing the world-record King Salmon that was caught on the Kenai River in 1985.

Soldotna sits along the shores of the world-famous Kenai River. The city has built elevated boardwalks so that you can walk along the riverfront or even fish from the banks. You have easy access to the Russian River and the Kasilof River too. These are world-class, blue-ribbon rivers for fishing, but there is a lot to do here beyond fishing and many activities that are perfect for the whole family. As one of Alaska's popular vacation destinations, you can enjoy Kayaking, fly fishing for salmon and trophy rainbow trout, horseback riding tours, guided backpacking trips, day trips for hiking, wildlife viewing, and rafting.

Fishing Soldotna, Alaska

Many anglers stay in Soldotna Alaska to fish the Kenai River; however, you can also fish the Russian River and the Kasilof River. Any of the three rivers are capable of producing world-record fish. You have access to King Salmon, Silver Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pink Salmon, and Sockeye Salmon as well as trophy Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Steelhead (Kasilof River).

The river choices offer various experience options to meet most anglers interests. The Kenai is long and lean and best fished with a guide as special permits are required within the Chugach State Park and The Kenai Wildlife Refuge. You can float the Kenai or jet boat to the best fishing locations on the Kenai. You can also rent waders in Soldotna and Sterling for walk-and-wade fishing. Your Kenai guide, if you opt for one, may also have waders for you to use. You can also walk and wade the Russian River, which gives you an excellent opportunity to experience Alaska nature and world-class fishing. The Russian River is an anglers river giving you the options to float, stop, fish, and float or to walk and wade with a guide or as a self-guided option. Note that the Kasilof River does not allow motors at all, so you'll be drifting while fishing this river which makes for a different fishing experience. Also, the Kasilof is only 17-miles long and is more turbid than the other two.

Anglers can also opt to do saltwater charters out of Kenai, Ninilchik, or Homer…or opt to fly-out fishing to more remote locations that offer Salmon, Trout, and Arctic Grayling. You can fish Skilak Lake or Tustamena Lake, which is the largest lake on the Kenai Peninsula.

Soldotna's beautiful location offers a lot of options for genuinely experiencing Alaska. Whether you've come up to this beautiful state to break the King Salmon record or to experience the rugged last frontier with your entire family – there is plenty to do here.