Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai
Archived Sport Fishing Report
May 16, 2019
Week of May 15 - May 22
Freshwater Fishing
- The flowing waters of the Kenai River mainstem upstream of the Lower Killey River marker and all of the tributary streams are closed from May 1 through June 10 to protect spawning rainbow trout.
- Kasilof River steelhead fishing is considered fair. All rainbow/steelhead trout caught must not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Please refer to pages 70-71 of the 2019 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
- Hooligan (eulachon) fishing continues to be good for anglers willing to put in a few hours. Fishing should continue to be good over the next week. Dipnetters continue to have success by Warren Ames Bridge.
- Hidden Lake Boat Launch is open and trolling for lake trout is fair. Please refer to page 65 of the Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary.
- Fishing for sea run Dolly Varden at the mouth of Resurrection Creek in Hope should be picking up this time of year. Try using pink fry pattern flies.
- A few king salmon have been reported caught and released on the lower Kenai River. The Kenai River king salmon sonar at River Mile 14 has been installed and beginning May 16 will be producing daily estimates.
- Crooked Creek king salmon weir will be installed on May 17.
Local Lakes
- Johnson Lake was stocked with 7,500 catchable sized rainbow trout. These fish are approximately 9 to 12 inches in length.
- Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon should be improving with warming water temperatures. Sport Lake has been producing nice sized rainbow trout and fishing the Swanson River Road lakes is reported as fair. 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.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
- Emergency Order 2-DV-1-03-19 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake.
- Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-19 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-1-09-19 prohibits the retention of king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake from May 1 through June 30, 2019. Retention of king salmon will remain prohibited July 1 through July 31, 2019, 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. Only one, unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used in the waters restricted to catch-and-release. King salmon caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
- Emergency Order 2-KS-1-10-19 prohibits the retention of naturally-produced king salmon and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure 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. Only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used from the mouth of the Kasilof River upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge.
For additional information, please contact the Soldotna Area Office at (907) 262-9368.