Fly Fishing the Kenai: A Family Adventure to Remember

There are some places that just feel sacred. For our family, Alaska is one of them. This summer, my wife, son, and I traveled to Cooper Landing for a trip that was both emotional and unforgettable — a time to honor the memory of my parents, and a chance to show my family everything they loved about this wild, beautiful place.

We stayed in a riverside cabin through Alaska Troutfitters, located right on the water. If you’re heading to the Kenai, I can’t recommend their lodging — or their guide service — highly enough. We spent the day on the river with Cameron, an amazing guide who knows this water like the back of his hand. Within minutes of pushing off, it was clear we were in good hands.

Packable Rods. Big Water. No Problem.

I decided to pack light for this trip — no rod tubes, no checked baggage. Instead, I fit seven fly rods in my carry-on, all six-section packable rods from our lineup at Pescador on the Fly.

My son Max fished the El Jefe v2 908-6 Combo, and it handled everything the Kenai threw at him — including the biggest trout of the day, a thick 22-inch rainbow. I fished the El Rey G6 907-6, and it was everything I want in a high-end rod: smooth, responsive, powerful. It cast and fought fish like a $1,000 rod, without the price tag.

A Meaningful Day on the Kenai

We launched the boat early at the Russian River Ferry, a spot I’d visited with my mom and dad on past trips. Coming back with my wife and son — to fish, to laugh, to remember — made it a powerful experience. The Kenai’s surreal blue-green color, caused by glacial runoff, never fails to take your breath away.

With sockeye salmon between runs, we focused on big nymphs, fishing size 12–14 pheasant tail variations under indicators. We got into trout right away and had steady action throughout the day. We even landed a few Dolly Vardens — not yet showing their vibrant fall colors in July, but still an exciting catch. I also managed to land one tiny Arctic grayling, which was a real treat.

Max’s 22-inch trout stole the show, and my wife was the MVP behind the camera — capturing incredible shots of fish, family, and the bald eagles flying overhead. She had a blast and I have a feeling this won’t be our last trip north.

More Than Just a Fishing Trip

This wasn’t just another day on the river. It was a chance to spread my parents’ ashes in a place they loved, to introduce my family to the magic of Alaska, and to create new memories of our own. I’ll be forever grateful for the time we had.

If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, definitely look up Alaska Troutfitters and ask for Cameron. And if you’re tired of lugging long rods through airports, our packable fly rods are the way to go — they traveled light and fished heavy.

Until next time, Alaska.

Tight lines,

Jeff