Area Sport Fishing Reports
Northern Kenai

Archived Sport Fishing Report

June 08, 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-RS-1-19-20 opens the Russian River Sanctuary Area to sport fishing for sockeye salmon beginning 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 11, 2020.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-18-20 prohibits the retention of any sized naturally-produced king salmon and limits sport fishing gear to one, unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure while sport fishing in the Kasilof River beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Naturally-produced salmon have an adipose fin and may not be removed from the water and must be release immediately.
  • Emergency Order 2-KS-1-17-20 closes sport fishing for king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 10 through June 30, 2020. Fishing for king salmon will remain closed July 1 through July 31, 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.
  • 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. These closures will end Thursday, June 11. Fishing for rainbow trout in these waters is expected to be very good.
  • The Upper Kenai River, Russian River, and Russian River Sanctuary Area will open to fishing for sockeye salmon on Thursday, June 11. Fishing is expected to be slow but improving next week.
  • Kasilof king salmon fishing is considered fair to good. Try fishing for king salmon from shore at the Crooked Creek State Recreation Site. Please refer to Emergency Order 2-KS-1-18-20.

Local Lakes

  • There are plenty of other fishing opportunities in Southcentral Alaska. This is the perfect time to visit locally stocked lakes as the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery has been out stocking.
  • Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon should be improving 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.