Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

April 30, 2020

Just a reminder to all our anglers, please do your part to help slow the spread of Covid-19 by following and reviewing the current State of Alaska Health Mandates in effect. This includes practicing social distancing while sport and personal use fishing and wearing a face covering when fishing and if you are needing fishing supplies from your local store as indicated in Health Alert 010.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted several proposals establishing new sport fish regulations for the Kenai River and the Northern Kenai Peninsula Area at its Anchorage February 2020 meeting. Please see the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulation Summary booklet for a complete summary of the Kenai Peninsula sport fisheries regulations.

Emergency Orders

Please review the Emergency Orders and News Releases below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

  • Emergency Order 2-NP-1-02-20 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey, Sevena, Union, and Derks lakes for the 2020 season.
  • Emergency Order 2-DV-1-01-20 prohibits the retention of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake for the 2020 season.

Freshwater Fishing

  • The flowing waters of the Kenai River mainstem upstream of the Lower Killey River marker and all of the tributary streams are closed from May 1 through June 10 to protect spawning rainbow trout.
  • Kasilof River steelhead fishing is considered fair. All rainbow/steelhead trout caught must not be removed from the water and must be released immediately. See pages 70-71 of the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
  • Hooligan (eulachon) fishing is just starting and will continue to improve over the next couple of weeks.

Local Lakes

  • Local lakes are on the verge of ice out and lake fishing should be good as soon as they are fishable. Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon should improve with warming water temperatures. Try 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.

Don’t forget to bring your 2020 sport fishing license! Help maximize social distancing and purchase your 2020 sport fishing license through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Also, make sure to review Emergency Orders and the 2020 Southcentral Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the ADF&G Soldotna Area Office at (907) 262-9368.