Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 12, 2023
Kenai Peninsula Access Sites
- For information regarding Alaska State Park campgrounds, recreational areas, and boat launches, please contact Alaska State Parks at (907) 262-5581.
- For information regarding Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR) campgrounds, recreational areas, and boat launches, please contact the KNWR Visitors Center at (907) 260-2820.
- For information regarding City of Soldotna campgrounds, recreational areas, and boat launches, please contact the City at (907) 262-3151.
Freshwater Fishing
- The flowing waters of the Kenai River mainstem upstream of the Lower Killey River marker and all Kenai River tributary streams close to fishing from May 1 through June 10 to protect spawning rainbow trout.
- Kasilof River steelhead fishing is fair. All rainbow/steelhead trout caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. See page 70 of the 2023 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for more information.
- Hooligan (eulachon) fishing is picking up with angler reports that fish are being caught. Fishing will improve over the next couple of weeks. Try fishing at the Kenai Flats State Recreation Site at the Warren Ames Bridge or at Cunningham Park off Beaver Loop. See page 16 of the 2023 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations booklet for more information.
Saltwater Fishing
- Surf fishing for halibut along the beaches of Cook Inlet south of the Kenai River is good. Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under an international treaty. Please consult federal regulations and see page 73 of the 2023 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
- Check out the Beach Fishing for Halibut on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula video on our ADF&G YouTube channel to learn about beach fishing for halibut.
Local Lakes
- Local lakes will be free of ice soon and lake fishing should be good to excellent. Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon will improve with warming water temperatures. 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.
- Spirit (Elephant) Lake access gate is currently closed for spring breakup. For access gate closures and road conditions call the Salamatof Native Association at 907-283-7864.
- Sport Lake was stocked with 700 catchable rainbow trout on May 7th and Johnson Lake was stocked with 1,300 catchable sized rainbow trout on May 10th.
- Not familiar with all the stocked lakes in the area? Check out the ADF&G publication 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 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-1-10-23 closes sport fishing for king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake from 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023. Fishing for king salmon will remain closed from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023, 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. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon accidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-1-11-23 closes the Kenai River to fishing for king salmon and prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to ADF&G markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Kasilof River
- Emergency Order 2-KS-1-08-23 prohibits the retention of naturally-produced king salmon beginning 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023. Additionally, only one single hook either baited, unbaited, or on an artificial lure may be used beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 16 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023. Single-hook means a fishhook with only one point. and the use of multiple hooks 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.
Personal Use
- Emergency Order 2-KS-1-09-23 restricts the duration of fishing periods in the personal use set gillnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River. The hours open to fishing in the personal use set gillnet fishery shall be reduced from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., to 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 15 through Sunday, June 18 and 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Monday, June 19 through Saturday, June 24, 2023.
Cook Inlet Salt Waters
- Emergency Order 2-KS-7-15-23 prohibits sport fishing for king salmon (including catch-and-release) in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.) effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 15 through Monday, July 31. King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Local Lakes
- Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-23 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey and Derks lakes for the 2023 season.
- Emergency Order 2-DV-1-03-23 establishes a bag and possession limit of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake of one fish, less than 16 inches in length for the 2023 season.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2023 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase your 2023 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, advisory announcements, and the 2023 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing in before you head out.
For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Soldotna Area Office at (907) 262-9368.