Kenai River & Peninsula Salmon, Halibut & Trout Weekly Fishing Forecast and Report

Sport fishing for sockeye salmon, including catch-and-release fishing, will close downstream of the Kenai River sockeye salmon sonar counter located at river mile 19, effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 1. Anglers may not retain or possess sockeye salmon. Anglers must immediately release any sockeye salmon caught incidentally while fishing for other species. The department is taking efforts to reduce the harvest of Kenai River sockeye salmon. This closure is part of an effort by the department which also includes restrictions in commercial fishing to reduce the harvest of sockeye salmon to achieve an in-river sonar estimate of 750,000 - 950,000 sockeye salmon.
In the Kenai River, king salmon fishing is reported to be fair. The daily estimated numbers of late run king salmon entering the Kenai River have been stable this past week and fishing is expected to be mostly fair through the remainder of the season. Anglers fishing with salmon roe have been having success.
Sockeye salmon fishing has been poor recently because of the low number of sockeye salmon entering the Kenai River each day.
Dipnetting for sockeye salmon downstream of the Warren Ames Bridge was only fair this past weekend and dipnetting is expected to be poor for the remainder of the season because of the low numbers of sockeye salmon entering the Kenai River each day.
Information about Kenai River king and sockeye salmon sonar passage estimates are available via phone at (907) 262-9097.

Salmon - Kasilof River

Anglers have reported fair to good fishing for late-run Kasilof River king salmon. Anglers can expect fishing to be mostly fair for the remainder of the season. A plug wrapped with sardine is the favored technique to catch king salmon on the Kasilof River and salmon roe has also been productive.
Sockeye salmon have been returning to the Kasilof River in fishable numbers for several days. Anglers have caught sockeye salmon in the lower Kasilof River. Information about Kasilof River sockeye salmon sonar passage is now available at the weir count and sonar estimates internet site listed below and via phone at (907) 262-9097.
Anglers interested in targeting sockeye salmon may want to consider fishing from the shore at the Crooked Creek State of Alaska Recreation Site and fishing the upper Kasilof River by floating and fishing the river between the Ôslack waterÕ public boat launch and the Sterling Highway Bridge public boat launch.
Dipnetting success has been variable depending on influxes of sockeye salmon into the river. Many dipnetters have been having good success fishing the falling or ebbing tide.

Salmon - Russian River

Sockeye salmon fishing in both the clear waters of the Russian River and the Kenai River main stem upstream and downstream of the Russian River Ferry crossing is rated as fair to good at times. The late run of sockeye salmon migrating up the Kenai River arrived in this area last week. Anglers should have fair to good success over the next week. The Sanctuary Area is open to fishing providing plenty of room for anglers to fish for late sockeye salmon. Anglers fishing in the Upper Kenai River between SportsmanÕs and JimÕs Landings are reporting fair fishing for sockeye salmon. Anglers need a boat to access this area of the Upper Kenai River to fish for sockeye salmon.
Information about late-run sockeye salmon passage at the Russian River weir will be available later is week online at the weir count and sonar estimates internet site listed below and via phone at (907) 262-9097.
Anglers are reminded that the weir at Russian River is located upstream of the fishery and weir counts may not be a good indicator of the numbers of fish present in the Russian River area open to fishing.

Resident Fish - Kenai & Russian Rivers

Most anglers have been waiting for sockeye salmon; however, this period before arrival of late-run sockeye salmon to these rivers is a great time to fish for rainbow trout. Fishing in both rivers is rated as good.
The Kenai River between the Upper Killey River and the outlet of Skilak Lake, as well as the Upper Kenai River from Skilak Lake upstream to Kenai Lake, has been providing good rainbow trout fishing.

Resident Fish - Kasilof River

Nearly all fishing activity is for king and sockeye salmon downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge where a few Dolly Varden have been caught. Anglers interested in targeting Dolly Varden may want to consider fishing the Ôslack waterÕ area immediately downstream of the Tustumena Lake outlet or floating and fishing the river between the Ôslack waterÕ public boat launch and the Sterling Highway Bridge public boat launch.

Northern Pike

Stormy Lake has good numbers of northern pike and the lake has good public access. Anglers who are interested in fishing for northern pike on the Kenai Peninsula should try Stormy Lake for spring northern pike fishing.
Many other area lakes have northern pike, but public access is limited. Private property owners may allow access, but get permission first.
Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (with arrow attached by a line), bait, spin, and fly-fishing gear. Try fish-shaped and fish-colored lures and flies.
There is no closed season for pike and the bag limit is unlimited. Wanton waste laws apply so be sure to use, or donate to charity, all the pike you harvest.

Lake Fishing

Numerous Kenai Peninsula Lakes provide great fishing opportunity. Fishing on many of the Kenai Peninsula Area lakes for rainbow trout has been good recently. Anglers are reminded of the new regulation for Hidden Lake, the lake trout bag and possession limit is one lake trout.

Recorded weekly fishing reports from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game for other areas in the state can be reached by calling:
267-2515 in Anchorage
746-6300 in Palmer
235-6930 in Homer.

Helpful Links

Area webpage: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/areas/kenai/kenhome.cfm
Salmon and trout identification pages: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/2001/html/pdfs/01ayksalmonid.pdf
Sonar estimates/weir counts: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/HTML/query.cfm
Kenai River in season data summaries: not yet available
River levels: http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?pacr
Lake stocking: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/Hatchery/Stocking_search/HTML/stock_search.cfm
Maps to stocked lakes: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/LAKEMAPS/HTML/LAKEMAP1.stm
Southcentral informational handouts: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/pubs.cfm
Safety in bear country:http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/hunt_trap/hunting/huntak/huntak14.cfm
Enforcement: http://www.dps.state.ak.us/fwp/index.asp
Regulations: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/reghome.cfm
Northern pike: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/areas/anch/pikepage.cfm
OEO/ADA statement: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/oeostate.php