Alaska Fishing News

Alaska Fishing News and Reports

Alaska Fisheries News

Welcome to our news center. Here you will find:

Alaska fishing reports during the fishing season
Alaska fishing forecasts
Articles of interest related to salmon, trout and steelhead fisheries around the world
News articles related to Alaska fisheries resources in general.
News articles related specifically to the Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet fisheries.

Alaska Fishing Reports

Mark's Fishing Report, June 28, 2006:

Kenai River:

King Salmon fishing on the Kenai River has been slower than last week but still steady. Bright late run fish have begun to enter the lower river and are steadily making their way upstream. Fishing is typical for this time of year with sporadic action and some lengthy stretches between bites. Most of the early run fish appear to have moved well upriver into their spawning areas and the majority of the fish we are catching are very chrome and moving fast. Boats are averaging 2-5 fish per trip.

Kasilof River:

The Kasilof is still producing some fish but fishing has slowed as early run is past its seasonal peak.

Remote Fisheries:

Wolverine Creek:

The run is very strong at this point and both sockeye and bears are present in good numbers. The first pushes of sockeye have started to make their run up the creek and good numbers of fish are also present in the lake. Limits catches are common and anglers are seeing 2-5 brown bears per trip.

Chuitna:

The river has finally settled in to decent water conditions and is not getting somewhat low and clear. Fishing has been very good for kings up to 45lbs. The season closes July 1 so only a few days remain for this trip. With rain in the forecast to raise the water depth, the last days of the season should be very good.

Karluk Lagoon, Kodiak Island:

Good numbers of king salmon continue to enter the lagoon headed for the Karluk although the run does seem t be on the backside of its peak. Fish are definitely still available in good number and are very bight. The lagoon is also being frequented by several resident brown bear making for some excellent bear viewing opportunities.

Nushagak:

The Nush run has been slightly late this season but it does appear that good numbers of newly arriving bright kings are being caught on the lower river. These fish should make their way upstream fairly fast and the first week of July should hold excellent fishing.

Mark's Fishing Report, June 18, 2006:

Kenai/Kasilof

King Salmon fishing on both the Kenai and the Kasilof Rivers has improved considerably in the last week to ten days. On the Kasilof, steady numbers of early run king salmon have been entering the river on every tide and anglers are finding good to excellent success fishing both salmon eggs and plugs. The majority of the fish thus far have been naturally produced Crooked Creek fish with less than normal hatchery fish present so far. With many king salmon runs across the state being somewhat late in their arrival, hopes are the hatchery return has not yet arrived and good numbers of clipped fin, hatchery origin king salmon will arrive soon. Meanwhile, ample numbers of naturally produced kings, along with some hatchery kings are being caught. Anglers are reminded that only on Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays both hatchery and naturally produced king salmon allowed to be retained in the Kasilof River. All other days of the week only hatchery origin fish are allowed to be retained. River conditions are favorable and the water level is near normal for this time period.

On the Kenai, fishing for early run king salmon has been fair to good. The use of bait was allowed beginning Saturday June 10 and although good numbers of fish were present, the river became high and murky from recent rains. The river cleared considerably by Tuesday June 13 and fishing this week has been excellent. Heavy rains did swell the river throughout the week but water clarity remained decent and fishing also remained very productive. The coming week of June 20-24 is shaping up to be very promising as fish counts remain high and river conditions stand to improve with more stable weather conditions. Trout fishing below Skilak Lake opened on June 11 and fishing has been very good with lots of good sized rainbow trout being landed daily. Larger fish are close to thirty inches with high numbers of fish in the 22-26 inch range.

The “E-Dog” with a beautiful ocean bright Kodiak Island King salmon taken from the Karluk Lagoon June 12, 2006

Remote fisheries

Red salmon and bear viewing at Wolverine Creek / Big River Lake has been improving daily with good numbers of sockeye now present in Redoubt Bay. A fair number of bears are also present making this a very exiting and enjoyable day trip. King Salmon fishing on the Chuit River has been off to a somewhat slow start due to high, murky water and a late return of fish. Kodiak Island and Karluk Lagoon has been fair to good with most taking this trip retaining their two fish limit. This is an excellent alternative for remote king fishing until the Chuit water levels recede. Once the conditions improve, the Chuit should be very good fishing. The Nushagak is also beginning to see good numbers of fish and recent reports make this another excellent option for remote fly out fishing through early July.

STRENGTH OF EARLY-RUN KENAI RIVER KING SALMON ALLOWS BAIT DOWNSTREAM OF THE MOOSE RIVER STARTING JUNE 10

Thanks to a good in river return of early-run king salmon, combined with below-average angler effort and harvests, sport fish anglers may now use bait in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to a point 100 yards downstream of the confluence of the confluence of the Moose River and Kenai River, beginning at 12:01 a.m., Saturday June 10.

All other Kenai River special provisions, methods and means and bag and possession limits remain in affect. Anglers may only use one single-pointed hook. Anglers may keep only those king salmon that are less than 44 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length. All other king salmon must be released immediately.

The “Kenai River and Kasilof River Early-Run King Salmon Conservation Management Plan" directs the Department to achieve a spawning escapement goal of 5,300-9,000 king salmon in the Kenai River. To date, the total in-river run is estimated to be 5,450 king salmon. Total sport harvest is estimated to be approximately 350 king salmon below Soldotna Bridge. Harvest rates have been fair, and angler effort has been very low compared to past years. The Department is currently projecting a total in-river run of early king salmon of approximately 13,000-16,000 fish and a spawning escapement in excess of the escapement goal.

Under these circumstances, the management plan directs the Department to establish, by Emergency Order, a fishing period during which bait may be used in the mainstem of the Kenai River. The Emergency Order issued on June 9, will allow the use of bait in the Kenai River from a point 100 yards downstream of the confluence of the Kenai River and the Moose River downstream to the mouth of the Kenai River.

SPORT FISHING Emergency Orders ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME

RUSSIAN RIVER SANCTUARY AREA TO OPEN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

The Department of Fish and Game announced today that the Russian River Sanctuary Area will be open to sockeye salmon sport fishing at 6:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 21.

The Russian River Sanctuary Area includes waters upstream from ADF&G markers located just downstream of the ferry crossing on the Kenai River to markers about 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman's Landing. The Sanctuary Area also includes the waters around the upstream end of the island near the Russian River mouth, and the Russian River itself from its mouth upstream 100 yards to ADF&G markers. A map to the area can be found on page 31 of the 2006 Southcentral Alaska sport fishing regulation booklet.

The sockeye salmon bag and possession limit will remain at 3 fish.

Department staff have determined that the low end of the early-run sockeye salmon spawning escapement goal of 14,000 fish through the weir will be achieved. More than 10,000 sockeye salmon have moved above the waters that are currently open, with approximately 5,000-6,000 additional fish in the Sanctuary Area.
Please respect the new riverbank habitat restoration project and stay on established pathways in the Sanctuary Area.

For additional information contact Larry Marsh, Assistant Area Management Biologist, (907) 262-9368.

Under Authority of AS 16.05.060
Emergency Order No. 2-KS-1-10-06
Issued at Soldotna: Friday, June 9, 2006
Effective Date: 12:01 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2006
Expiration Date: 11:59 p.m., Friday, June 30, 2006, unless superseded by subsequent emergency order.

EXPLANATION: This emergency order allows the use of bait in the following waters of the Kenai River drainage open to fishing for king salmon, beginning 12:01 a.m., Saturday June 10, 2006 through 11:59 p.m., Friday, June 30, 2006. The waters in which bait may be used extends from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to a point one hundred yards downstream of the confluence of Moose River and the Kenai River. The slot limit prohibiting the retention of king salmon between 44 and 55 inches in length remains in effect.

REGULATION: The provisions of 5 AAC 56.023 SEASONS; BAG, POSSESSION, AND SIZE LIMITS; AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE KENAI RIVER DRAINAGE. (c)(1)(A) are superceded by this emergency order. Under this emergency order, the following provisions are effective beginning at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, June 10 through 11:59 p.m., Friday, June 30, 2006:

5 AAC 56.023 SEASONS; BAG, POSSESSION, AND SIZE LIMITS; AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE KENAI RIVER DRAINAGE. (c)(1)(A) from January 1 – June 30, in the Kenai River, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used except that, from June 10 – June 30, in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to a point 100 yards below the confluence of the Moose River and Kenai River, only one single hook may be used.

McKie Campbell, Commissioner By delegation to: George E. Pappas, Area Management Biologist

Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Southcentral Region
Weekly Fishing Report

North Kenai Peninsula Management Area

Week of June 25 to July 1
Issued June 28, 2006

Emergency Orders and regulation reminders

The Russian River Sanctuary Area opened by Emergency Order on June 21.
Also by Emergency Order, the daily bag and possession limits in the Russian River were raised to four salmon per day with four in possession on July 25.
Anglers are reminded that, by Emergency Order, they may not fillet a Kenai River king salmon before removing it from the fishing site. The Emergency Order still allows gilling and/or gutting the king salmon. Another Emergency Order allows bait in the Kenai River downstream of the Moose River, through July 14.
Another Emergency Order has been issued to allow Kasilof River anglers to keep naturally-produced king salmon on Thursdays in addition to Tuesdays and Saturdays. A naturally-produced king salmon is a fish that still has its adipose fin. Hatchery king salmon, which are fish that are missing their adipose fin, can be kept seven days per week.
The Kenai River king salmon slot limit and the single hook restriction remain in effect through June 30 below the Soldotna Bridge and through July 14 above the Soldotna Bridge.

Salmon - Kenai & Kasilof rivers

" Anglers fishing for Russian River red salmon continue to report good to excellent success, with many anglers catching their limits in less than two or three hours.
If you fillet your fish in the Russian River area, please chop up the carcasses into small pieces and toss the small pieces into fast moving currents. This reduces the piles of carcasses which attract bears. Just remember to "Stop, Chop, and Throw" your carcass pieces into fast moving currents.
Additionally, AM radio stations were installed at both the Russian River Ferry and at the Russian River campground. Anglers can now turn their radio dials to AM 1600 for information about the fishery and other fisheries related issues.
Kasilof River king salmon anglers fishing from boats reported that success rates have continued to decline in recent days, and is considered fair. Shore anglers did not report much success last week. The early-run is nearly over and reports of angler success seem to support this.
On the Kenai River through midnight, June 26, an estimated total of 20,618 king salmon passed the station. The last 10 years' average through midnight, June 26, is about 14,245 king salmon past the sonar station. Red salmon continue to be observed passing by the king salmon sonar station and may be influencing the estimates of king salmon passage.
Angler reports and the ADF&G creel survey indicate that many Kenai River king salmon are caught daily. Recent fishing is considered fair, and, on occasion, good. Angler success should remain steady for the remainder of June.
Kenai River water levels are continuing to rise and are near average for this time of year. Water clarity in the Kenai River was considered good to excellent on June 27.

Resident Fish - Kenai River

All flowing waters in the Kenai River watershed re-opened to fishing for rainbow trout on June 11. Anglers fishing for rainbow trout in the Kenai River above Skilak Lake have reported good success.
Fishing for Dolly Varden is also now open in the Kenai River watershed.
Many streams have special tackle restrictions, so please check the regulation booklet before fishing.

Resident Fish - Kasilof River

Rainbow/steelhead fishing is reported as very slow. All rainbow/steelhead trout caught downstream of the Sterling Highway bridge must be immediately released without removing them from the water.

Lake Fishing

See below for links to stocking information, as well as maps to the area lakes.
Johnson Lake in the Kasilof area a great place to try for stocked rainbow trout. On May 1, 3,000 catchable sized rainbow trout were stocked into Johnson Lake.

Northern Pike

Try Stormy Lake, Arc Lake or Union Lake.
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.

Personal Use

The Kasilof River personal use set gillnet fishery is closed. The Kasilof River personal use dip net fishery opened June 25. Complete regulations are on pages 16 through 18 of the Southcentral Alaska regulation booklet. A free permit is required, in addition to an Alaska resident fishing license. Permits are available from many grocery stores, tackle shops, ADF&G offices, and even some gasoline stations.
You must hold an Alaskan resident sport fishing license (or ADF&G senior license or ADF&G Disabled Veteran's license) in order to participate in any personal use fishery, including set netting at the Kasilof.
A very informative personal use website has been set up, with information from both the Division of Sport Fish and the Division of Commercial Fisheries. Go to the Sport Fish home page and click on "Cook Inlet Personal Use."

Helpful Internet Links

Area webpage: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/areas/kenai/kenhome.cfm
Fishing regulations: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/reghome.cfm
Enforcement of fishing regulations: www.dps.state.ak.us/fwp/index.asp
Fish identification: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/salmonid.pdf
Rockfish identification: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/rockfishID.pdf
Weir counts and sonar estimates: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/HTML/query.cfm
River levels: http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/
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
Informational brochures: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/pubs.cfm
Safety in bear country: www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/bears.cfm
OEO/ADA statement: www.adfg.state.ak.us/oeostate.php
Copyright and reproduction information: www.adfg.state.ak.us/copyright.php

Previous Alaska Fishing Reports

Mark's Fishing Report, May 28, 2006:

Both the Kenai and the Kasilof Rivers are off to a relatively slow start for the 06 fishing season. Unseasonably cold temperatures this spring have left both rivers much lower than normal although a recent ridge of high pressure and seventy degree days have reversed this trend and both streams are now coming up accordingly. The Kenai is currently seeing very poor conditions due to excessive runoff from tributaries such as the Killey and Funny rivers making the main-stem quite dirty and almost brown in color. Anglers should expect these conditions to prevail through at least early June as the river will take several days to recover from this sudden and excessive snowmelt precipitated by unseasonable warm temperatures. Daytime temperatures are expected to drop down to more normal levels (55-65 degrees) by late in the week and this will help improve the water clarity considerable. Understandably, fishing success on the Kenai has been very low given the relatively low numbers of fish entering the river and the poor river conditions.

The Kasilof has also been quite slow in terms of fishing success although river conditions are more favorable than on the Kenai River. The Kasilof is lower and the water is considerably colder than normal and this may explain the slow start to the early run of king salmon. Persistent anglers are seeing sporadic action for both wild and hatchery origin Kasilof kings with the majority of the fish being caught reportedly being wild fish. Anglers are reminded that only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays can wild Kasilof King salmon be retained and on all other days of the week only adipose clipped/hatchery origin kings may be kept. Both the Kenai and the Kasilof are expected to improve dramatically in the next week to ten days as river temperatures and water levels continue to climb. Fishing for king salmon in the salt water off Anchor Point and Ninilchik in Cook Inlet has been very good and hopefully this indicates good numbers of salmon are on their way to the rivers.

Good luck on the water and great fishing!

Mark Glassmaker

You can also view 2005 fishing reports.

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Alaska Fishing with Mark Glassmaker • 1-800-622-1177 • Alaska Fishing Lodge