Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
Archived Sport Fishing Report
August 19, 2014
North Kenai Peninsula Management Area
Week of August 18 to August 24
Issued August 18, 2014
Emergency Orders and regulation reminders
• Personal use fishing permits must be returned to ADF&G, please return your permit.
• The Russian-Kenai river confluence area and the Russian River: This area closes to sockeye salmon fishing by standard regulation at 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, August 20. Please review page 51 of the Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet the coho salmon bag limit in this area is 1 per day / 1 in possession.
• In the Kenai River: Please review the daily bag limit regulations for salmon. The coho salmon bag limit is 2 per day while pink salmon limit is 6 per day.
Salmon – Kenai & Kasilof rivers
• Water levels are very high for this time of year. A flood watch for both rivers expires on Monday, August 18 and fishing conditions are expected to improve later in the week.
• Pink salmon are migrating into the Kenai River in very large numbers. Anglers fishing for coho salmon are catching pink salmon from Skilak Lake downstream to the mouth of the Kenai River.
• Coho salmon fishing is slow in both the Kenai and Kasilof rivers. Large numbers of pink salmon in the Kenai River make it difficult to fish for coho salmon. Coho salmon fishing is expected to improve later in August and during September after the pink salmon spawn and die.
Salmon – Upper Kenai River - Russian River
• The sockeye salmon in this area are turning to spawning coloration as the run is nearly completed for the season.
• Coho salmon are present in the area. Please review page 51 of the regulation booklet as the coho salmon bag limit is 1 per day/ 1in possession for the Russian-Kenai rivers confluence area and in the Russian River.
• At this time water levels are low in the Russian River.
Resident Fish — Kenai River
• Fishing for rainbow trout has been fair recently in the Kenai River. As water conditions improve fishing success will also improve.
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.