Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Recent Emergency Orders & Press Releases for Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

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.
Kasilof River king salmon fishing should be picking up over the next week or two.
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.
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. Water conditions are low and clear.

Island Lake (North Kenai) was stocked on May 17 with 4,810 Arctic char catchables. These fish average 10.5 inches in length.
Arc (Soldotna) and Tirmore (North Kenai) lakes are scheduled to be stocked with catchable Arctic grayling on May 23. Arc Lake will be stocked with 800 fish and Tirmore Lake will be stocked with 1,000 fish. These fish average 8 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.

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 only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure may be used from the mouth of the Kasilof River upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Naturally-produced king salmon have an adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

For additional information, please contact the Soldotna Area Office at (907) 262-9368.