Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 10, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face-covering when social distancing is not possible, and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Freshwater Fishing

  • The early-run Kenai River king salmon sport fishery is currently under general regulations. Bait is prohibited, and only one single-hook artificial lure may be used. The bag and possession limit for king salmon 20 inches or greater in length is one king salmon. Only king salmon less than 34 inches in length may be retained. King salmon 34 inches or greater in length may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Please see pages 50-65 of the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for additional regulations.
  • King salmon fishing on the Kenai River is slow to fair and water levels are high and the river is turbid.
  • The flowing waters of the Kenai River mainstem upstream of the Lower Killey River marker and all Kenai River tributary streams are closed to fishing May 1 through June 10 to protect spawning rainbow trout. These closures will end Friday, June 11. Fishing for rainbow trout in these waters is expected to be good.
  • The Upper Kenai and Russian rivers open to fishing for sockeye salmon on Friday, June 11. The Russian River Sanctuary area is closed to fishing for all species at this time. Sockeye salmon fishing is expected to be slow.
  • Bing’s Landing, The Pillars, Izaak Walton, Swiftwater Park, and Centennial Park boat launches are open; however, some amenities may not be in service at this time.
  • Kasilof River king salmon fishing is fair. Try fishing for king salmon from shore at the Crooked Creek State Recreation Site. See pages 70-71 of the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
  • Fishing for sea-run Dolly Varden at the mouth of Resurrection Creek in Hope should be picking up this time of year. Try using pink fry pattern flies.

Saltwater Fishing

  • Surf fishing for halibut along the beaches of Cook Inlet south of the Kenai River has been fair. Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under an international treaty. Please consult federal regulations and see page 73 of the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
    • Interested in surf fishing for halibut but don’t know where to start? Check out the latest ADF&G Youtube fishing forum video!

Local Lakes

  • There are plenty of other fishing opportunities in Southcentral Alaska. This is the perfect time to visit locally stocked lakes as the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery is busy stocking fish.
  • Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land-locked salmon is good. 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.
  • Johnson Lake in Kasilof is fishing very well.
  • Many local lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout fingerling recently. For specific lake stocking information including species stocked and numbers of fish stocked, directions, bathymetric maps, and amenities, please visit the ADF&G Alaska Lake Database.

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-NP-1-02-21 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes for the 2021 season.
  • Emergency Order 2-DV-1-01-21 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake for the 2021 season.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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