Latest Russian River coho count: 78 on Sep 1, 2026 (ADF&G, preliminary). 2026 season count: 746 fish (Aug 14 – Sep 1).
- Latest daily count
- 78
- Sep 1, 2026
up 25 vs Aug 31 - 2026 season total
- 746
- Aug 14 – Sep 1
2025 to the same date: 885 - vs 3-year average
- 112%
- of the 2023–2025 average to Sep 1 (665)
- Peak day
- 78
- Sep 1, 2026
- 7-day total
- 396
- Aug 26 – Sep 1
up 35% vs the 7 days before
- 2026
- 2023–2025 average
- Daily count
Chart data (weekly running totals)
| Date | 2026 running total | 2023–2025 average running total |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 11 | 0 | 29 |
| Aug 18 | 57 | 162 |
| Aug 25 | 350 | 412 |
| Sep 1 | 746 | 665 |
| Sep 8 | after the latest count | 765 |
| Sep 10 | after the latest count | 786 |
| Date | Fish counted | Change vs prior count | Season total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23 | 37 | +8 | 271 |
| Aug 24 | 36 | −1 | 307 |
| Aug 25 | 43 | +7 | 350 |
| Aug 26 | 59 | +16 | 409 |
| Aug 27 | 55 | −4 | 464 |
| Aug 28 | 43 | −12 | 507 |
| Aug 29 | 57 | +14 | 564 |
| Aug 30 | 51 | −6 | 615 |
| Aug 31 | 53 | +2 | 668 |
| Sep 1Peak | 78 | +25 | 746 |
| 2026 season total | 746 | ||
| 2023–2025 average to the same date | 665 | ||
Source: ADF&G daily fish counts, preliminary; ADF&G can revise them. Days with no count above zero are skipped.
Russian River Coho (Silver) Salmon Fish Counts
Daily and historical weir counts tracking Coho (Silver) salmon on the Russian River—renowned for acrobatic fighters in crystal-clear waters.
Understanding Russian River Coho Runs
The Russian River, a tributary of the Kenai River near Cooper Landing, hosts a late-season Coho (Silver) salmon run starting in August. Fish are counted at a weir at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake. Coho are famous for their aggressive strikes and spectacular leaps, making them a favorite among fly anglers.
🥈 Coho (Silver) Salmon Run (August – September)
Coho salmon typically reach the Kenai River confluence by late July or early August, and ADF&G says the bulk of the run has passed the weir by the second week of September. From 2020 through 2026 the weir count ended between September 1 and September 10. These fish are prized for their fighting ability and excellent table fare.
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About Russian River Coho (Silver) Salmon Fishing
The Russian River on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is renowned not only for its world-famous sockeye runs but also for exceptional Coho (Silver) salmon fishing in late summer and fall. Located approximately 110 miles south of Anchorage near Cooper Landing, this crystal-clear tributary of the Kenai River offers some of the most exciting salmon fishing in Southcentral Alaska.
Coho salmon are prized for their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights—they're known to leap repeatedly when hooked, making them a favorite target for both fly fishers and spin anglers. The Russian River's clear waters allow for sight-fishing opportunities that are rare in Alaska's often glacially-silted rivers.
Run Timing & Best Fishing
Russian River Coho typically begin arriving in early August, with the run building through the month. Many anglers find the best fishing from late August into September. Unlike the crowded sockeye runs of June and July, coho season offers a more relaxed fishing experience with fewer anglers on the water.
Historical Counts & Variability
Russian River Coho counts have shown significant variability over the years. The highest weir count was 9,888 fish in 2001, while some years have counted fewer than 200. Recent counts have been low: 270 in 2024, 885 in 2025 and 746 in 2026. Because counting now ends in early September, these totals may miss late fish. This variability makes tracking fish counts especially valuable for timing your trip.
Fishing Regulations
The Russian River has specific gear restrictions. From June 11 through August 20 the lower river is fly-fishing-only water (a fly rod is not required, but the hook must be a fly); different tackle rules apply at other times, and rules vary by section and date. Always check the current Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary before your trip, as emergency orders may modify these rules.
Access & Location
The Russian River is accessible via the Russian River Campground (USFS fee area) with hiking trails along the river, or by using the Russian River ferry which crosses the Kenai River to the confluence. The lower three miles of river and approximately one mile downstream from the Kenai River confluence offer the best fishing access. The Russian River Falls area upstream provides excellent viewing; salmon fishing is closed from ADF&G markers about 600 yards below the falls upstream.
Techniques & Tactics
Coho salmon respond well to a variety of presentations:
• Fly Fishing: Egg patterns, flesh flies, and streamers in pink, orange, and purple are effective
• Spin Fishing: Spinners, spoons, and drift fishing with beads (where allowed)
• Sight Fishing: The clear water allows you to spot fish and cast directly to them
Tips for Success
Coho can be aggressive but also finicky. Fish holding in slower water near structure tend to be more willing biters. Early morning and late evening often produce the best action. High water levels can push coho into beaver-dammed side channels, so exploring these areas can pay off. Be prepared for variable weather—fall on the Kenai Peninsula can bring rain, wind, and even early snow.
Tracking Russian River Coho fish counts helps anglers identify peak run timing and make informed decisions about when to plan their trip. While there's no formal escapement goal, monitoring these counts provides valuable insight into the health and timing of the run each year.
Russian River coho count: common questions
Plain answers on how the coho count at the Russian River weir works, what past seasons looked like and what the numbers mean for fishing. This season's numbers are in the count card and chart above. The figures below come from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and were checked on October 21, 2026.
What is the Russian River coho count?
It is ADF&G's daily count of coho salmon, also called silver salmon, passing the weir on the Russian River, a clearwater tributary of the upper Kenai River. It runs each year from about early August into early September, after the sockeye counts, and each day's count is added to a season total.
Where is the coho counted?
At the same ADF&G weir that counts the Russian River sockeye, at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake, about 78 miles from the mouth of the Kenai River. The weir is upstream of the lower river, where most fishing happens.
How do I check the coho count today?
Look at the count card at the top of this page. It shows the latest daily count ADF&G has posted, the season total so far and how it compares with recent seasons. ADF&G treats counts for the current year as preliminary, so a number can change after it first appears.
When do coho reach the Russian River?
ADF&G says coho reach the confluence of the Kenai and Russian rivers by late July or early August, and the bulk of the run has passed the weir by the second week of September. In its count data for 2013 through 2026, the first coho reached the weir between July 30 and August 14, and the biggest single day came between August 17 and September 7.
How many coho were counted in 2026?
ADF&G's preliminary 2026 count was 746 coho, from August 14 to the last count on September 1. The biggest day was September 1, at 78 fish, so coho were still arriving when counting stopped.
What were the Russian River coho counts in past years?
Season totals at the weir, from ADF&G's count data:
- 2026: 746 (preliminary)
- 2025: 885
- 2024: 270
- 2023: 1,203
- 2022: 1,668
- 2021: 707
- 2020: 1,768
- 2019: 162
- 2018: 1,936
- 2017: 492
From 2017 through 2026 the count averaged about 980 coho a year and never reached 2,000. Counting in 2019 stopped on August 18, so that year is a partial count.
What is the record coho count at the weir?
In ADF&G's online weir data, which goes back to 1978, the record is 2001, at 9,888 coho. The lowest season was 1987, at 143. The biggest single day was 1,153 coho, on August 19, 1984.
Does the weir miss late coho?
It can, because counting now ends earlier than it once did. In 1994 and from 1997 through 2001, ADF&G's coho counts ran into October. In the record 2001 season, 6,470 of the 9,888 coho were counted after September 10, and in 1994 the biggest day came on October 2. Since 2002 the last coho count has come by mid-September, and from 2020 through 2026 between September 1 and September 10. So compare recent totals with older ones carefully. ADF&G's count page does not say why the end date changed.
Is there an escapement goal for the coho?
No. ADF&G's Russian River count page lists goals for the early and late sockeye runs but none for coho.
Can I keep coho on the Russian River?
Yes, in season. Under ADF&G's 2026 Kenai River regulations, the lower Russian, from 100 yards above its mouth to 600 yards below the falls, was open to coho fishing from July 1 through September 30, with a limit of 1 per day and 1 in possession. A coho 16 inches or longer that is taken out of the water must be kept and counts toward the limit of the person who hooked it. Check ADF&G's current sport fishing regulations and emergency orders before you fish. This page is not a regulations source.
Is the Russian River fly-fishing only for coho?
Only for part of the season. On the lower Russian, ADF&G's 2026 regulations allowed only artificial flies from June 11 through August 20. Upstream of the ADF&G marker about 600 yards below the falls, the river is closed to all salmon fishing year-round.
Does the weir count tell me when to fish for coho?
It tells you what has already gone by. The weir is above the main fishing areas in the lower three miles of the Russian, so a fish on today's count has already passed most anglers. A daily count that is still rising in late August means the run has not yet peaked at the weir.
Is there a coho count on the Kenai River?
No. ADF&G publishes Kenai River counts for king salmon and late-run sockeye only. See all Russian River fish counts or the Russian River sockeye counts.
Where does the data come from?
The counts on this page and the past-season totals above come from ADF&G's public Russian River coho count. We republish them with averages so the trend is easier to read. The rules above come from ADF&G's regulation pages and emergency orders.
How do I get alerts when new counts post?
In the Alaska FishTopia app, favorite the Russian River coho and you'll get a push alert when a new count posts. The alert gives the day's count and the season total so far, and says whether the run is ahead of, on or behind the typical pace for the date, based on the 3-year average. The app also covers the Russian River sockeye, Kenai, Kasilof and other Alaska counts, plus tides, marine weather, sport fishing regulations and AI fish ID. It comes with a 3-day free trial, then $9.99 a year. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.