A Northern Kenai Fishing report published by the Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says that sockeye salmon fishing is good on the Kenai River and improving on the Russian River.
Freshwater Fishing
Kenai River
The report says that in the Lower Kenai River, fishing for sockeye salmon “continues to be good to excellent.” Last week, the department’s daily counts of sockeye salmon counted by sonar on the Kenai River climbed above 100,000 for the first time, to a high of 195,000. This week, as of Wednesday, numbers have fallen to a more modest 40,000 per day.
Bag limits are six per day and 12 in possession. The department recommends fishing at Centennial Park, Rotary Park, Donald E. Gilman River Center, the Soldotna Visitors Center, Moose Range Meadows or Soldotna Creek Park.
Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden in the middle Kenai RIver is “fair” but should improve, the report says.
The water conditions are high, “making fishing from shore challenging in some areas.”
Bait is not allowed on the Kenai River from its mouth to Skilak Lake, per an emergency order issued last week.
Kasilof River
In the Kasilof River, hatchery king salmon can be kept. The department says that the fishery is “slow.” Hatchery salmon do not have an adipose fin, and any naturally produced king salmon, which do have an adipose fin, may not be removed from the water and must be immediately released. Additionally, only one single unbaited hook may be used. Only one hatchery king can be retained per day, and there is a combined annual limit of five king salmon.
Sockeye salmon fishing on the Kasilof is “slowing down” but limits can be caught with time. The bag limits are six per day and 12 in possession. The department recommends fishing from the shore at Crooked Creek State Recreation Site.
In the last couple of days, sockeye counts have been falling on the Kasilof. On July 27, 42,000 sockeye were counted by sonar. That number has dropped each day with only one exception, and on Wednesday only 12,000 were reported.
Russian River
Sockeye fishing on the Russian River “has picked up and is expected to continue to improve,” the report says. The bag limit is three per day and six in possession.
Wednesday saw the highest daily count so far this year for the late run of the species on the Russian River, at 1,600.
The report also reminds anglers that fish carcasses need to be removed from Russian River clear water and taken to cleaning tables near the mainstem Kenai River.
“Please respect habitat and cultural resource protection sites that are fenced or roped off, stay on the established trails and boardwalks, and use public restroom facilities in the campgrounds and ferry areas,” the report reads.
Resurrection Creek
Pink salmon “are in” at Resurrection Creek in Hope, and fishing “has been good.”
Personal Use
Dipnetting on the Kenai River closed on Monday.
Dipnetting on the Kasilof River closes at midnight on Aug. 7. Fishing has been “fair to good.”
Retention of king salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow and steelhead trout is prohibited in the fishery. Those species must be released immediately unharmed. The department also reminds anglers that a new regulation prohibits the use of felt or other “fiber material” on the soles of wading boots while dipnetting.
Local Lakes
Fishing on local lakes for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling and landlocked salmon “is good to excellent.” The report recommends 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.
Johnson Lake is “fishing excellent,” and is a good choice for young anglers, the report says.
John Hedberg Lake is also fishing excellent, and the department says it’s a nice place for a picnic or a hike as well.
Emergency Orders
Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
Kenai River
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-51-23 prohibiting the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the ADF&G marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake, effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. Anglers may use only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in these waters. “Single-hook” means a fishhook with only one point.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-47-23 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, 16 inches or longer, other than king, pink, and coho salmon, from three per day, six in possession to six per day, 12 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 effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 21, 2023.
Kasilof River
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-32-23 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or longer, to six fish per day and 12 in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing effective 12:01 a.m. Friday June 30, 2023. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-33-23 prohibits the retention of naturally produced king salmon while sport fishing in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when sport fishing in these waters effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023. Naturally produced king salmon may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately.
Personal Use
Emergency order 2-RS-1-28-23 expands the personal use salmon dipnet fishing area on the Kasilof River. Salmon may be harvested from the shore from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Salmon may be harvested from a boat from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to ADF&G markers placed at approximately river mile 3 effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 25 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.
Cook Inlet Salt Waters
Emergency Order 2-KS-7-15-23 prohibits sport fishing for king salmon (including catch and release) in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00’ N. lat.) effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 15 through Monday, July 31. King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.
Local Lakes
Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-23 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey and Derks lakes for the 2023 season.
Emergency Order 2-DV-1-03-23 establishes a bag and possession limit of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake of one fish, less than 16 inches in length for the 2023 season.
