Cooper Landing

A Cooper Landing fishing experience is nothing short of incredible. Known as the gem of the Kenai Peninsula, these emerald waters have a lot to offer anglers. Cooper Landing is located at Kenai Lake, where the famous Kenai River begins. It may be small, with just 300 people living there, but the options for world-class fishing are huge. In the fall, the number of anglers triples here, with over 1,000 coming to fish these waters during the area’s annual Salmon run.

If you’re fishing in Cooper Landing, chances are you’ve come for the Salmon run along the Kenai River. When this gets too crowded, remember, you’ve also got the Russian River very close. The Salmon run is from late summer into the fall. Yet the action doesn’t stop during the winter – this is the perfect time to go ice fishing at one of the many local lakes, such as Juneau Lake, Watson Lake, or Skilak Lake.

In the Kenai Peninsula, you’ll find four of the top Salmon species – Sockeye, Humpback, Coho, and Chinook (also called Red, Pink, Silver, and King respectively.) Although delicious, to maintain the high quality of fishing opportunities here, catch and release is highly recommended.

Kenai River is the reason this area is on the map. Near Cooper Landing, you have Kenai Lake and the Upper Kenai River. These waters are home to Sockeye Salmon, Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, and Coho Salmon. The Kenai River is more shallow and swift than the lower sections, making it perfect for drift fishing. A lot of anglers ride out to the hot spots then jump in and wade fish. During the Salmon run, be careful you don’t get knocked down by this powerful, single-minded fish!

This beautiful water is well worth visiting even if you choose not to fish – although, with the best population of Dolly Varden around, that’s unlikely! You’ll also fish Rainbow Trout and Sockeye here – from the shoreline, these can even be seen jumping out of the water, so have your camera ready. This is one of the main rivers that Sockeye spawn in, so there are regulations and seasons for fishing here. Your Cooper Landing fishing guide will let you know when the waters can be accessed, and how many fish you can take home.

• Ask your guide to teach you the “Sockey Swing,” the best technique for reeling in Sockeye Salmon. These bad boys need a completely different approach compared to Coho and Chinook. For best results, use small hooks baited with worms, eggs, small flies, or small spoons. Try to get your lure right in front of the fish to provoke a reflexive strike – remember, when spawning, these guys are not hungry, so traditional lures won’t work.

• For Chinook and Coho Salmon, the presentation of the lure is vital. Position the lure directly ahead of the fish so they can’t miss it, with a good sinker to get it to the right depth. Lures that work well include eggs, spoons, spinners, and wobbling plugs

When out and about, remember to take your bear spray with you – this can be bought in most stores once you land in Alaska. Where there are fish, it’s likely there will be bears. Read up on bear protocol before you head out.

It’s best to check the regulations for limits and other restrictions that apply during the season you’ll be fishing. These change regularly and vary from river to river. Your fishing guide is the best source to inform you what you can fish for and when. Emergency regulations can be put into place at any time to protect the productivity of the rivers.

You’ll need to buy a fishing license before your first line is cast. These can be purchased in most places – a day license will cost around $25 (price subject to change). If targeting King Salmon, you’ll need an additional King Salmon stamp to go after them legally.

Fishing trips in Cooper Landing generally cost around $175 per person for a half day trip, and $275 per person for a full day trip.

Cooper Landing is 2 hours south of Anchorage International Airport. From here, a two-hour drive along the Sterling Highway can get you to Homer. You’ll notice that main roads are few and far between – it’s much easier to fly between towns.

A vacation in Cooper Landing fishing is fabulous – you’ll have a stunning backdrop to fish against, a huge range of Salmon to fish, and a choice of lakes and rivers that offer year-round fishing.