Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 09, 2023

ADF&G News

The Soldotna ADF&G office offers a fishing rod loaner program and has salmon fishing gear anglers can borrow for up to three days. This is a first come, first served program and fishing poles cannot be reserved. For more information, check out the Rod Loaner Program webpage or contact Jenny Gates at (907) 262-9368.

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 are closed to fishing from May 1 through June 10 to protect spawning rainbow trout. Anglers can fish these streams beginning 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 11, 2023. Fishing for rainbow trout in these waters is expected to be good.
• Kasilof River king salmon fishing is slow but improving. Anglers are reminded that only hatchery-produced fish may be retained. Naturally-produced king salmon have an adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Only one single-hook may be used either baited, unbaited, or on an artificial lure. Try fishing for king salmon from shore at the Crooked Creek State Recreation Site. See the emergency order below for more information.
• Fishing for sea run Dolly Varden at the mouth of Resurrection Creek in Hope should be starting this time of year. Try using pink fry pattern flies.

Saltwater Fishing

• Surf fishing for halibut along the beaches of Cook Inlet near the Kasilof and Kenai rivers is good for anglers wiling to put in a little time. 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.
• Anglers are reminded sport fishing for king salmon (including catch-and-release) is closed in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00' N. lat.) King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Personal Use

The personal use set gillnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River (Thursday, June 15 through Saturday, June 24, 2023) was closed by emergency order on Thursday, June 8, 2023. See the emergency order below for more information.

Local Lakes

• Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon is good to excellent. 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 is fishing excellent. This is a great lake for kids to fish!
• John Hedberg Lake was stocked with approximately 1,000 rainbow trout catchables on June 7. These fish are approximately 9.5 inches in length and fishing is excellent.
• 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.
• Many local lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout and coho salmon 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 Lakes Database.

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. Naturally-produced king salmon have an adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. 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.

Personal Use

To reduce the mortality of Kenai River king salmon, the personal use set gillnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River is closed by Emergency Order 2-RS-1-24-23. This emergency order is effective 6:00 a.m. Thursday, June 15, 2023, through 11:00 p.m. 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.