Latest Russian River sockeye count: 219 on Sep 2, 2026 (ADF&G, preliminary). 2026 late run count: 56,206 fish (Jul 15 – Sep 2).
- Latest daily count
- 219
- Sep 2, 2026
down 110 vs Sep 1 - 2026 late run total
- 56,206
- Jul 15 – Sep 2
2025 to the same date: 66,681 - vs 3-year average
- 59%
- of the 2023–2025 average to Sep 2 (95,769)
- Peak day (late run)
- 3,514
- Aug 3, 2026
- 7-day total
- 3,636
- Aug 27 – Sep 2
down 46% vs the 7 days before
Within the goal range
ADF&G late-run SEG goal: 44,000–85,000
2026 late run passage: 56,206 fish counted through Sep 2. Passage is the fish counted at the site (preliminary), not final escapement.
- 2026 late run
- 2023–2025 average
- Late-run SEG goal
- Daily count
Chart data (weekly running totals)
| Date | 2026 late run running total | 2023–2025 average running total |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 15 | 399 | 533 |
| Jul 22 | 5,588 | 6,152 |
| Jul 29 | 10,319 | 14,530 |
| Aug 5 | 25,739 | 33,503 |
| Aug 12 | 35,950 | 58,316 |
| Aug 19 | 45,854 | 73,691 |
| Aug 26 | 52,570 | 87,551 |
| Sep 2 | 56,206 | 95,769 |
| Sep 9 | after the latest count | 98,864 |
| Sep 10 | after the latest count | 99,040 |
| Date | Fish counted | Change vs prior count | Run total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | 831 | +23 | 50,816 |
| Aug 25 | 840 | +9 | 51,656 |
| Aug 26 | 914 | +74 | 52,570 |
| Aug 27 | 782 | −132 | 53,352 |
| Aug 28 | 691 | −91 | 54,043 |
| Aug 29 | 735 | +44 | 54,778 |
| Aug 30 | 471 | −264 | 55,249 |
| Aug 31 | 409 | −62 | 55,658 |
| Sep 1 | 329 | −80 | 55,987 |
| Sep 2 | 219 | −110 | 56,206 |
| 2026 late run total | 56,206 | ||
| 2023–2025 average to the same date | 95,769 | ||
Source: ADF&G daily fish counts, preliminary; ADF&G can revise them. Days with no count above zero are skipped. The running total restarts when the late run begins on Jul 15.
Russian River Sockeye Salmon Fish & Weir Counts
Accurate & Historical Russian River Weir Count Data
Accurate, up-to-date, and historical weir fish counts tracking both early and late run Sockeye Salmon on the Russian River.
Understanding Russian River Sockeye Runs
The Russian River supports two distinct runs of Sockeye salmon (Red) each year, monitored by a weir at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake, about 78 miles from the mouth of the Kenai River. The weir count runs from early June through early September, tracking fish as they migrate upstream to spawn in the Russian River and Upper Russian Lake.
🕐 Early Run (June 5 – July 14)
First wave of returning Sockeye, known for bright silver coloring and firm flesh. Peak typically mid-June through early July.
🕐 Late Run (July 15 – early September)
Second and larger run of Sockeye. Fish often turn red as they approach spawning grounds in late summer.
Get Real-Time Alerts & More
Download Alaska FishTopia for push notifications when fish counts spike, emergency order alerts, tide predictions, and more.
About Russian River Sockeye Salmon Fishing
The Russian River on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is one of the premier sockeye salmon fishing destinations in Southcentral Alaska. Located approximately 110 miles south of Anchorage near Cooper Landing, the scenic two- to three-hour drive offers stunning views of Alaska's wilderness. The 12-mile river originates from Upper Russian Lake, flows through Lower Russian Lake, and joins the Kenai River at river mile 74.
Known for crystal-clear waters, the Russian River hosts both sockeye and coho salmon, along with resident rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Prime fishing spots are concentrated in the lower three-mile section and about a mile downstream from the Kenai River confluence.
Early Run Fishing Tips
The early run sockeye salmon migration occurs from June through mid-July. At the weir, the early run's historic midpoint is June 27, and daily counts have usually peaked between mid-June and early July. Fish are counted at the weir at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake, upstream of the main fishing areas, so fish in the count have already passed most anglers.
Late Run Fishing Tips
The late run aligns with the Kenai River's massive sockeye migration, when daily counts at the Kenai sonar can exceed 100,000 fish. Only a small share of those fish head to the Russian River. At the Russian weir, late-run daily counts peaked between July 29 and August 9 in every year from 2020 through 2026; fishing downstream peaks earlier than the count.
Understanding Escapement & Bag Limits
Tracking escapement is essential for anglers. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game adjusts daily bag limits based on run strength. When escapement goals are on track to be exceeded, limits may increase by emergency order above the standard 3 fish per day. Early run minimum goals (22,000 fish) are typically met by late June, while late run minimums (44,000 fish) were reached between August 1 and August 18 in 2018 through 2026.
When planning your trip, remember that the weir sits upstream of the main fishing areas, so the count shows fish that have already passed them.
Russian River sockeye count: common questions
Plain answers on how the Russian River weir count works, what past seasons looked like and how to use the numbers to plan a trip. 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 fish count?
It is ADF&G's daily count of sockeye, also called red salmon, passing a weir on the Russian River, a clearwater tributary of the upper Kenai River near Cooper Landing. ADF&G keeps separate counts for the early run and the late run, and a third count for coho.
Where is the Russian River weir?
Where the river leaves Lower Russian Lake, roughly 78 miles from where the Kenai meets Cook Inlet. The Russian joins the Kenai at river mile 74, so the weir sits a few miles up the Russian, above the stretch where most people fish. ADF&G says most fishing happens in the lower three miles of the Russian and in the Kenai for about a mile below the confluence.
How does a weir count fish?
A weir is a fence across the river, and fish are counted as they pass through it on their way upstream. ADF&G's daily table also logs the water level next to each day's count.
How do I check the Russian River fish count today?
Look at the count card at the top of this page. It shows the latest daily count ADF&G has posted, the run total so far and how it compares with the 3-year average. Counts for the current year are preliminary and can be revised.
When are the early and late runs counted?
ADF&G counts the early run from early June through July 14 and the late run from July 15 into early September. In 2013 through 2026 the first early-run fish reached the weir between June 5 and June 12, and from 2020 through 2026 the last late-run count came between September 2 and September 10.
When does the early run peak at the weir?
Mid-June to early July. In 2013 through 2026 the biggest early-run day came between June 12 and July 6, and half the run had passed the weir by a date between June 18 and June 29. ADF&G gives the run's historic midpoint as June 27.
When does the late run peak at the weir?
Late July to early August. In 2013 through 2026 the biggest late-run day came between July 27 and August 9. ADF&G calls the late run the larger of the two, though not every year: the early-run count was the larger one in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.
How many Russian River sockeye were counted in 2026?
ADF&G's preliminary 2026 counts were 47,093 early-run sockeye, through July 14, and 56,206 late-run sockeye, from July 15 to the last count on September 2. The biggest early-run day was July 3, at 3,275 fish, and the biggest late-run day was August 3, at 3,514.
What were the Russian River sockeye counts in past years?
Early run and late run at the weir, from ADF&G's count data:
- 2026: 47,093 and 56,206 (preliminary)
- 2025: 37,153 and 66,681
- 2024: 34,677 and 70,009
- 2023: 66,818 and 160,430
- 2022: 61,098 and 124,561
- 2021: 46,976 and 123,950
- 2020: 27,103 and 78,832
- 2019: 125,942 and 64,585 (late-run counting stopped August 18)
- 2018: 44,110 and 71,052
- 2017: 37,123 and 45,012
Over the five seasons from 2022 to 2026 the early run averaged about 49,400 sockeye and the late run about 95,600. These are fish counted at the weir, above most of the fishing.
What is the record sockeye count at the weir?
In ADF&G's online weir data, which goes back to the early 1960s, the record early run is 2019, at 125,942 sockeye, and the record late run is 2023, at 160,430. The biggest single days in that data are 8,313 early-run fish on July 2, 1992, and 17,772 late-run fish on July 27, 1979.
What are the escapement goals for Russian River sockeye?
For the early run, ADF&G's count page gives a biological escapement goal (BEG) of 22,000 to 42,000 sockeye. For the late run it gives a sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 44,000 to 85,000. The late-run range was adopted in 2020; from 2005 through 2019 the late run was managed to 30,000 to 110,000.
How often does the Russian River meet its goals?
Often. From 2013 through 2026 the early-run count reached 22,000 every year and the late-run count reached 44,000 in 12 of the 14 years, missing only in 2013 and 2016. In 2026 the early run passed the top of its range, at 47,093.
Does the weir count tell me when to fish?
It tells you what has already gone by. The weir is upstream of the main fishing areas, so a fish on today's count passed the anglers earlier. ADF&G estimates the trip from the lower Kenai to the weir at 7 to 10 days for sockeye, depending on how high the water is. A count that is still climbing means the run is still arriving; a falling count after the peak means the bulk of it has moved through.
What is the Russian River Sanctuary?
It is protected water where the Russian meets the Kenai. When the early run is projected to meet its goal, ADF&G can open it to sockeye fishing ahead of schedule by emergency order, and it did so in both 2025 and 2026. The 2026 opening came on June 18; by June 15 the weir had counted 6,061 sockeye.
What are the bag limit and gear rules?
Under ADF&G's 2026 Kenai River regulations, the lower Russian, from 100 yards above its mouth to 600 yards below the falls, was closed to all sport fishing from May 1 through June 10 and open to artificial flies only from June 11 through August 20. The sockeye limit there was 3 per day and 6 in possession. ADF&G raised it to 6 per day from June 25 through July 14, 2026, after 22,375 sockeye had passed the weir by June 22. Rules change by emergency order, so check ADF&G's current sport fishing regulations before you fish. This page is not a regulations source.
How big are the sockeye?
About 6 pounds for an average early-run fish, according to ADF&G, and a few reach about 10. Late-run fish are a little smaller, because they spend one less year in the ocean.
How does the Russian count relate to the Kenai count?
The Kenai River sonar at river mile 19 counts late-run sockeye headed to the whole Kenai drainage, and the Russian weir counts the small share bound for the Russian. In 2025 the Kenai sonar counted 4,286,091 sockeye and the Russian weir 66,681 late-run fish. The early run is not part of the Kenai sonar count, which starts July 1. See our Kenai River sockeye counts.
Does the weir count coho too?
Yes. ADF&G posts a separate coho count from the same weir, usually from early August into early September. See our Russian River coho 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 weir counts for the early run and the late run. 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 and you'll get a push alert when a new count posts. The alert gives the day's count and the run 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 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.