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

Sockeye salmon are now mostly in spawning phase in both rivers and fishing for bright sockeye is completed for the season.
Coho (silver) salmon fishing is fair to good at this time. Sunrise, sunset or cloudy/rainy day angling offer the best opportunity.
At the Kenai River, water clarity has improved recently. Anglers should expect water conditions to change during rain events. Conditions are currently rated as good for coho salmon fishing.
Anglers are reminded to review the regulations before fishing for coho (silver) salmon in the Kenai or Kasilof rivers.
Salmon - Upper Kenai River and Russian River
The Russian River and fly-fishing only waters around the Russian-Kenai rivers confluence are now closed to sockeye salmon fishing. Please review the regulations booklet before fishing in this area.
Coho (silver) salmon have arrived and fishing is slow at this time. Anglers are reminded that the daily bag and possession limit in the Russian River and Russian - Kenai River fly-fishing only waters at the confluence downstream to the powerline is one per day.
If you choose to process the salmon you harvest where you catch them, please cut or chop the carcass up into numerous pieces and throw the pieces into fast-moving water. Use cleaning tables provided and dispose of fish waste properly if you take them out whole.

Resident Fish - Kenai River

Fishing for resident species on the Kenai River will be peaking soon with the spawn of sockeye salmon located in the Upper and Lower main-stem Kenai River. Fishing opportunities on the Kenai River are good at this time. The water clarity for rainbow trout fishing is good and will vary with rain events. Water levels in both sections of river have been decreasing, creating good water clarity.
Anglers continue to report fair to good fishing success in the Upper Kenai River between Kenai and Skilak lakes as well as the area from Skilak Lake downstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge in Soldotna. Generally, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing will improve through the fall prior to the onset of cold fall temperatures.
Please check the regulations booklet or contact Fish and Game to find regulations about the waters you plan to fish in the drainage.

Northern Pike

Stormy Lake supports northern pike which can be found in shallow water along the shoreline margins.
Stormy Lake has good numbers of northern pike and the lake has good public access.
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 large streamer 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

Fishing conditions at area lakes are excellent.
Twenty-seven Kenai Peninsula lakes are stocked by the Department. In addition, numerous lakes support natural populations of rainbow trout, lake trout and Dolly Varden. Numerous Kenai Peninsula Lakes provide great fishing opportunity in the spring while flowing waters are closed to fishing.
Bait fished under a bobber, small spinners and spoons or fly fishing from a float tube all produce great rates during the spring immediately after ice-out.
For lake trout try fishing at Kenai, Skilak, Tustumena or Hidden lakes. Trolling with spoons, plugs, stick baits, spinner rigs or drifting using jigging tackle tipped with dead-baits such as herring can all be very effective. DonÕt wait as the lake trout will head to deep water as the water temperatures in these lakes warm.

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