Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 30, 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

Kenai River

  • The early-run Kenai River king salmon sport fishery is restricted to catch-and-release and the retention of king salmon of any size is prohibited through June 30. Bait is prohibited, and only one single-hook artificial lure may be used. Please refer to the emergency order section for more information.
  • The late-run Kenai River king salmon sport fishery begins July 1. Bait is prohibited, and only one single-hook artificial lure may be used. Retention of king salmon of any size caught in the waters of the Kenai River drainage from an ADF&G marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth toe Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake is prohibited. Please refer to the emergency order section for more information.
  • King salmon fishing on the Kenai River is slow to fair and water levels are above average.
  • Rainbow trout fishing on the Middle and Upper Kenai River is good.
  • Lower Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing has been fair for anglers willing to put in the time. Try fishing at Centennial Park, Rotary Park, Donald E. Gilman River Center, Soldotna Visitors Center or Soldotna Creek Park.

Kasilof River

  • Kasilof River early-run king salmon fishing is slow. Anglers are reminded that the retention of naturally-produced king salmon is prohibited and only hatchery-produced fish may be retained through June 30. Please refer to the emergency order section for more information.
  • Kasilof River late-run king salmon fishery begins July 1. The bag and possession limit for king salmon (naturally- or hatchery-produced) from July 1 through July 31 is one per day and one in possession and bait and multiple hooks will be prohibited. Please refer to the emergency order section for more information.
  • Try fishing the Kasilof River for king salmon from shore at the Crooked Creek State Recreation Site. Anglers are reminded that Crooked Creek is closed to fishing.
  • Kasilof River sockeye salmon fishing is good and improving.

Russian River/Upper Kenai River

  • Sockeye fishing on the Upper Kenai River and Russian River is good and anglers are catching limits. The Russian River Sanctuary Area opened to fishing on June 24. Bag and possession limits will increase on July 1. Please refer to the emergency order section for more information. Anglers are reminded that they may possess only the limit allowed for the waters they are actively fishing.

Saltwater Fishing

  • Surf fishing for halibut along of 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!

Personal Use Fishing

  • Kasilof River dipnet fishery opened Friday, June 25 and fishing has been reported as good. A 2021 sport fishing license and Upper Cook Inlet personal use permits are required. No retention of king salmon is allowed. Please see page 14 of the 2021 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for more info.

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.
  • Not familiar with all the stocked lakes in the area? Check out the ADF&G brochure with locations, access, and other valuable information on Kenai Peninsula area lakes. More lake information can be found on the ADF&G Alaska Lakes Database.
  • Interested in recent stocking activities at lakes? Check out the ADF&G stocking database online.

Emergency Orders

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

Kenai River

  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-24-21 prohibits the use of bait while sport fishing in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-21-21 prohibits the retention of all sizes of king salmon in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake from June 17 through June 30, 2021. Retention of king salmon will remain prohibited July 1 through July 31, 2021, 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.

Kasilof River

  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-25-21 prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks while sport fishing in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-20-21 prohibits the retention of naturally-produced king salmon while sport fishing in the Kasilof River. Naturally-produced king salmon have adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. The bag and possession limit of hatchery-produced king salmon remains at 2 per day and 2 in possession. This Emergency Order is effective through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, June 30.

Russian River/Upper Kenai River

  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-31-21 increases the limits of sockeye salmon to six per day, twelve in possession in that area of the Kenai River upstream of Skilak Lake to ASDF&G 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 effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-28-21 opened the Russian River Sanctuary Area to sport fishing for sockeye salmon effective through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 14.

Kenai Peninsula Lakes

  • 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.