2026 & 2025 Reviews

"Tyler was great. Very professional, always giving instructions on how to better your fish catch. No question would use again."

"Tyler was a wonderful guide. He was very patient and knowledgeable about fishing. Very pleasant personality. Will definitely use him again in the future! We were very successful!"

"Kenai Fly Fish is a fantastic outfit if you want to have a great time and catch a ton of fish. Ian got us out early, put us in the perfect spot, patiently taught us his techniques and coached us to refine things. We weren’t casting for more than 20 minutes when we started landing fish and they kept coming in until all 4 of us had our limits of sockeye salmon. And to top it off he had warm breakfast burritos for us to enjoy after a rainy and chilly morning on the river! His passion and joy when fishing are contagious and he is a treasure trove of information and wisdom to improve your own fishing abilities. I cannot recommend Ian’s guiding services enough."

"Ian and Kenai Flyfish is first class. They are professional, knowledgeable, and honestly still passionate about Flyfishing! I like fishing with guides that are humble and as excited to fish as I am. They made the trip amazing! They had us on the fish three days in a row, within minutes. We did salmon one day, and trout two days. They knew every hole and watching Ian read the water was a masterclass. We honestly can’t wait to get back fishing with them. Highly recommend!"

"I truly cannot say thank you enough for all of Ian’s help in coordinating a recent fishing trip and for all of Ryan Dillon’s expertise out on the water. We had a great day of fishing with a solid number of fish caught and some bigger fish on top of that. For anyone looking to fish the Kenai whether it be Salmon or Trout, Ian is the person to talk to!"

"Ian was an amazing guide, his coaching skills got us right in the fish line and mending appropriately. You can tell he knows the river like the back of his hand, we stopped counting at 20+ rainbows each and were able to bring in some of the largest rainbows we have ever caught. Phenomenal experience can’t wait to book again for next year."

"We had an amazing three days fishing with Ian! He worked incredibly hard managing four anglers and made sure everyone had a great experience. We limited out on sockeye, and his knowledge and dedication were evident every day. We also spent a day trout fishing and caught more than 20 fish. Ian's quick-release technique was fantastic—it protected the fish while keeping the action going, which really showed his respect for the resource and commitment to conservation."

"My wife and I had an exceptional salmon fishing experience with Ian. He is very knowledgeable, is very patient and has the best gear. We caught our limits. Overall, Ian made fishing a highlight of our trip. Oh, and Bones the dog was cool too."

"Ian was wonderful to work with! He listened to what we were interested in and what was biting to put together a great experience! Highly recommend!"

"I think you’d be hard pressed to find a guide who cares more about fly fishing than Ian. His passion for the sport is obvious and that carries over into your entire day. He wants to catch fish just as much as you and with his experience, you definitely will! I was also very impressed with his knowledge of the river from a conservation standpoint and the respect he wanted to show each fish."

"Fishing with Kenai Fly Fish was an outstanding experience. Ian is extremely knowledgeable and knows the river, fish behavior, and techniques inside and out. He was patient, professional, and always willing to share tips that helped us become better anglers throughout the day. What impressed me most was how hard he worked to keep us on fish and make sure everyone was having a great time."

"Ian knows that river like the back of his hand! He put us into a variety of quality fish and never stopped working to ensure we had an opportunity to bend our rods. He is patient and understands each individual in his boat, so that he can work with their capabilities to ensure they have an experience of a lifetime. He personally put me into a fish of a lifetime and an unforgettable experience over the four days of fishing with him and his dog Bones!"

"Ian is THE man on the peninsula. If you are looking for a top quality salmon or trout fishing experience in Alaska, he is the one to book a trip with. We all got our limits quickly, and the professionalism was second to none. So much fun!"

"Fished 9.8.2025. What a day to remember. Ian is an extremely professional guide that provides a top notch experience. His knowledge of the river and fishing gear, was spot on, and provided for a busy day of catching rotund rainbows. His boat was very clean and well equipped for a day on the water. Highly recommended him and his outfit for anyone looking to have the unforgettable day on the river."

"We fished with Kenai Fly Fish 9/8/2025 and had a remarkable day on the Kenai River with guide Ian McDonald. Ian is a fantastic fishing guide; Very personable and professional. He has great respect for the river, and its fish resources and the ecology of the region. His boat was clean and well setup. His equipment was top notch and rods were rigged and ready to fish. We hooked and landed countless fish. Many were abnormally large rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Numerous trophy fish were landed and great memories made."

"Without a doubt the best guide service my friends and I have ever used after ten years of trips. Ian was great at communicating and getting us ready for our trip and Jack was amazing at working with our group multiple days to all land the biggest trout we have ever caught. His attention to detail and positive attitude are what you dream for as a client heading into the Kenai River. Can’t wait to come back!"

"Best day ever! This was our first ever guided trip and my wife and I couldn’t have been happier with the experience! Communication from Ian was exceptional and Aaron (our guide for the day) was amazing! He worked his butt off on a super windy day to set us up for success on our drifts. Couldn’t ask for more!"

"We had an awesome experience with Kenai Fly Fish. The guides were great teachers and made it a fun and enjoyable experience for any level of expertise!"

"I fished for rainbows with Ian at Kenai Fly Fish. He is THE guide for the Kenai River. No exaggeration, must have caught around 100 fish the first day and even more on the second. He knows where the fish are and works tirelessly to get you the big ones. I would recommend him but only if you like catching many large fish!"

"We guided the majestic Kenai with Ian and his guides for two days for BIG rainbow trout, both the upper and lower river. While others were anchored up fishing for illusive silvers, we were catching 80-100 beautiful rainbows. Ian was top notch, he knew where the fish were and exactly how to catch them. Best days of fishing, EVER"

"I’m so grateful to have met and had Ian as our guide. He was an amazing professional guide. We spent 3.75 days with him. It truly was the most phenomenal fishing experience I have ever had. The first day we caught 40+ rainbow trout a piece. These were almost all chunks, 16-25” tanks and torpedoes. I have never been spoiled by a freshwater fish, but man he put us on the trophy Bows. Several 27”+ as well."

"Ian was super knowledgeable and set us up for success for our week of fishing in Alaska."

"I would highly recommend Ian to anyone looking for a guide! Our group of 4 had a wonderful trip and learned so much. If you’re looking for someone who can put you on fish and work hard to satisfy your goals, look no further! As a huge bonus, he is a very good steward of the environment."

"Ian offered a great experience on the Kenai River. He is extremely knowledgeable and helped my family catch and release several fish throughout the day! If the fish weren’t biting he found a different spot. We covered a lot of ground. His natural love for fishing and the health and safety of the fish was a perfect fit for us."

"Wonderful time! Punctual, reliable and super helpful for first time salmon fishermen! Great if you want to not only fish but learn a thing or two while you’re at it. Our kids (4 & 6) also enjoyed coming along for the experience!"

"Had a fantastic time today with Kenai Fly Fish! Ian is an extremely professional and patient guide in all aspects. He has a penchant for instruction and is an avid conservationist. Highly recommend him and his company for your Alaska experience. His knowledge of the river can’t be beat."

"He is literally the best guide on the kenai. His speciality is getting you on the fish ahead of other people."

"Ian was great! Communication was great before and after trip. Ian was fantastic at coaching everyone to catch fish and goes above and beyond! Thanks Ian!"

"Ian is absolutely dialed when it comes to this fly fishery. He was a blast, and put us on a ton of fish. Cannot recommend him enough."

"My son and I had an amazing time with Kenai Fly Fish during our two trips that we scheduled. One trip was a 3/4 day sockeye trip and the other was a full guided private Rainbow Trout experience. Guide Ian McDonald was passionate about maintaining this excellent fishery while meeting his clients needs."

"What a great opportunity we had in catching our limits of sockeye today. Anyone wanting to experience a professional guide service, Ian McDonald, is your guy! Thank you, Ian, for a day we will never forget."

"Amazing couple of days! Can’t wait for the next trip. Ian is truly The Best! His knowledge of the river, how to fish it and set you up for success is brilliant! Add his personality to that and you will have phenomenal time."

"Ian was amazing, even if you have never done salmon fishing before you will leave feeling like an expert. We had a great time and caught more fish faster than those around us. His dog (Bones) and the breakfast burritos made it all the more memorable."

"We had an awesome experience with Kenai Fly Fish today. Ian McDonald was very helpful getting everything set up for us in advance and communicated very well too! Our guides Shawn & Nate were awesome as well. We had 7 people fishing and we all limited out with a total of 42 fish!"

"Ian was an outstanding guide for our day fishing sockeye salmon. Very professional, hospitable, and fun. He got us on the water early to beat the rush and our group ended the day with a limit of sockeye, some delicious homemade breakfast burritos, and a relaxing float down the river."

"We had an unbelievable experience with Ian and Kenai Fly Fish. If you have the opportunity to book a trip with him, take it. He is as knowledgeable, professional and personable a guide as you could ask for."

"Great day out on Kenai River with Ian fly fishing. He knows his stuff! He was so patient with us as we try to learn this sport! We learned a lot! Spotted a couple moose, many eagles, and seals."

"Had a wonderful 2 day guided trout trip with Ian and my two buddies!! Put us on fish from the start and we enjoyed learning more about the Kenai and the ecosystem from him!! Definitely WILL book another trip."

"This was an outstanding time. If you’re looking to increase your harvest book with Ian. He takes the time to show the technique to use and why/how it’s important to use it. But most of he’s professional and kind."

"Ian and Aaron are some chill guys who love fish and do their homework to get you the best odds of fish. Definitely worked for our group of 4."

"We had the best time with Ian he was such a great guide. My son came out with us too and he had the best time. Can’t wait to go out again next year!"

"We had an absolutely incredible guided fly fishing experience on the Kenai River with Ian! He was not only extremely knowledgeable about fishing but also taught us so much about the fragile ecosystem of the area. His commitment to sustainable fishing practices really stood out. And we can't forget Bones, his sweet pup!"

"We had a great time. Ian knows his stuff. He is an amazing teacher and we all caught our limit. It was an amazing trip."

"When I searched 'best Alaska fly fishing experience,' it led us straight to Ian McDonald of Kenai Fly Fish—and now I know why. Ian is part of a tight-knit group of world-class Kenai River drift boat guides who know every riffle, bend, and hidden gem along the water."

"We had an amazing 8-hour fishing trip on the Kasilof River, and we can’t say enough good things about our guide, Ian. From the start, he was super friendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time and the best shot at landing a King Salmon."

"Ian put us on fish quick and we were catching rainbows all day long. Both my wife and I broke personal our best and we caught more fish than we could count."

"My dad and I have spent this week fly fishing the kenai river. Our guide has been Ian. He is a true 'top shelf' professional fly fishing guide. Beautiful boat. Top notch gear. Pleasant patient personality."

"Ian was hands down the best knowledgeable guide just always a step ahead of the game very diverse in all species of the Kenai river definitely one of the best experiences on his boat."

"You will catch fish and you will have a good time. Thanks to Ian and Bob."

"Our day on the water was a perfect, 10+! This was our first time fly fishing and Ian took time to teach and coach all day long. He made sure we were doing things right to catch a lot of fish!!"

"Our day on the water with Ian was awesome. We had no idea what to expect because this was our first salmon fishing trip but we couldn’t be happier with our experience."

"1000/10! Love these guys. Reliable experts on the Kenai, as a local, I highly recommend. My family loves fishing with them!!"

"My husband and I had a trip of a lifetime with Ian and his fishing partner Aaron. Our guide was knowledgeable, helpful and a great teacher."

"Awesome guide and the trip is so worth it. Ian will get you on the fish and give you amazing instructions and pointers as you are fishing."

"Ian was Awesome from the 1st time we talked to when we limited out 2-days in a row. Very attentive to all my questions before our trip . Awesome time! Highly recommend!!!"

"Thank you Ian for a great time on the beautiful Kenai River. Even though the river was packed with fishermen, you were able to find a spot that was private and taught us the right technique to catch our sockeye limit."

"I have been out twice sockeye fishing with Ian. He is a great teacher for beginners and for experienced fishers he will get you to the best places on the river for fishing."

"Ian was an awesome guide!!! My group caught their limit like instantly. He was very informative and a great teacher. Will highly recommend him and will book with him again."

"I have done many guided trips and Ian was hands down the best guide I have had! His knowledge of the river and how to fish in AK was outstanding. We had 5 people and he was able to manage all of us with ease."

"Solid guide. He'll get you on the fish. Very knowledgeable and always a good time."