Family Fishing with Kids in Alaska

Fishing with families and kids has to be one of our favorite trips to guide. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching families have a blast chasing fish and learning new techniques together, especially with the backdrop and atmosphere the rivers of the Kenai Peninsula provide.

One of the most common questions we get from parents is: “can we take our kids on our fishing trip?” The answer is always a resounding yes!  We encourage parents to bring their kids along. We’ve had a lot of kids on our boat over the years and have had a lot of great times showing them the ropes.

Our rivers are very family friendly and convenient making the planning and logistics of a fishing trip quite painless. There is easy access by road to boat launches on either the Kenai River or Kasilof River. Ample parking for RVs and cars is available as well as plenty of RV-friendly campsites usually within a short distance from many fishing destinations.

Fishing trips can be as short as 4 hours or as long as 8 hours depending on your comfort level and schedule.  Our operation is conveniently located in Cooper Landing, AK at the center of a lot of family itineraries. Cooper Landing is an easy drive from Anchorage and is close to popular destinations like Whittier, Hope, Seward, Soldotna and Homer.

A consideration to make when planning a fishing trip with kids is the duration of the trip. We recommend starting with a half day trip (4 hours) which is a great introduction to the techniques and river environment. We also find that shorter time commitments help keep kids engaged and interested.

When the situation is right, we like to teach kids to fly fish and break out our kid-specific fly rods. They are great for beginners and the casting techniques are quite easy to learn. Most kids can pick up the cast in a few minutes and they’ll be equipped with all the tools they’ll need to have a successful outing. Though we enjoy teaching kids how to fly fish, we also offer conventional spin fishing gear to ensure kids are comfortable.

Many times of year can be quite good for non-stop action, keeping  kids engaged and get them hooked on fishing. Early summer can be great for salmon and trout; likewise, later in the summer into early fall can be quite exciting as it is conceivable to hook and release double-digit numbers of fish.

The often non-stop fishing action is accompanied by scenic floats up to 8 miles long through mountains and pristine wilderness. There are chances to see wildlife as well, everything from eagles to moose, brown and black bears and the occasional river otter and even harbor seal!

We hope you’ll make fishing part of your family’s trip to Alaska – there’s no doubt that it can be a fun and rewarding excursion. To us, there’s no better place for an exciting, kid and family-friendly fishing trip than Alaska, especially if you’re traveling by way of RV.

David Lisi is the owner of Cooper Landing Fishing Guide, LLC based in Cooper Landing, AK where he makes his year-round home with his business partner and girlfriend Jackie. He is a professional fishing guide and outfitter on both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers on the Kenai Peninsula. David has a passion for teaching various fishing techniques.  He spends upwards of 250-300 days a year guiding and fishing on many of Alaska’s famed rivers. David and Jackie are passionate about exploring Alaska and they are excited to share their home with you.

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