Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

August 10, 2021

* Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing, and wearing a face-covering when social distancing is not possible, and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store.

Freshwater Fishing

Kenai River

  • Lower Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing is good to excellent. Bag limits are six sockeye salmon per day and twelve in possession from the mouth of the Kenia River upstream to an ADF&G marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake. No more than two salmon, 16 inches or longer, per day and in possession may be coho salmon. Refer to pages 55 and 56 of the 2021 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary for maps denoting riverbank closures on the lower Kenai River. See the emergency order below for more information.
  • The mainstem Upper Kenai River is fishing well. From Skilak Lake upstream to a marker located approximately 300 yards upstream of Sportsman’s Landing bag and possession limits will increase to six per day and twelve in possession beginning at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 11. Anglers are reminded that only one per day and one in possession may be coho salmon. See the emergency order below for more information.
  • The use of bait is prohibited until 11:59 p.m., August 15. Sportfishing gear is limited to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure while sport fishing in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak. Please see the emergency order below for more information.
  • Coho salmon fishing on the Lower Kenai River is slow.
  • Resident species fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden is good on the Middle, Upper, and Kenai River tributaries.

Russian River

  • Sockeye fishing on the Russian River is excellent. Bag limits are three fish per day and six in possession in combination until 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 11. Bag limits will increase to six per day and twelve in possession, only one per day, and one in possession may be coho salmon. See the emergency order below for more information.

Kasilof River

  • Kasilof River sockeye salmon fishing is fair. Bag limits are six sockeyes per day and twelve in possession; however, no more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon, in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. Please see the emergency order below for more info.

Resurrection Creek

  • Pink salmon fishing is good and coho should be arriving soon at Resurrection Creek in Hope.

Swanson River

  • Swanson River coho salmon sport fishing should improve over the coming weeks.

Personal Use Fishing

Local Lakes

  • There are plenty of other fishing opportunities in Southcentral Alaska. This is the perfect time to visit locally stocked lakes as the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery is busy stocking fish.
  • Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land-locked salmon is good. 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.
  • Not familiar with all the stocked lakes in the area? Check out the ADF&G brochure with locations, access, and other valuable information on Kenai Peninsula area lakes. More lake information can be found on the ADF&G Alaska Lakes Database.
  • Interested in recent stocking activities at lakes? Check out the ADF&G stocking database online.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

Kenai River

  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-53-21 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon from three per day and six in possession to six per day and 12 in possession in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, August 5 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021. No more than two coho salmon per day and in possession.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-51-21 prohibits the use of bait and limits sport fishing gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure while sport fishing in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 15.

Russian River/Upper Kenai River

  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-55-21 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon to six fish per day and twelve in possession, of which only one per day and one in possession may be coho salmon, 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 effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 11 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2021.

Kasilof River

  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-35-21 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon 16 inches or longer to six fish per day and twelve in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing through 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.

Kenai Peninsula Lakes

  • Emergency Order 2-NP-1-02-21 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes for the 2021 season.
  • Emergency Order 2-DV-1-01-21 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake for the 2021 season.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2021 sport fishing license and king stamp through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2021 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

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