Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River

If you’re an avid angler and nature lover, to you Kenai River will be heaven on Earth. Alaskan Gamefisher and Captain Mel Erickson are here to show you the best of both worlds and take you on unforgettable fishing trips, all with the stop-and-stare nature as your backdrop.

Salmon fishing is always fun, but going after these underwater VIPs in Alaska is about as good as it can get. Chinook Salmon just happens to be Alaska’s state fish for over half a century, and for all the good reasons. They’re abundant in this area, will definitely pose a challenge to reel in, and make the best meal you could ask for. You should also be on the lookout for Coho and Sockeye, that could just as easily find their way to your cooler.

The optimal time to fish Kenai River and make the most of it is between mid-May and September when the bite is red-hot and so is the fun you’ll have. Capt. Mel is a Salmon fishing specialist since he’s been doing it for almost 3 decades.

He’ll provide you with all the adequate fishing equipment including rods, reels, and tackle. Cleaning and filleting of your catch is also complimentary, so the results of your hard day’s work can be on your table the same day.
The Captain will provide bait when allowed.

For starters, you’ll come aboard a 30’ Willie Predator rigged with an outboard 50 HP Yamaha engine to take you to the best fishing grounds. The vessel is fully outfitted to accommodate 5 persons fishing comfortably and wrestling their new personal Salmon record.

Bring the whole family and enjoy a fishing vacation where you can share your angling passion with the people closest to you – that’s the stuff memories are made of. Capt. Mel and his first mate will go out of their way to turn your time on the water into an awesome experience.

Book a trip with Alaskan Gamefisher and discover the beauty and riches of Kenai River. Let the Alaskan fishing adventures begin!



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Shared trip
    Half Day Trip - Salmon
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 16 - Jun 30 (Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
    US $500
    On this 4-hour trip, you will fish for Salmon in Kenai River and have an amazing time at that! From mid-May to the end of July King Salmon is in focus, while in August and September Coho is all the craze. Aside from fishing, you get the chance to admire the beauty of Kenai River surroundings which are nothing short than stunning.
  • Shared trip
    Full Day Trip - Salmon
    FREE Cancellation 30 days notice
    9 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 16 - Sep 4 (Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat)
    US $650
    Fish the Kenai River for King Salmon to find out what it means to cast your line in one of the best fishing spots in the world. You get 9 hours on the spectacular Kenai River to catch your limit, be inspired, and amazed by the surrounding scenery and bond with your family or angling buddies.
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FAQs about Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River

Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $250 per person - Half Day Trip - Salmon (5 hours)
  • US $325 per person - Full Day Trip - Salmon (9 hours)

When you book a trip with Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Radar

Trips booked with Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • First Mate

Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River offers the following types of fishing:
  • River Fishing (Kenai River salmon fishinhg)
  • Offshore Fishing

Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Fly Fishing
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River include:
  • Salmon (Chinook)
  • Salmon (Coho)
  • Salmon (Sockeye)

Meet the Charter Operator

Alaskan Gamefisher
Soldotna, Alaska, United States
1 Fishing Report
48 Customer reviews
Member since April 2014
Captain Mel Erickson is the owner and operator of the Alaskan Gamefisher, running trips since 1989 along the Kenai River and out into Cook Inlet. Capt. Mel is one of very few Alaska fishing guides that personally guide for both Kenai River Salmon and Alaskan Halibut. He also owns the Dream Raiser, fishing down in Costa Rica for awesome species like Marlin, Sailfish, and Tuna. His guides will make sure you have a memorable day on the water.

About this listing

Targeted species

Salmon (Chinook) Chinook Salmon
Salmon (Coho) Coho Salmon
Salmon (Sockeye) Sockeye Salmon

Boat specs

Willie Predator (Sportfishing) originally built in 2004. Powered by a 50HP Yamaha engine.

Length
20 ft
Capacity
5 persons

Types of fishing

River Fishing
Kenai River salmon fishinhg
Offshore Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Fly Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

Toilet
GPS
Fishfinder
Radar

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
First Mate

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 30 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 30 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Catch and Release Mandatory
Chinook Salmon from July 18th onward

Payment

Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Checks

Soldotna Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Very good
4.0 / 5
out of 5 stars from 7 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.1 / 5
Crew
Very good
3.9 / 5
Experience
Very good
4.0 / 5
Photo by reviewers (1)
Very successful trip!
Angler rating
4
1
0
2
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
71%
Friendly captain
86%
Recommend this charter
71%
Appropriate for children
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
71%
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Featured  
Showing:
5 of 7 reviews
Katie B.
Phoenix, Arizona
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

June fishing trip

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip - Salmon on June 29, 2021
Katie B. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Katie B. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Evert K.
DeWitt, MI
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

June fishing trip

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip - Salmon on June 18, 2021
Evert K. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Evert K. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Russell I.
Seattle, Washington
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Very successful trip!

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip - Salmon on August 3, 2019
Mel was very friendly and helpful in showing us techniques that caught fish!
Russell I. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Russell I. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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William D.
United States
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Full day trip with Captain Mel

VERIFIED   Full Day Trip - Salmon on July 23, 2019
Although fishing was for King Salmon, Mel also setup so we could fish a few hours for sockeye salmon which we greatly appreciated.
William D. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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William D. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Richard D.
Santa Ana, CA
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Very good
4.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Early King Fishing 2020

VERIFIED   Full Day Trip - Salmon on May 22, 2020
Was out on the River all day great time had by all!!
Richard D. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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Richard D. recommends Alaskan Gamefisher - Kenai River
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