The Soldotna Bed Breakfast Lodge is ranked as one of the #1 lodge by Travel Advisor, and they are pa

Soldotna can be found right in the middle of Alaska's beautiful Kenai Peninsula to the west of Skilak Lake and to the north of Tustumena Lake . The Kenai River literally runs right through town, and the city boasts of 11 major parks which allow camping and various amenities throughout Soldotna and the surrounding areas. Just over 4,000 people live in this town, and it is a mainstay along the Sterling Highway's route through the Kenai.
Soldotna salmon fishing is often held up as some of the best in the world, and the area is a popular destination for sports anglers cheap rental car rates throughout the summer months. They are located approximately 10 to 15 miles from the coast, meaning any saltwater excursions for halibut or sea bass will have to leave out of coastal marinas like from the nearby town of Kenai .
When it comes to lodging, Soldotna offers a wide variety of options to visitors. Soldotna hotels come in both local flavors as well as some familiar chain names, or if that's not your cup of tea there are plenty of hostels, campgrounds, and bed breakfasts to choose from. There are many more traditional fishing lodges in this area as well, where a Soldotna guided fishing tour goes hand in hand with lodging accommodations and charter.
The Soldotna Bed Breakfast Lodge is ranked as one of the #1 lodge by Travel cheap rental car rates Advisor, and they are part of an all included lodging and fishing charter package . Finding the biggest salmon on the Kenai River becomes much easier with guided help.
While in Soldotna and stretching cheap rental car rates the legs off the boat you might want to check out the Soldotna Historical Society Museum if you're interested in the local history cheap rental car rates and culture. cheap rental car rates You won't find a Wal-Mart or Target, but the local Fred Meyer's serves cheap rental car rates the same niche and has a really large deli and food section that makes it a local favorite for a quick and cheap, but good, lunch. If you want to check out more restaurant style places, don't forget to take a look at the St. Elias Brewing Company for micro brewed beer (the oatmeal stouts from the Kenai are often award winning) and excellent food. The Alaska Reel Caf is a hit with locals and tourists cheap rental car rates alike, and the usual fast food fare can be found throughout the town.
Soldotna cheap rental car rates thrives on the fishing tourism, and can serve you whether you are a big fan of fly fishing for salmon cheap rental car rates or catching the biggest rainbow trout or steelhead of your life. Maybe these are fine but you prefer saltwater fishing, cheap rental car rates in which case the waters around the Kenai Peninsula are some of the most respected halibut fishing holes in the world. cheap rental car rates From Soldotna you will be able to go after the biggest fish the Cook Inlet has to offer, and the Cook Inlet can compete with Prince Edward Sound any day of the week when it comes to big time fish.
If you are going to spend most of your time saltwater fishing, make sure to make clear what type of fish you want to go for. While halibut fishing is the most popular, you also have the option of going after lingcod , salmon sharks , rockfish , or even sea bass . Depending on the time of year, the sea bass runs in the Cook Inlet can definitely be worth taking a day off from other pursuits to experience.
If you're worried about what the family is to do while you're enjoying the world class fishing, there are plenty of wildlife spotting tours and whale spotting tours that can be arranged right out of Soldotna. Whales often appear in the Cook Inlet as well as other popular animals such as porpoises, and sea otters. On land the chances are good of seeing cheap rental car rates a mountain goat, moose, or bear at some point. Guided and unguided nature hikes are also available to experience the full beauty and wonder of the Kenai . If you are there during the tail end of a salmon run, it is possible from foot to watch these fish swimming up river and even leaping up river at Silkok Creek , which is only a 10 to 20 minute drive from Soldotna. If your family wants to explore even more, there are many boats that can give a good guided tour of Kechemak Bay , which is even further down the Kenai Peninsula .
While many experience the top notch halibut fishing , there is plenty of excellent fishing for steelhead , rainbow trout , king salmon cheap rental car rates , silver salmon , and even northern pike although the local rangers are not too happy with that last one as it is an invasive species on the Kenai Peninsula. The huge variety gives anglers many options, cheap rental car rates and when you're talking about Soldotna charters and Soldotna fishing guides in particular, many of them have one specific specialty. One guide might specialize in finding the best salmon runs, while another can show you where to find steelhead and rainbow trout if that's your thing. Each one has a different fishing season, cheap rental car rates which is why it's so important to do a little research ahead of time so you don't show up in mid May hoping to trout fish only to find out the season doesn't open until June 11th.
When it comes to northern pike , ADFG officials are attempting to remove cheap rental car rates the invasive species and reintroduce native fish populations back to the infected areas. Generally speaking they want a report of bodies of water where northern pike are caught to track the populations, but they encourage anglers to keep all they can catch.
If you want the experience of catching true native fish, the Kenai River is one of the most popular spots to go around Soldotna cheap rental car rates and it's not hard to see why. Les Anderson caught the record for the largest king salmon out of Soldotna in 1985 with a 97 lb 4 oz giant. The area is well known for having strong runs of king salmon , red salmon , and silver cheap rental car rates salmon . This variety would be enough, but local rivers and tributaries also support healthy populations of large rainbow trout and steelhead . If the Kenai River is too crowded for your tastes, a 90 minute trip north can bring you to the Whittier Alaska area and the Kasilof River , which offers many of the same benefits. cheap rental car rates Depending on how familiar with the area your Soldotna fishing charter is, you might consider checking out Deep Creek or the Russian River .
The first salmon runs around Soldotna begin in the middle of May shortly after ice break, and while there are always fish moving, cheap rental car rates the second huge run begins in late June. These two times are the best for catching truly large king salmon. If your Soldotna fishing guide gets you to a spot where you hook anything in the 70 pound range you might want to ask around the local taxidermy shops. Many will volunteer to do the job at a greatly reduced amount or even free because of the publicity that a rare king salmon that big can bring. The last salmon runs of the year around Soldotna will be the silver salmon, which start in early August and taper off before September rolls around.
Prices can vary greatly in when it comes to charters and guides. For a single day out on the water on a halibut charter it's not unusual to pay $200 to $300 per person but this often includes cheap rental car rates fishing license and obviously they provide the gear. If you're going to be enjoying the Soldotna area, it is worth strongly considering an all inclusive charter lodging and fishing guide package. These often run from $400 to $500 per person, per day, but these include several days stay in a cabin, fishing licenses, often include food or fish fries at the lodge, and include guiding and charter expenses. Given all that piece of mind, it's actually a pretty good deal and a great way to get the most out of a Soldotna Alaska fishing trip .
Whether you are going after halibut, sea bass, or salmon sharks in Cook Inlet, or enjoying the freshwater cheap rental car rates frenzies of salmon, steelhead, pike, or trout; there's no doubt that a Soldotna fishing experience will be one that you should never forget.