Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 21, 2014

 

North Kenai Peninsula Management Area

Week of July 21 to July 27
Issued July 25, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Emergency Orders are in effect for the following areas:

• In the Kenai River: This emergency order closes fishing for king salmon at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 26 for the remainder of the season.

• In the Kasilof River: This emergency order prohibits the retention of king salmon beginning, 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 26 for the remainder of the season.

• 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 is open from 6:00 a.m., to 11:00 p.m. daily through July 31.

• 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.

• 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

• Beginning 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 26, Kenai River is closed to king salmon fishing and Kasilof River is catch and release king salmon fishing.

• Sockeye salmon fishing in the Kenai River is slow to fair however, fishing success will wax and wane as groups of sockeye salmon migrate into the Kenai River and move upriver to fishing areas.

Salmon – Russian River

• Russian River sockeye salmon fishing success may improve over the next several days as late-run sockeye salmon migrate through the Kenai River.

• Presently fishing success for sockeye salmon is low in the Russian River area.
Personal Use Fishing
• Personal use fishing has been slow to fair and will wax and wane as sockeye salmon migrate into the Kenai and Kasilof rivers.

• By regulation dip netting at the Kasilof River mouth is allowed only inside the ADF&G markers located on the Cook Inlet beaches. A straight line of sight between the 2 markers designates the seaward boundary line for the area open to dip netting.

Resident Fish — Kenai River

• Fishing for rainbow trout has been fair to good recently in the Kenai River as water conditions have improved this week.

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.