Born on the Kenai. Raised on the River.

Guided fishing trips on the Middle and Lower Kenai River. Salmon, trout, and backcountry adventures with Kenai Peninsula guides who've spent their whole lives on this water.

Silver season

Private water

Rainbow trout

Silver season Private water Rainbow trout

This isn't a booking agency. It's a fishing operation.

Run by people who live here year round, know every bend in this river, and genuinely love putting people on fish. Chugach Backcountry Fishing was built from the ground up by Corey Hetrick, Kenai Peninsula native, biologist's son, and one of the most experienced fishing guides on the Kenai River. Every guide on this crew is a true Alaskan who spends the off season doing exactly what you'd expect: fishing and hunting Alaska. When you fish with us, you're fishing with people who actually live this.

Choose Your Trip

  • Pull up to our private dock on the river. Private parking, private bathrooms, no crowds, no chaos. While everyone else is scrambling for a spot at a public ramp at 4am, you're already rigged up and on the water.

  • Every guide on this crew calls Alaska home. No seasonal imports, no strangers to the river. These are people who fish the Kenai year round and know it in every season.

  • When one species isn't running, we know what is. The Kenai offers something every season and we know how to find it. You're not getting a canned trip, you're getting whatever is actually happening on the river that day.

  • This isn't a conveyor belt operation. Maximum three people per boat, same guide start to finish, no handoffs. Every trip is different and every group gets our full attention.

What sets us apart

200

24

75

Years
Guiding

days on
the Water

Miles
of River

Local Alaskan Guides

  • Corey Hetrick

    Founder & Head Guide
    Guiding since 15-years-old

  • Trevor "Missile" Guernsey

    Guide
    4 years on the Kenai River

  • Zack Fetta

    Guide
    9 years on the Kenai River

  • Kristin Hetrick

    Co-Owner & Guide
    6 years on the Kenai River
    “Trout Specialist”

DRYFT WADERS

Outfitted from the water up.

Every client and guide on our boats wears DRYFT waders. After six to eight hours on the river, you'll know exactly why we stand behind them.

DRYFT Waders

Outfitted from the water up.

Every client and guide on our boats wears DRYFT waders. After six to eight hours on the river, you'll know exactly why we stand behind them.

The best trip starts with a phone call.

No website can tell you what's running on the river today. Corey can. Give him a call, tell him what you're after, and he'll tell you exactly what to expect.