About Kasilof River / Crooked Creek King Salmon Fishing

The Kasilof River on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula offers excellent King salmon (Chinook) fishing opportunities, enhanced by the Crooked Creek hatchery program that has operated since 1973. Located approximately 160 miles south of Anchorage and 15 miles south of Soldotna, the Kasilof provides a more accessible alternative to the heavily-fished Kenai River for anglers pursuing Chinook salmon.

Same Fish Counts, Two Names: You may see these fish counts referred to as either "Kasilof River Chinook" or "Crooked Creek Chinook"—they are the same data. Crooked Creek is a tributary of the Kasilof River where the counting weir is located, and the King salmon counted here spawn in this tributary system.

Important: Only wild (naturally-produced) King salmon are counted at the Crooked Creek weir—hatchery fish are not included in these fish counts. This explains why daily counts don't appear until late June, as the early run consists primarily of hatchery returns that pass through uncounted.

Hatchery-Enhanced Fishery

The Crooked Creek Hatchery releases approximately 140,500 King salmon smolts annually into Crooked Creek, targeting a return of around 3,000 adult fish. This enhancement program allows for liberal harvest opportunities on hatchery fish while protecting wild stocks. Hatchery fish can be identified by their clipped adipose fin, making them easily distinguishable from naturally-produced salmon.

Best Times to Fish

The Kasilof River supports two distinct King salmon runs. The early run peaks from May 25 through June 9, targeting hatchery-origin fish returning to Crooked Creek (these fish are not reflected in the weir counts above). The late run of wild Kings—which ARE counted at the weir—provides fishing from June 29 through July 15. Note that King salmon fishing on the Kasilof is typically heavily restricted by ADF&G each year due to conservation concerns for wild stocks—always check current emergency orders before heading out.

Fishing Techniques & Locations

The Kasilof River's narrower and shallower character compared to the Kenai makes it particularly productive for bank fishing—estimates suggest shore-based anglers harvest up to 50% of the river's King salmon catch. Popular areas include the Crooked Creek State Recreation Area near mile 111 of the Sterling Highway, where anglers target fish heading upstream to spawn. Drift boat fishing is also popular, with put-in sites at the recreation area.

Regulations & Management

Due to conservation concerns for naturally-produced King salmon, ADF&G implements specific regulations for the Kasilof River fishery. The Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG) for naturally-produced Kings at Crooked Creek is 700 to 1,400 fish. During most seasons, anglers may retain hatchery-produced fish (identified by missing adipose fins) while naturally-produced fish must be released. Gear restrictions typically limit anglers to single-hook, unbaited artificial lures from May through mid-August.

2025 Season Updates

The 2025 season saw significant restrictions implemented to protect struggling King salmon returns. Anglers were allowed to retain two hatchery-produced Kings per day through June, reduced to one per day in July. Portions of the river were closed in late July to minimize impacts on the spawning population. Always check current emergency orders before fishing, as in-season management decisions can affect bag limits and open areas.

Tracking Kasilof River King salmon fish counts helps anglers time their trips for peak returns and understand run strength throughout the season. The weir data at Crooked Creek provides accurate daily escapement numbers essential for both fishing success and conservation management.