Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
Archived Sport Fishing Report
July 13, 2017
Week of July 13 to July 19
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.
- In Soldotna Creek Drainage Lakes: The retention of species other than northern pike is prohibited all year long in East/West Mackey, Union, and Derks Lake, as part of an effort to restore native fish.
- In Upper Kenai and Russian Rivers: The sanctuary is open through July 14. The daily bag limit is six sockeye salmon per day, 12 in possession through July 14. On Saturday, July 15, the daily bag limit in these waters reverts back to three per day and six in possession.
- The 2017 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet is available at ADF&G offices, as well as, from many sport fishing license vendors. The regulations can also be viewed or download from the ADF&G webpage.
Salmon - Kenai & Kasilof Rivers
- Fishing for late-run king salmon on the Kenai continues to be very good. Bait is only allowed downstream of the Slikok sanctuary markers. Most anglers are catching kings on large plugs wrapped in sardines or with cured salmon roe while back-trolling.
- Fishing for late-run king salmon on the Kasilof has been slow. Typically, late-run kings don’t start entering the Kasilof until later in July compared to the Kenai River.
- Fishing for sockeye salmon on the lower Kenai continues to be slow. Fishing should pick up in the next few days with increasing numbers of late-run sockeye salmon starting to enter the lower river. Typically fishing for late-run sockeye starts peaking near mid-July.
- Fishing for sockeye salmon in the Upper Kenai and Russian River Rivers has slowed dramatically as fish abundance has dropped over the last few days. Fishing should improve later when late-run sockeye make their way to the Upper Kenai area.
Resident Fish - Kenai & Kasilof Rivers
- Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden in these waters is very good.
Lake Fishing
- Lake fishing for rainbow trout has been good.
Northern Pike
- All public accessible lakes on the Peninsula have had invasive pike removed.
Personal Use
- Personal use dip netting on the Kasilof River has been spotty with fluctuating levels of fish abundance.
- Personal use dip netting on the Kenai River has been slow since opening on Monday, July 10. Dip netting on the Kenai River is expected to be slow until daily sockeye sonar counts start picking up, which is expected sometime during the third week of July.