Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 24, 2014

North Kenai Peninsula Management Area

Week of June 23 to June 30
Issued June 23, 2014

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

• Emergency Orders are in effect for the following areas:

• In the Russian River: This emergency order opens the Russian River Sanctuary Area to fishing for sockeye salmon at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 24.

• In the Russian River: This emergency order increases the sockeye salmon bag limit to 6 per day and 12 in possession upstream from Skilak Lake to ADF&G regulatory 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 at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, June 24.

• In the Kenai River: This emergency order closes Kenai River to king salmon fishing from Thursday, May 1 through Monday, June 30. In addition, from Tuesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 31, king salmon fishing will be closed from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.

• In the Kasilof River: This emergency order prohibits the use of multiple hooks and bait and prohibits the retention of naturally-produced king salmon and reduces the bag and possession limit of hatchery-produced king salmon 20 inches or greater in length to one fish in the Kasilof River beginning Thursday, May 1 through Monday, June 30. Naturally-produced king salmon may not be possessed or retained; naturally-produced king salmon caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. A naturally-produced king salmon is a king salmon with an adipose fin intact.

• Kasilof River Personal Use Gillnet: This fishery closes on at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, June 24 and is 6:00 am to 3:00 pm daily. Participants are reminded nets must be spaced a minimum distance of 100 feet apart.

• Anglers should review the regulation booklet and a February 25 department news release for a summary of regulation changes and new regulations adopted by the board of fisheries during 2014. Anglers should also review an April 15 department news release summarizing corrections to the printed regulation booklet.

Salmon – Kenai & Kasilof rivers

• The Kenai River is closed to fishing for early-run king salmon.

• The early-run of king salmon to the Kasilof River is not forecasted and part of the run is hatchery king salmon. Early-run king salmon abundance in the Kasilof River is low.

• Few king salmon are entering the Kasilof River at this time. Typically the numbers of king salmon entering the Kasilof River increases at this time during June.

• Sockeye salmon are migrating into both the Kasilof and Kenai rivers. Anglers are catching a few.

Salmon – Russian River

• Russian River sockeye salmon fishing has been consistently fair to good fishing throughout the day since this fishery opened for the season on June 11. A good run is in progress.

Resident Fish — Kenai River

• Fishing for rainbow trout has been fair recently in the Kenai River.

Lake Fishing

• Fishing conditions at area lakes are very good. Several Kenai Peninsula lakes are stocked with Rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, land-locked salmon and Arctic char. Numerous lakes also support natural populations of rainbow trout, lake trout and Dolly Varden. Numerous Kenai Peninsula Lakes provide great fishing opportunity through the summer. Bait fished under a bobber, small spinners and spoons or fly fishing from a float tube all may produce high catch rates and can provide anglers great fishing.

Northern Pike

• Few area lakes have northern pike, but public access is limited. Private property owners may allow access, but get permission first.
• Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (with arrow attached by a line), bait, spin, and fly-fishing gear. Try fish-shaped and fish-colored lures and flies.
• There is no closed season for pike and the bag limit is unlimited. Wanton waste laws apply so be sure to use, or donate to charity, all the pike you harvest.