Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 08, 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 late-run Kenai River king salmon sport fishery began July 1. From the mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek bait is prohibited, and only one single-hook artificial lure may be used. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info.
  • From an ADF&G marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, the use of bait, multiple hooks, and retention of king salmon of any size is prohibited. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info.
  • King salmon fishing on the Kenai River is slow 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's late-run king salmon fishery began 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 are prohibited. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info.
  • Kasilof River sockeye salmon fishing is good. Bag limits were increased on July 3. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info.
  • Try fishing the Kasilof River for king and sockeye salmon from shore at the Crooked Creek State Recreation Site. Anglers are reminded that Crooked Creek is closed to fishing.

Russian River/Upper Kenai River

  • Sockeye fishing on the Upper Kenai River and Russian River is slow to fair and anglers are catching limits in some areas. The Russian River Sanctuary Area opened to fishing on June 24. Bag and possession limits increased on July 1. This Emergency Order expires at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, and bag limits will revert to general regulations. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info. 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. The area open to dipnetting was expanded beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 3. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info. A resident sport fishing license and Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permits are required. No retention of king salmon is allowed. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. Please see page 14 of the 2021 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
  • Kenai River dipnet fishery opens on Saturday, July 10. Retention of king salmon is prohibited. Please refer to the emergency orders below for more info. A resident sport fishing license and Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permits are required. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. Please see page 14 of the 2020 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
    • Beach and boating access fees, live fishery web cameras, and dipnet app information can be found on the City of Kenai webpage.

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 which includes 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 Advisory Announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

Kenai River

  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-39-21 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dip net fishery beginning 6:00 a.m. Saturday, July 10 through 11:00 p.m. Saturday, July 31.
  • 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 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-21-21 prohibits the retention of king salmon from July 1 through 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.

Kasilof River

  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-35-21 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon 16 inches or longer to six fish per day and twelve in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-34-21 expands the personal use salmon dipnet fishing area on the Kasilof River through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, August 7, 2021. Salmon may be harvested from the shore form ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Salmon may be harvested from a boat from the ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to ADF&G markers placed at approximately river mile 3.
  • 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 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, July 31.

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 through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-28-21 opened the Russian River Sanctuary Area early to sport fishing for sockeye salmon through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

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.