Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 10, 2014
North Kenai Peninsula Management Area
Week of July 7 to July 14
Issued July 10, 2014
Emergency Orders and regulation reminders
• Emergency Orders are in effect for the following areas:
• In the Kenai River Personal Use Fishery: This emergency order prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dip net fishery that opens at 6:00 a.m., Thursday, July 10.
• In the Kenai River: This emergency order prohibits the use of bait in the Kenai River from Tuesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 31. An emergency order issued February 27 remains in effect that closes the Kenai River to king salmon fishing from Tuesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 31, from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to an ADFG marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake.
• In the Kasilof River: This emergency order prohibits the use of multiple hooks and bait in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge from Tuesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 31.
• In the Kasilof River: This emergency effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, July 4 increased the sockeye salmon bag limit to 6 per day and 12 in possession.
• In the Kasilof River Personal Use Fishery: This emergency effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 4 increased the area open to dip netting from shore upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge and increased the area open to dip netting from a boat upstream to an ADF&G marker located at approximately river mile 3.
• In the Russian River: This emergency order opened the Russian River Sanctuary Area to fishing for sockeye salmon at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 24.
• In the Russian River: The emergency order expires at 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 14 that that increased the sockeye salmon bag limit to 6 per day and 12 in possession upstream from Skilak Lake to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing and the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls.
• Kenai and Kasilof River Personal Use Dip Net: Please review regulations on page 15 of the Southcentral Alaska sport fishing regulation summary booklet. You must remove tips of the tails and record your harvest at the place where salmon were taken from the water whether fishing waters open to personal use from a shoreline, streambank, or boat.
Salmon – Kenai & Kasilof rivers
• King salmon fishing in the Kenai River is slow, success rates are very low because few king salmon are entering the river.
• King salmon fishing success in the Kasilof River is also low.
• Sockeye salmon fishing in the Kenai River has declined recently however, will improve when larger numbers of sockeye salmon begin to migrate into the Kenai River.
• The numbers of sockeye salmon entering the Kasilof River have remained relatively stable for several days and fishing success is fair.
Salmon – Russian River
• Russian River sockeye salmon fishing has been very slow recently because the early-run is near the end.
Resident Fish — Kenai River
• Fishing for rainbow trout has been fair recently in the Kenai River.
Lake Fishing
• Fishing conditions at area lakes are very good. Several Kenai Peninsula lakes are stocked with Rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, land-locked salmon and Arctic char. Numerous lakes also support natural populations of rainbow trout, lake trout and Dolly Varden. Numerous Kenai Peninsula Lakes provide great fishing opportunity through the summer. Bait fished under a bobber, small spinners and spoons or fly fishing from a float tube all may produce high catch rates and can provide anglers great fishing.
Northern Pike
• Few area lakes have northern pike, but public access is limited. Private property owners may allow access, but get permission first.
• Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (with arrow attached by a line), bait, spin, and fly-fishing gear. Try fish-shaped and fish-colored lures and flies.
• There is no closed season for pike and the bag limit is unlimited. Wanton waste laws apply so be sure to use, or donate to charity, all the pike you harvest.