King of the River – Powerboat

Explore the world-famous Kenai River aboard “King of the River”! This Alaskan hotspot is a haven for Salmon and you’ll hook everything from Chinook to Sockeye and Coho. Head out with Captain Dean Schlehofer, he hooked over 1,000 Salmon in 2021 alone and has been guiding in these waters for over 3 decades.

Capt. Dean has 2 20’ Willie powerboats. Each one can fit up to 4 anglers who can all fish at the same time. These spacious beauties have enough sitting and standing room to ensure you won’t bump elbows while reeling in your fish. GPS and Fish Finder keep you top of your targets and the live wells keeps your bait fresh to entice the bite.

The Kenai River is home to Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Sockeye (Red), and Pink Salmon which return every year in record numbers. Locals and visitors alike flock here to hook King Salmon weighing between 30 and 70 lbs on average! Alaska Red Salmon makes its charge up the River from mid-June to mid-August giving you the opportunity to hook fish weighing up to 12 pounds!

Capt. Dean provides top-notch G Loomis and Tekota rods and reels. He can even bring along fly fishing gear if you’re going after Red Salmon, just let him know ahead of time. He has deckhand on board with him on all trips to help out with everything fish related. If you’re happy with the service, tips between 10% and 20%  are appreciated.

At the end of the trip, your catch is cleaned and filleted. Capt. Dean can also set up special perishable packaging of your catch through FedEx for an additional $25. It’s then mailed to your home address or packaged safely for your flight.

Be sure to bring along any drinks and snacks you’d like to enjoy throughout the trip. Most importantly remember to pick-up a valid Alaska fishing license beforehand. Get your fish on in the productive Kenai River with King of the River!

Please note there is a sales tax, about 6%, that is not included in the trip prices.



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Shared trip
    Half Day Trip (AM)
    Just booked! Last booked: 5 hours ago
    FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 5:30 AM
    Seasonal trip May 16 - Sep 30
    US $450
    Head out bright and early to explore the Kenai River with other passionate anglers on this shared trip! You'll spend 5-hours going after delicious King, Red, Silver, and Pink Salmon. Capt. Dean and his deckhand provide all of your gear and are happy to clean your catch at the end of the trip. Bring along drinks, snacks, and a valid Alaska fishing license before setting off! NOTE: taxes not included in the price
  • Shared trip
    Half Day Trip (PM)
    FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 12:30 PM
    Seasonal trip May 16 - Sep 30
    US $450
    Explore the Kenai River with other like-minded anglers on this 5-hour afternoon trip! You'll go after all the Salmon you can imagine, including King, Silver, Pink, and Red. Capt. Dean provides you with all the necessary gear and has a deckhand on board on all trips. Bring along any drinks and snacks you'd like to enjoy and don't forget to pick up a fishing license beforehand! NOTE: taxes not included in the price
    Fishing techniques
    Bowfishing
  • Shared trip
    Full Day Trip
    In demand! Last booked: 4 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
    9 Hour Trip, starts at 5:30 AM
    Seasonal trip May 16 - Sep 30
    US $600
    Make the most of your time on the Kenai River on this 8-hour fishing adventure! Hook King, Silver, Red, and Pink Salmon in this hotspot that draws tons of anglers every year. Top-notch gear awaits on board and your catch is cleaned at the end of the trip. Bring along drinks, snacks, and a valid fishing license and you're all set! This is a shared trip so you'll head out with other likeminded anglers. NOTE: taxes not included in the price
There are 8 people looking at this charter.

FAQs about King of the River – Powerboat

King of the River – Powerboat offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $225 per person - Half Day Trip (AM) (5 hours)
  • US $225 per person - Half Day Trip (PM) (5 hours)
  • US $300 per person - Full Day Trip (9 hours)

When you book a trip with King of the River – Powerboat, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Radar

Trips booked with King of the River – Powerboat include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Gloomis rods, Tekota 500LC reels, Tekota 300LC )
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • First Mate (Deckhand, tips between 10-20% appreciated)
  • Fly Fishing Equipment (Only for Red Salmon, request in advance)

King of the River – Powerboat offers the following types of fishing:
  • River Fishing
  • Inshore Fishing (Red Salmon)

King of the River – Powerboat offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Trolling
  • Jigging
  • Fly Fishing
  • Drift Fishing (Optional )

Top targeted fish species with King of the River – Powerboat include:
  • Salmon (Coho)
  • Salmon (Pink)
  • Salmon (Sockeye)

Meet the Captain

Dean Schlehofer
Kenai, Alaska, United States
30 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
167 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since February 2020
I have been fishing the Kenai River since 1986. Growing up in Connecticut, I often saw magazines writing about giant King Salmon in the Kenai. It was my dream to one day go to Alaska and catch one of those Kings. In 1981 my family and I miraculously moved to Alaska. I always seemed to fish north of Anchorage but in 1986 I went south to the Kenai with my friend Charles on his 16' aluminum boat. My first King weighed in at 37 lbs. A few weeks later I bought my first boat. On July 28, 1986, I landed an 80 lbs King Salmon. My dream of landing a trophy King had come true. I was the one who was hooked.

About this listing

Targeted species

Salmon (Coho) Coho Salmon
Salmon (Pink) Pink Salmon
Salmon (Sockeye) Sockeye Salmon

Boat specs

Willie (Aluminum fishing) originally built in 2021. Powered by 2 50HP Yamaha engines, with a maximum cruising speed of 25 knots.

Length
21 ft
Capacity
12 persons

Types of fishing

River Fishing
Inshore Fishing
Red Salmon

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Trolling
Jigging
Fly Fishing
Drift Fishing
Optional

Amenities

GPS
Fishfinder
Radar

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Gloomis rods, Tekota 500LC reels, Tekota 300LC
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
First Mate
Deckhand, tips between 10-20% appreciated
Fly Fishing Equipment
Only for Red Salmon, request in advance

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 14 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 14 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
No minimum age, life jackets provided
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Disabled Accessible

Payment

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% 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:

Visa
Mastercard
American Express

Kenai Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 143 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (86)
Kenai River
Kenai River
July fishing trip
+83
Angler rating
121
14
5
2
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
83%
Friendly captain
98%
Recommend this charter
92%
Appropriate for children
84%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
82%
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Showing:
5 of 143 reviews
David R. K.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in August

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (AM) on August 5, 2023
David R. K. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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David R. K. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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1 person finds this review helpful
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Bruce S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in July

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (AM) on July 25, 2023
Bruce S. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Bruce S. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Brian B.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in June

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (PM) on June 26, 2023
Brian B. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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2 persons find this review helpful
You and 2 people found this review helpful
Brian B. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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2 persons find this review helpful
You and 2 people found this review helpful

Kenneth R.
Stanton, TX
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half day trip with Captain Cole

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (PM) on August 29, 2023
Cole is a great Captain.  Although my timing and the weather weren’t ideal for the late Silver “run”, Cole set us up...
Kenneth R. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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Kenneth R. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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Jordan S.
Otisco, MN
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Full Day Trip with Captain Jason

VERIFIED   Full Day Trip on July 4, 2023
We had a fantastic experience with King of the River and with our Captain Jason as well as the rest of the other captains....
Jordan S. recommends King of the River – Powerboat
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  Dean Schlehofer Captain replied