Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 30, 2018

Regulation Reminders and Emergency Orders

Regulation Reminders

• Anglers are reminded to review Emergency Orders and News Releases and the 2018 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the Northern Kenai Peninsula Area before heading out on their next fishing trip.

Emergency Orders

• Kenai River
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-1-58-18, the Kenai River reopened to sport fishing for sockeye salmon from its mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet of the Kenai Lake. In addition, the bag and possession limits were restored to three per day and six in possession.
• Kasilof River
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-RS-1-50-18, the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or longer, increased to six per day and twelve in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.
• Stormy Lake
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-DV-1-04-18, the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden will be prohibited in Stormy Lake to continue the restoration of native fish stocks through December 31, 2018.
• Soldotna Creek Drainage lakes
  • Per Emergency Order No. 2-NP-1-03-18, in the Soldotna Creek Drainage lakes sport fishing will be permitted at East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes; however, the retention of all species of fish is prohibited at these lakes through December 31, 2018.

Freshwater Fishing

Salmon, Trout

• Sockeye salmon fishing in the Upper Kenai River, Russian River Confluence Area and Russian River CLOSED on Monday, August 20.
  • Fishing for coho salmon in these waters is open. Coho salmon bags limits are one per day and one in possession.
• Fishing for coho salmon on the Kenai River has been reported as good with high proportions of pink salmon still being caught.
  • Bag and possession limits for coho salmon are two per day and two in possession through August 31 below Skilak Lake. The limits for coho are in combination with sockeye. i.e. one sockeye and two coho per day, NOT three sockeye and two coho per day.
• Lower Kenai River Mainstem:
  • Beginning on September 1, the bag limit for coho salmon is three per day, six in possession and all three may be coho salmon.
  • After taking a bag limit of coho salmon from the Kenai River, a person may not fish in the Kenai River downstream from the Soldotna Bridge on the same day.
• Upper Kenai River Mainstem:
  • Bag and possession limits of coho and sockeye salmon remain at three per day and six in possession; however, only two per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.
• Sockeye salmon fishing on the Kenai River reopened on Thursday, August 23.
• Fishing for coho salmon on the Kasilof River is considered fair.
• Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden on the Kenai River has been good to excellent. Only one per day and one in possession, must be less than 16 inches long for each species.

Lake Fishing

• Lake fishing for trout is very good. Try fishing with dry or wet flies, small spoons, spinners, or bait.

Northern Pike

• All lakes with developed public access on the Peninsula have had invasive pike removed.

Personal Use

• August 15, 2018, was the deadline to report your harvest for the Kasilof and Kenai rivers, and Fish Creek fisheries for the 2018 dipnetting season. These fisheries include the Kasilof River gillnet, Kasilof and Kenai rivers dipnet, and Fish Creek dipnet, which opened this year by emergency order. You may report your harvest online, drop your permit off at local ADF&G offices, or mail in your permit.