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Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

September 26, 2019

Fall Fishing Report

Freshwater Fishing

  • Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing on the Middle and Upper Kenai River is good to excellent.
  • Coho salmon fishing on the Kenai River mainstem has slowed over the past few weeks with anglers reporting variable success.
  • Coho salmon fishing on the Kasilof River is fair and anglers are reminded that upstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge to the outlet of Tustumena Lake, only unbaited, artificial lures and flies are allowed from September 16 - December 31, under general regulation.
  • Coho salmon and rainbow trout in the Russian River has been reported as fair. Fishing for coho salmon closes on Monday, September 30, anglers are allowed 1 per day and 1 in possession, under general regulation.

Personal Use Fishing

  • The deadline to report on your Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit was Thursday, August 15, 2019, for the Kasilof River gillnet, Kasilof and Kenai rivers dipnet, and Fish Creek dipnet fisheries. Participants are reminded they are required to report their harvest even if they did not fish, or if they fished but caught nothing.

Local Lakes

  • There are plenty of local stocked lakes that provide a nice, quiet fall and winter fishing opportunity in the Soldotna, Kenai, Kasilof, Cooper Landing, and Moose Pass 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-RS-1-42-19 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, 16 inches or longer, other than king salmon and coho salmon, from three per day, six in possession, to six per day, twelve in possession, in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory 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.
  • Emergency Order 2-RS-1-37-19 increase the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon 16 inches or longer from three fish per day to six fish per day and twelve in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.
  • 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-DV-1-03-19 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake.

This is the last fishing report for the 2019 fishing season. This fishing report will be updated when additional information is available. For current seasonal information, please contact the Soldotna Office at (907) 262-9368.