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 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 to spotty. Counts for the first few days of the late-run are above average. Sockeye salmon counts from the weir are available on the departments fish count webpage.
Water levels in the Kenai and Russian rivers are above normal.
Sport fishing success for king salmon in the Kenai River declined significantly over the weekend correlating with sonar passage rates dropped significantly over the weekend.
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 remains steady and is producing about 1-2 kings per trip. The late-run on the Kasilof is generally later run-timing than late-run Kenai River king salmon, and tend to increase in abundance the last half of July.
Sport fishing for sockeye salmon on the Kenai has slowed and remains spotty since sonar passage estimates have come down. Catch rates should be moderately good if passage rates of sockeye salmon remain above 35,000 fish a day past the sonar at river mile 19.
The mouth of the Kasilof opened to personal use dipnetting on Saturday June 25. Catch rates have been low.
The mouth of the Kenai opened to personal use dipnetting on Sunday July 10. 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.