Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

Emergency Orders are in effect for the following areas:
In the Kenai River: Effective Saturday June 18, an emergency order allowed the harvest of king salmon from its mouth upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek. Retention of king salmon is prohibited while sport fishing in the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake through June 30. Regulations for waters closed to king salmon fishing downstream of Skilak Lake remain in effect.
In the Kenai River: An emergency order was issued to prohibit bait in the Kenai River effective July 1 through July 31.
In the Kasilof River: Effective Saturday, June 18 existing regulations for the Kasilof River king salmon fishery were restored. Please review the 2016 Southcentral Alaska Regulation summery booklet for Kasilof River king salmon fishing regulations.
In Stormy Lake: The retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden is prohibited all year long, as part of an effort to restore this native fish.
The 2016 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary is available at Fish and Game offices as well as from many sport fishing license vendors. The regulations can also be viewed or download from the department’s web page.

Salmon – Kenai & Kasilof rivers

The Russian River sockeye salmon fishing is slow, with high water making it difficult to find fish and difficult to land them. Counts picked up last week, but are below average and it looks as if the peak has occurred and we are on the backside of the run. Sockeye salmon counts from the weir are available on the departments fish count webpage.
Water levels in the Kenai and Russian rivers are well above normal.
Sport fishing for king salmon in the Kenai River has been very slow recently because of bad water conditions. The number of king salmon in the river should provide moderate fishing success when water conditions improve.
Refer to page 71 of the Southcentral sport fishing regulation booklet for information on specific areas of the Kenai River that are closed to fishing for king salmon.
Kasilof River king salmon fishing has remained good recently. Small early-run hatchery king salmon (those less than 30 inches in length) are abundant.
King salmon fishing success will remain fair to good for the remainder of June.
The mouth of the Kasilof opened to personal use dipnetting on Saturday June 25. Catch rates have been low.

Resident Fish — Kenai River

Fishing opportunities on the Kenai River are good as the drainage is open to sport fishing under the existing regulations.

Lake Fishing

Many area lakes provide great open water fishing opportunity from the shore or to fish from a boat. Fishing conditions at area lakes are good and will remain good throughout summer. Stocked Kenai Peninsula lakes as well as numerous lakes support natural populations of rainbow trout, lake trout and Dolly Varden. Bait fished under a bobber, small spinners and spoons or fly fishing from a float tube or watercraft all produce great catch rates during the spring.

Northern Pike

A couple 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.