Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 03, 2019

Week of July 3 - July 10

Freshwater Fishing

• The Upper Kenai, Russian River, and Russian River Sanctuary Area are open to fishing for sockeye salmon and fishing is fair. Anglers are reminded that they may possess only the limit allowed for the waters they are actively fishing. Anglers are reminded bag limits return to 3 fish per day, 6 in possession at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2019.
• Kasilof River king salmon fishing is fair. Anglers are reminded that Crooked Creek is closed to fishing and additionally king salmon fishing is closed upstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge on the Kasilof River mainstem. Anglers may harvest either naturally-produced or hatchery-produced king salmon below the Sterling Highway Bridge. Please see page 70 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet. Bait and multiple hooks are prohibited.
• Kasilof River sockeye fishing is fair and should continue to improve.
• Rainbow trout fishing on the Middle and Upper Kenai River is good to excellent. 
• King salmon fishing on the Lower Kenai River is slow. Water conditions continue to be high and turbid with large woody debris floating down river.
• Sockeye fishing on the lower Kenai River is fair.

Personal Use Fishing

• Kasilof River dipnet fishery opened June 25. A resident Sport Fishing License and Cook Inlet Personal Use permit are required. Only Alaska residents may participant in this fishery. No retention of king salmon is allowed. Please see page 14 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
• Kenai River dipnet fishery will open July 10. A resident Sport Fishing License and Cook Inlet Personal Use permit are required. Only Alaska residents may participant in this fishery. Please see page 14 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet. Anglers are reminded king salmon MAY NOT be retained and must be released immediately. Please see the corresponding Emergency Order below.

Local Lakes

• There are plenty of local lakes that provide a nice and quiet fishing opportunity in the Kenai Peninsula area.
• Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon is 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.

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 Lake, West Mackey Lake, Sevena Lake, Union Lake, and Derks Lake.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-18-19 opens the Russian River Sanctuary Area to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-21-19 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon to nine per day, eighteen fish in possession in that area of the Kenai River 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. This emergency order expires at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2019.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-22-19 prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks while sport fishing in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge. In flowing waters, from July 1 – July 31, 2019, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-23-19 prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks while sport fishing in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek. Beginning 12:01 a.m., Monday July 1 through Wednesday, July 31, 2019, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-29-19 rescinds Emergency Order 2-KS-1-09-19 and restores normal regulations that allow the retention of king salmon less than 36 inches in total length from an ADF&G marker located 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake. Sport fishing gear in these waters are limited to one, unbaited, single-hook, artificial fly or lure.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-30-19 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dip net fishery. Any king salmon caught incidentally may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

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