Ranger Meredith Baker helps Fredrick Bryant decorate a fish mobile at the Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on July 6, 2021 for Fish Week. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

‘Family fishy fun’

Kids turn out for a week of tying, casting and reeling.

Ranger Meredith Baker helps Fredrick Bryant decorate a fish mobile at the Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on July 6, 2021 for Fish Week. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
John Hakla from Eagle River heads back into the water while dipnetting on the North Kenai Beach on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Dipnet area expanded; limits increased on the Kasilof

Dipnetting is only allowed for Alaska residents with personal-use permits.

John Hakla from Eagle River heads back into the water while dipnetting on the North Kenai Beach on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 8, 2018. (Clarion file)

Sockeye limits increased on Russian and Upper Kenai rivers

The limits are being increased to six per day and 12 in possession on Russian and Upper Kenai rivers.

A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 8, 2018. (Clarion file)
Anglers fish on the Kenai River on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Watershed Forum awarded nearly $100,000 grant

The funds will be used to sample the water quality in the Kenai River.

Anglers fish on the Kenai River on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Greg Brush passes Kenai conservation on to the next generation of anglers by releasing a king salmon. (Photo courtesy Greg Brush)

Voices of the Peninsula: Decision devastating for dwindling king populations

We have fewer Kenai River chinook than we used to and they are smaller on average than they once were.

Greg Brush passes Kenai conservation on to the next generation of anglers by releasing a king salmon. (Photo courtesy Greg Brush)
Ventis Plume tends to his fire at the end of his 10-day setnet trip at the Kasilof River State Recreational Site in Kasilof, Alaska, on June 25, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnetting: It’s a go

The Kasilof River is open for personal use dipnetting through Aug. 7

Ventis Plume tends to his fire at the end of his 10-day setnet trip at the Kasilof River State Recreational Site in Kasilof, Alaska, on June 25, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Sanctuary opens for sockeye sport fishing

The sanctuary opening is effective Thursday, June 24 through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday on July 14.

Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A man fishes on the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

New bait restrictions on Kenai and Kasilof king fishing

On the Kenai River, bait will be prohibited from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.

A man fishes on the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Chinook salmon (Michael Humling/US Fish & Wildlife Service)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Fish and Game restricts Kenai, Kasilof king fishing

King salmon of any size are restricted to catch and release from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.

Chinook salmon (Michael Humling/US Fish & Wildlife Service)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Personal-use setnetting opening Tuesday on Kasilof

The hours for fishing in the restricted area of the Kasilof River on Tuesday are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Sockeye salmon. (Photo via Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Sockeye fishing opens Friday

The run might be a little slow the first week.

Sockeye salmon. (Photo via Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Homer Halibut Tournament logo

Homer Halibut Tournament scheduled Sept. 24-25

The Homer Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first annual Homer Halibut Tournament Sept. 24-25

Homer Halibut Tournament logo
Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Online reporting required for personal use fishing

Harvest and participation reporting must be done online by no later than Aug. 15, 2021.

Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Andrew Marley, the 2021 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament winner, at left, holds his prize winning 25.62-pound white king salmon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Helping him are his father, Jay Marley, center, and older brother Weston Marley, right. The family team included Erica Marley, not shown, all fishing on the Fly Dough. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

10-year-old takes home $87,000 for top fish in Homer tourney

‘Quite a bit of that is going to go to college tuition,’ dad says of son’s earnings

Andrew Marley, the 2021 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament winner, at left, holds his prize winning 25.62-pound white king salmon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Helping him are his father, Jay Marley, center, and older brother Weston Marley, right. The family team included Erica Marley, not shown, all fishing on the Fly Dough. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The top three fish of the 2018 Winter King Salmon Tournament hang on a wall before a closing ceremony announcing the winners on March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament returns this Saturday

After one-year hiatus, winter king tournament is back with COVID safety restrictions

The top three fish of the 2018 Winter King Salmon Tournament hang on a wall before a closing ceremony announcing the winners on March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Silver salmon swim in Sucker Creek on Sept. 18, 2020. (Photo by Matt Bowser/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Workshop highlights farming risk to salmon

The number of farms in Alaska has grown by 30% over the last five years.

Silver salmon swim in Sucker Creek on Sept. 18, 2020. (Photo by Matt Bowser/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Sockeye salmon. (Photo via Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Sockeye runs on Kenai and Kasilof predicted to be less than 20-year average

The sockeye fishery opens the third Monday in June or June 19, whichever comes last.

Sockeye salmon. (Photo via Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Matt Conner (left) and Amber Kraxberger-Linson demonstrate how to tie flies during a remote workshop on Friday, March 26, 2021, in Alaska. (Screenshot)

A crash course in fly-fishing

The tutorial was presented by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Matt Conner (left) and Amber Kraxberger-Linson demonstrate how to tie flies during a remote workshop on Friday, March 26, 2021, in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Pike prey on rearing salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

State, refuge to tackle invasive pike problem

The species threatens native fish populations in the area, including rainbow trout and juvenile salmon.

Pike prey on rearing salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Dr. Brett Watson presents the findings of a study he and others conducted through the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Screenshot)

Benefits from commercial fishing mostly affect fishers’ hometowns, UAA study finds

The study aimed to answer the question: What are the short-run economic impacts of commercial fisheries on local economies?

Dr. Brett Watson presents the findings of a study he and others conducted through the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Screenshot)