The late-run Kenai River king salmon sport fishery is still restricted to catch and release only through July 31, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said in this week’s North Kenai sport fishing report.

Kenai River

The late-run fishery prohibits king retention from the mouth upstream to the marker located about 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek. Additionally, king fishing is prohibited from the ADF&G marker 300 yards downstream of Slikok Creek upstream to Skilak Lake through July 31.

The department reported that fishing for kings in the Kenai River is slow, water levels are slightly higher than the average, and water clarity is fair. Fishing for rainbow trout in the Kenai is also fair.

In the Lower Kenai, sockeye salmon fishing has been relatively slow. 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.

Kasilof River

The king salmon sport fishery is also closed in the Kasilof River through July 15, and the waters from the Sterling Highway Bridge upstream to the outlet of Tustumena Lake will remain closed until July 31. Here anglers are limited to one unbaited single-hook artificial lure while fishing for other species.

The late-run king fishery will be open to catch and release only starting July 16 through July 31, from the mouth of the Kasilof upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Kings caught may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. In this part of the river too, only one unbaited single-hook artificial lure may be used.

The department also stated that sockeye salmon fishing in the Kasilof is improving. Anglers are advised to fish from the shore at the Crooked Creek State Recreation Site, as Crooked Creek is closed to fishing. The bag and possession limits of sockeye will increase starting 12:01 a.m. July 7, to six per day and 12 in possession.

Russian River

According to the report, sockeye rushing on the Upper Kenai and Russian rivers is slow, but anglers are catching their limits in some areas with time.

The Russian River Sanctuary Area is open to sport fishing, with a bag limit of six per day and 12 in possession through 11:59 p.m. July 14.

Personal Use dipnetting

The Kasilof River dipnet fishery is currently open and fishing is allowed 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Anglers are permitted to fish from the ADF&G markers on the shore of Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. In the Kasilof, salmon may also be harvested from a boat from the ADF&G markers on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river to markers placed at approximately Mile 3. Retention of king salmon, Dolly Varden or rainbow and steelhead trout is not permitted while dipnetting in the Kasilof.

The Kenai River dipnet fishery will open on Sunday, and fishing is allowed between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily.

Dipnetting is only allowed for Alaska residents, and both an Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit and a sport fishing license are required.

Local lakes

Fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling and land-locked salmon in area lakes is between good and excellent, the department said. Anglers are recommended to fish with dry or wet flies such as an egg-sucking leech, bead head nymph or mosquito pattern, small spoons and spinners size zero or two, or small bait under a bobber.

John Hedberg Lake is reportedly yielding “excellent” fishing, and other local lakes — Johnson, Sport, and Island lakes — have been stocked with catchable sized fish, the department reported.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

Kasilof River

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-45-22 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. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 7 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022.

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-44-22 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, 16 inches or longer, to six fish per and 12 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. This regulatory change is effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 7 through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-30-22 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Kasilof River effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2022. Fishing for king salmon of any size, including hatchery-origin fish is prohibited. Effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 16 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022, from its mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge will be open to catch and release. Waters from the Sterling Highway Bridge upstream to the outlet of Tustumena Lake, 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 16 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022, will remain closed to king salmon fishing and anglers are limited to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure while fishing for other species.

Kenai River and Russian River

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-46-22 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery. Any king salmon caught incidentally may not be removed from the water and must be release immediately and returned to the water unharmed. This regulatory change is effective 6 a.m. Sunday, July 10 through 11 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022.

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-37-22 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon, other than king salmon, to six fish per day and 12 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 including the Russian River Sanctuary Area, and the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River Falls at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 25 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 14, 2022.

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-35-22 opens the Russian River Sanctuary Area to sport fishing from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 22 through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 14, 2022.

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-22-22 supersedes prior Emergency Orders and will prohibit the retention of king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak effective 12:01 am Wednesday, June 8 through 11:59 pm Thursday, June 30. Fishing for king salmon will remain closed from 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022, in waters of the Kenai River drainage from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch and release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon accidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. Additionally, 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 from 12:01 a.m. Friday July 1, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022, is restricted to the use of only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure, and anglers may not retain king salmon of any size. King salmon may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Local Lakes

Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-22 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes for the 2022 season.

Emergency Order 2-DV-1-03-22 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 2022 season.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.