Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

July 18, 2019

Week of July 17 - July 24

Freshwater Fishing

  • King salmon sport fishing on the Lower Kenai River is slow. Water conditions continue to be high and turbid with woody debris and grass floating down river. Sport fishing gear in these waters is limited to one, unbaited, single-hook, artificial fly or lure. Please see corresponding Emergency Orders below.
    • King salmon of any size may be retained in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream of the mouth of Slikok Creek.
    • Only king salmon less than 36 inches in total length may be retained 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.
  • The Upper Kenai River, Russian River, and Russian River Sanctuary Area are open to sport fishing for sockeye salmon and catch success has slowed significantly as Russian River sockeye salmon are between runs. Anglers are reminded that they may possess only the limit allowed for the waters they are actively fishing. Anglers are reminded bag limits returned to 3 fish per day, 6 in possession at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2019.
  • Kasilof River king salmon sport fishing is slow. 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. Bait and multiple hooks are prohibited. Please see page 70 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet. 
  • Kasilof River sockeye salmon sport fishing is fair.
  • Rainbow trout sport fishing on the Middle and Upper Kenai River is good to excellent. 
  • Sockeye salmon sport fishing on the Lower Kenai River is slow to fair as the Kenai River water level is high. 
  • Pink salmon are beginning to show up at Resurrection Creek in Hope.

Personal Use Fishing

  • The Kasilof River dipnet fishery opened June 25. A resident Sport Fishing License and Cook Inlet Personal Use permit are required. Only Alaska residents may participate in this fishery. No retention of king salmon is allowed. Please see page 14 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
    • Kasilof River personal use fishing is good.
  • The Kenai River dipnet fishery opened July 10. A resident Sport Fishing License and Cook Inlet Personal Use permit are required. Only Alaska residents may participate 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.
    • Kenai River personal use fishing is fair and should improve.
    • For beach and boating access fees, live fishery web cameras and dipnet app information, please visit the City of Kenai’s Dipnet webpage.

Local Lakes

  • There are plenty of local lakes that provide a nice and quiet fishing opportunity in the Soldotna 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-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. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used from July 1 - July 31, 2019.
  • 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.

Archives

Kenai Area Archives for:
Sep 26, 2019 Sep 17, 2019 Sep 04, 2019 Aug 29, 2019 Aug 21, 2019 Aug 14, 2019 Aug 05, 2019 Jul 30, 2019
Jul 24, 2019 Jul 18, 2019 Jul 11, 2019 Jul 03, 2019 Jun 27, 2019 Jun 20, 2019 Jun 13, 2019 Jun 06, 2019
May 31, 2019 May 22, 2019 May 16, 2019 May 09, 2019 May 01, 2019