Cooper Landing is the starting point of the Kenai River. Flowing out from Kenai Lake in east Cooper Landing, the Kenai River is the longest river on the Kenai Peninsula and the most popular waters for salmon fishing. The salmon run is strong and attracts fishermen near and far. Because of the heavy concentration of fish, bear are also abundant along the Kenai. Several years ago when driving the highway west of Cooper Landing, we were privileged to watch a brown bear amble up the opposite bank snatching up a salmon, taking a bite or two, dropping it back to the river, and on a short distance to the next. I was impressed. Paddling the river years later, I noticed a great number of salmon floating by energyless. It had been a long journey to spawn.