A new personal use web site is available at: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/areas/kenai/cipuhome.cfm
with complete information about the Cook Inlet personal use fisheries.
Helpful
Links
-
Area webpage: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/areas/kenai/kenhome.cfm
-
Salmon and trout identification pages: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/salmonid.pdf
- Sonar
estimates/weir counts: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/HTML/query.cfm
-
And the Kenai River escapement hotline at (907) 262-9097
-
Kenai River in season data summaries: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/weekly/update.cfm?area_key=5
-
River levels: aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?pacr
-
Lake stocking: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/Hatchery/Stocking_search/HTML/stock_search.cfm
-
Maps to stocked lakes: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/LAKEMAPS/HTML/LAKEMAP1.stm
-
Southcentral informational handouts: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/pubs.cfm
-
Safety in bear country: www.wildlife.alaska.gov/hunt_trap/hunting/huntak/huntak14.cfm
-
Enforcement: www.dps.state.ak.us/fwp/index.asp
-
Regulations: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/reghome.cfm
-
Northern pike: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/areas/anch/pikepage.cfm
-
Finding a charter or guide: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/sfguides/html/index.cfm
-
OEO/ADA statement: www.adfg.state.ak.us/oeostate.php
Mark's
Fishing Report, June 12, 2005:
Jeanne
Beezhold proudly displays and 35lb. Kenai King she caught on Tuesday
June 7.
As of Sunday 6/12, many, if not all of South-Central June fisheries
are in full swing. Beginning on the Kenai River, Early Run King
Salmon numbers have seen a significant spike in the past week with
between 400 and 700 ER king salmon passing the lower river sonar
counter daily. The last available count as of this fishing report
was Saturday June 11 when 555 kings were recorded bringing the cumulative
total of ER Kenai King Salmon to 5,638 fish. It seems this run is
on tract to meet or exceed escapement goals. Fishing on the Kenai
River has been hit and miss as increasing water levels and have
affected angler success. While many boats were seeing between 4-6
fish per day over a week ago, more recent catch rates have dropped
to 1-3 fish per boat. There have been a number of very large fish
moving through the Kenai system and several trophy class fish weighing
well over 70lbs. have been recorded. On Wed. June 8, my boat hooked
a Kenai Monster just below Eagle Rock on the lower Kenai River ad
fought the fish for nearly 45 minutes without even seeing it. After
well over an hour, we finally were able to bring the giant to the
net and after carefully taping it at nearly 53 inches long, we successfully
released the fish to continue its epic journey. We estimated the
fish to weigh between 70 and 75 lbs. The non-retention slot of 44-55
inches has been very effective in preserving these genetically unique
trophy class Kenai Kings and letting this fish go was rewarding
beyond what words can describe. Currently, the Kenai River continues
to rise as snow melt and rain in the Kenai mountains puts more and
more water into the system. Water clarity is less than ideal at
the time of this report although conditions should improve by early
next week with little rain in the forecast.
Good
numbers of Russian River Red salmon are being reported throughout
the Kenai River as this fishery opens today near Cooper Landing.
Anglers should expect plenty of fish and crowds as this tiny mountain
tributary of the Kenai sees the first substantial pushes of sockeye
for the season. We will have more information regarding fishing
success and run numbers once this fishery has been under way for
a few days. Look for a more detailed report very soon.
Troy
Johnson with a nice Kasilof King also taken on June 11.
Kali
Johnson with one of many Kasilof Kings she landed on Saturday June
11.
On the Kasilof River,
the ER of King Salmon has seen a new push of fish after a very high
tide cycle over the past week slowed the numbers of fish entering
the river. The last 2-3 days has seen a significant spike for both
naturally produced and hatchery origin Crooked Creek Kings and fishing
has definitely followed suit. Many anglers are retaining their one
fish limit and guided trips are yielding double digit hook-ups in
recent days. The ration of hatchery fish to wild fish has improved
to as high as 3 to 1 and this run should continue to produce very
good fishing over the next week to ten days. Anglers are reminded
that wild kings may only be retained on Tuesdays and Saturdays with
retention of hatchery fish only during the remaining days of the
week. Given the improved ratio of hatchery versus wild fish currently
in the system, the Kasilof offers a very good chance for retaining
the daily one fish limit of king salmon. Water conditions are very
good although the river is getting higher by the day.
Trout fishing opened on
the Kenai river-wide today and action was expected to be very good.
More detailed information regarding Kenai Trout fishing will be
included in the next fishing report.
King salmon fishing on
lower Kenai Peninsula Rivers will come to a close after this weekend,
although good numbers of kings are still present and entering the
Anchor, Ninilchik and Deep Creek. All of these smaller snow-fed
streams have seen very solid king runs this season and angler success
during weekend only, open days has been very high.
West Side Cook Inlet fly-out
fisheries have also gotten off to a very good beginning with lots
of sockeye and bears massing around the outlet of Wolverine Creek
where it enters Big River Lake. Massive schools of sockeye salmon,
fresh from Cook Inlet, can be seen circling the clear waters of
Redoubt Bay and fishing pressure has been moderate. We have taken
several trips to this popular West Side destination and have gotten
limits of reds and have seen multiple brown and black bears on every
trip. There has already been a significant push of sockeye up Wolverine
Creek over this weekend although newly arriving fish continue to
mass around the mouth of Wolverine Creek and large schools of newly
arriving sockeye can been seen breaking the surface throughout Big
River Lake. This run will continue to build through mid-July.
King salmon
fishing on the Chuitna has not yet begun due to excessive snow melt
and high and murky water conditions. This river is expected to come
into fishing shape may mid week and angler success should be very
high. With several trips planned for us in the near future, a detailed
report will be available soon. The neighboring Theodore River has
been high as well but it has been fishable and reports indicate
very good catch and release king salmon fishing on this tiny, yet
very exciting river. We also plan to visit the Theodore over the
next week and will continue to update this report as we explore
both of these very productive remote fisheries.
If you
have any questions regarding any of the above Kenai Peninsula and
West Side fisheries please fell free to email me anytime at mgfish@mgfalaska.com.
Good luck
on the water and great fishing!
Mark Glassmaker
Mark's Fishing
Report, May 31, 2005:
Memorial
Day weekend signifies the official start to many of the most popular
Kenai Peninsula fisheries and in a number of primary locations,
fishing was very consistent. Beginning on the Kenai, sonar counts
remain quite low despite relatively steady fishing success. As of
May 31, only 1031 Early-Run Kenai king salmon had passed the ADF&G
sonar site on the lower Kenai River. Despite the low counts, fishing
has been fair with most boats averaging 1-2 kings in an 8 hour charter.
Typically this run peaks in the first two weeks of June, so the
next week to ten days should see significant numbers of fish entering
the river and catch rates should follow suit. River conditions are
ideal with excellent color and moderate water levels. Rain in the
Kenai Mountains is bringing the river up daily.
Will
Sigsbee releases a 2005 naturally-produced early-run Kasilof King
Salmon.
On the neighboring Kasilof,
fishing has continued to build daily since Mid May. In the recent
3-4 days, the fishery has seen a significant burst of fresh kings
and multiple hook-ups per boat are now the norm. This run offers
mix of both hatchery and naturally produced early-run king salmon
and anglers are reminded that only hatchery king salmon (marked
by a clipped adipose fin) are allowed to be retaining with the exception
of Tuesdays and Saturdays when both wild (natural) and hatchery
king salmon may be kept. New rules which allow anglers to keep fishing
once they retain a king salmon on the Kasilof have been very well
received and have made this fishery a very attractive option for
Kenai Peninsula anglers. This run should peak in the next week to
ten days. Water levels are moderate and rising.
The
Cook Inlet Marine fishery off Ninilchik/Deep Creek has been extremely
productive for halibut and to a lesser degree, salt water king salmon.
The halibut fishing has been very good even in the less than optimal
tides. Near shore trolling for king salmon has been off and on as
sporadic pushes of both feeder and river bound kings make their
way through the area. In the last two days, high concentrations
of mature kings have provided red hot action after a week of very
hit and miss fishing. This recent push of fish may very well be
the bulk of early run Kenai kings making their way north. This early
run marine king salmon fishery normally peaks between the last week
of May and the first week of June.
Patty
Powers and nice hatchery king salmon from the Kasilof River
Lower Kenai Peninsula
streams such as Deep Creek, the Ninilchik River and the Anchor River
are all seeing fair to strong return of king salmon and fishing
pressure over the Memorial Day weekend was heavy. Perhaps the most
productive of these rivers was the Anchor where low water and lots
of fish made for good fishing around the high tide. Anglers are
reminded these rivers are weekend only fisheries and fishing for
salmon is limited to the lower, tidally influenced sections of these
streams. Downstream steelhead (kelts) are also present in the Ninilchik,
Deep Creek and the Anchor and are making their way back to Cook
Inlet after being in the rivers since the fall/winter. Kenai Peninsula
steelhead are not allowed to be removed from the water and should
be handled with extreme caution to ensure their safe release.
Good luck on the water
and great fishing!
Here are a few more photos
of recent king salmon caught fishing on the Kasilof River.
Click on any image for a larger view in a new window.
Coho,
halibut, more on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula
Mark's Fishing
Report, November 23, 2004:
As
of 11/23/04, the Kenai Peninsula is experiencing a temperate beginning
to winter. We have seen several reasonable snow storms with some
accumulation although persistent warm temperatures and rain have
melted most of it. Daytime temperatures have been in the mid to
high thirties. On the southern Kenai Peninsula, both the Anchor
and Deep Creek are both flowing at moderate to high levels with
good clarity.
There is a great
deal of shore ice and debris from cold weather a few weeks prior
and flooding caused by ice dams. Both steelhead and dolly varden
remain active and fishing is rated as fair on both the middle and
lower sections of the Anchor River and Deep Creek. The Ninilchik
River remains largely frozen and unfishable.
The Kenai is
low but still navigable above Bings Landing. Trout fishing both
below and above Skilak Lake is still a viable option, weather depending.
Trout are not highly concentrated but larger fish are found just
below spawning silver salmon. Good numbers of both dark and bright
silver salmon are present although their season closed November
1.
Mark's Fishing Report, October 20, 2004:
As
of October 20, Kenai Peninsula fisheries continue to provide excellent
angling opportunities for those willing to put in their time on
the water. The Kenai River is still seeing a fair number of silver
salmon after one of the strongest returns of coho since ADF&G
began estimating escapement. Silver salmon season on the Kenai normally
closes the last day of September but was extended this year through
the end of October due to the large return. Rainbow trout and Dolly
Varden fishing on the Kenai, both above and below Skilak Lake, remains
very good with a number of larger fish being caught. Fish are being
taken on both flesh patterns and painted beads.
Dan
Mendenhall with a beautiful Kenai Rainbow caught in late September.
Steelhead
trout fishing on the lower Kenai Peninsula Rivers has been very
steady with large number of fish present in the Anchor River, Deep
Creek, and the Ninilchik River. These fisheries have been most productive
just after rain storms although currently all rivers are low and
clear and fishing has slowed. Look for more fish to enter these
rivers just after the next big rain or before the river freezes
for winter.
Jim
Rinker readies a nice fall steelhead for release.
Good
luck on the water and great fishing!
Mark Glassmaker
Book Review:
Looking for
the Ultimate Alaska Fishing Resource? Look no Further.
TOP WATER by Troy Letherman
and Tony Weaver is the bible for those wanting to sharpen their
knowledge of the vast and varied fishing options available here
in America's Last Frontier. From Southeast to the Arctic Circle,
from Steelhead Trout to Arctic Grayling, this book covers the whole
gambit of fishing the Greatland. The unique blend of exquisite writing
and epic photography makes TOP WATER an immediate addition to the
top shelf.
Top Water, Fly-Fishing
Alaska, the Last Frontier. By Troy Letherman and Tony Weaver. 294
pages, hardbound, published by Countrymanpress.com
For a signed copy of
his book, contact Troy directly at: t.letherman@worldnet.att.net
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