Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 20, 2019

Week of June 19 - June 26

Freshwater Fishing

• The Upper Kenai, Russian River, and Russian River Sanctuary Area are open to fishing for sockeye salmon and is good to excellent. Anglers are reminded that they may possess only the limit allowed for the waters they are actively fishing.
• Kasilof River king salmon fishing is good near the Crooked Creek confluence area. Anglers are reminded that Crooked Creek is closed to fishing.
• Rainbow trout fishing on the Middle and Upper Kenai River is good to excellent. 
• King salmon fishing on the Lower Kenai River is slow. Water conditions continue to be turbid.
• Sockeye fishing on the Lower Kenai River has been good. Anglers are catching limits with a few hours of effort.

Personal Use Fishing

• Kasilof River dipnet fishery opens June 25. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. A 2019 sport fishing license and Cook Inlet Personal Use permit are required. No retention of king salmon is allowed. Please see page 14 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon is very good. Sport Lake has been producing nice sized rainbow trout and fishing the Swanson River Road lakes is reported as fair. Try fishing with dry or wet flies such as an egg sucking leech, bead head nymph or mosquito pattern, small spoons and spinners size #0 or #2, or small bait under a bobber.
• Elephant (Spirit) Lake is scheduled to be stocked with approximately 5,000 catchable Arctic char by the end of the week (June 21). Anglers are reminded to be respectful of private property.
• Johnson Lake is scheduled to be stocked with approximately 4,750 catchable rainbow trout by the end of the week (June 21).
• Sport Lake is scheduled to be stocked with approximately 2,000 catchable rainbow trout by the end of the week (June 21).

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

• Emergency Order 2-DV-1-03-19 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake.
• Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-19 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-1-09-19 prohibits the retention of king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake from May 1 - June 30, 2019. Retention of king salmon will remain prohibited July 1 - July 31 in waters of the Kenai River drainage from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake. Only one, unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used in the waters restricted to catch-and-release. King salmon caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. 
• Emergency Order 2-KS-1-10-19 prohibits the retention of naturally-produced king salmon and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure while sport fishing in the Kasilof River. Naturally-produced king salmon have an adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-1-18-19 opens the Russian River Sanctuary Area to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
• Emergency Order 2-RS-1-21-19 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon to nine per day, eighteen fish in possession in that area of the Kenai River upstream from Skilak Lake to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman’s Landing and the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-1-22-19 prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks while sport fishing in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge. In flowing waters, from July 1 - July 31, 2019, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used.
• Emergency Order 2-KS-1-23-19 prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks while sport fishing in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek from July 1 - July 31, 2019, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used.

For additional information, please contact the Soldotna Area Office at (907) 262-9368.