Both camp grounds without any hook ups. Cooper Creek is on the Kenai River but not a popular spot to fish and not much to do there.
The Russian campground is on the Russian and Kenai river and is a very popular place to fish. There also is a very nice trail out of the camp ground that goes up to the falls on the river. The trail continues on to Lower Russian Lake and then another 7 miles or so to the Upper Russian Lake. If you into hiking it is a good trail. The falls is only about 2 miles from the camp ground and a easy walk.
If you are looking to do this on the 4th weekend there isn't much for fish there yet. The Red (Sockeye) run doesn't get there till the end of July beginning of August. The lower Kenai is good fishing from about Middle to the end of July for Reds as the run enters the Kenai and moves up river.
Hook
Chevy 2500 4x4 CC D-Max/Allison, Supersprings,Torqlift
Summerwind 806
"Kik-n-but" 23' modified Atec, twin Yamaha 60's, full electronics,
Hewes 20' Kenai Special 50hp Yamaha, 9.9 kicker
Polaris RZR
Here is a good site that lists the past and average salmon runs in different locations around Alaska. http://www.alaskaoutdoorjournal.com/
Just get on the home page, under "departments" click on "salmon runs" and then pick your location and which run of fish interest you. The second red run at the Russian is normally the largest. At the Russian ferry landing/campground(?), in 2006, they were not allowing any tents or soft sided RVs to camp there. Something about their policy of "do not feed the bears."
In 2007, while staying in Soldotna for the month of July, we went to a "Bear Seminar" put on by the Alaska Fish and Wildlife at the Russian River Campground. The biologist who gave the seminar said that bears and salmon go together and the bears will there when the salmon show up--so will the human fisherman! He also said up to 15,000 fisherman can be at the Russian River area fishing during the peak salmon run. Have fun--it is combat fishing!
Thanks for the info. We will be doing some hiking as well so russian river it is. We tend to fish for trout. So, hopefully we can land a few while there.
FWIW
Watson Lake is in the Moose Range right off the highway, about mile 72 or so, say 15 miles from RR CG. Very good trout fishing, but you need a raft or boat or float tube or canoe. The hardware store on Soldotna (Trustworthy) has had small (8') pontoon boats for about $300 in previous years. The lakes are better trout fishing until the salmon arrive, usually almost August, then the rivers can be very good. Also check the sports fishing stores in Anchorage on the way through. Mountain View Sports is at the Old Seward and 36th if I recall.
If you are at the Russian River, hike up to the place a little bit before the falls that indicates "no fishing from here to falls", in other words, the most upstream place you can legally fish downstream from the falls (it's clearly posted). I have had some of the most wonderful dry fly fishing in that stretch that I have ever found anywhere for rainbows! Just a perfect spot and never crowded. The best time is between the sockeye runs when the fish are a bit hungrier and the bugs are hatching in full force. Do watch for bears, they are very active in that area, especially the closer to the lake/falls you are.
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