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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.

Mark's Fishing Report, June 22, 2008

Kenai/Kasilof Rivers:

Kenai:

The Kenai River went through its seasonal rise in water volume as a spell of warm weather melted our excessive snow pack and tributaries such as Funny River, Killey River and Wally’s Creek all contributed greatly to the main stem’s elevated flows. With the added water, so also came more turbidity and the river muddied up for a few days this past week and is still currently running high and off color. This did affect fishing success to a certain extent but despite the higher, murky water, good King Salmon fishing still prevailed. This past week yielded many excellent fishing days and though sonar counts indicated the number of kings entering the river had slowed, good numbers were still being caught. As this is the seasonal peak time for the early run, one should expect fishing success to slow somewhat as the early run comes to a close and the late run begins to build. We do have years where both runs mesh very well and good fishing prevails but many years we see a noticeable decline in success as the transitions between the two runs become evident. This coming week will reveal just how this transition will be.

Trout fishing on the Kenai River has gotten off to a mediocre start as many fish are still in spawning mode and super clear water above the snow/glacier tributaries has hampered the fishing success. Despite the less than ideal conditions we have had 35-50 fish days and as the summer progresses this fishery will improve dramatically.

Kasilof:

Though we have largely shifted the majority of our king effort to the Kenai River, the Kasilof has reportedly remained a viable option with a number of boats seeing multiple fish days. This is very late for this run to still be producing fresh early run kings but statewide runs have been later than normal. This return is certainly due to slow down but overall it was a very productive year on the Kasilof river.

 

Remote Fisheries:

Wolverine Creek:

The sockeye have finally nosed into the outlet of Wolverine Creek and lake Levels have finally started to rise. Big River Lake remains very low but fishing has been very good and the bears are also starting to make their annual appearance at the outlet of the creek.

Cook Inlet Halibut:

Fishing for halibut has been excellent with many fish in the 50 – 100# class being taken daily. This fishery is always very consistent and should only improve daily as more and more big fish move into Cook Inlet form the Gulf of Alaska.

Mark's Fishing Report, June 11, 2008

Kenai/Kasilof Rivers:

Kasilof:

Over the last week to ten days, king salmon fishing on the Kasilof has improved dramatically. After a colder than normal spring and a relatively late start, the Kasilof is now seeing strong and regular pulses of kings entering the river daily. Catch rates have been very consistent with most boats getting between 2 and 10 kings a day. The return has been mostly natural fish but we are now seeing more hatchery origin kings and the run seems to be getting better by the day. I would expect this return to peak over the next week with excellent fishing into the third week of June.

 

Kenai:

 

The Kenai River is also seeing excellent fishing for king salmon as the early run inches toward its historical mid June peak. Good numbers of fresh kings have been arriving daily and catch rates have been very good. The fishing should hold steady for the next week to ten days. Water conditions are still lower and clearer than normal but this should change as we get rain and also warmer temperatures which will both boost runoff.

 

 

Remote Fisheries:

Big River Lake:

The late spring has delayed the arrival of Big River Lake/Wolverine Creek Sockeye and lake levels are far lower than we have seen in recent memory. While this run is usually seeing good numbers of fish by this date in June, it looks like it will at least a week to ten days before catchable numbers of red salmon are available. Warmer temperatures are need to create glacial melt and this will bring the lake up and also encourage more fish to settle into Redoubt Bay and the entrance to Wolverine Creek.

Chuitna River:

The Chuit is currently very high and muddy due to excessive runoff from a very robust snow pack in its headwaters. It is estimated it will be at least 2-3 days before this river is fishable and once it begins to clear, fishing for king salmon should be very good.

Mark's Fishing Report, June 1, 2008

Kasilof River:

The season is off to a relatively slow start on the Kasilof River with only decent numbers of natural fish present and very few hatchery origin kings in the system. More consistent numbers of king salmon are now arriving on each tide and although fishing success has been sporadic at best, moderate numbers of king salmon are being taken daily on both cured salmon eggs and sardine wrapped Kwikfish. Due to colder than normal temperatures and an overall late spring, river levels and water temperatures are below seasonal norms and this can certainly help explain the modest beginning to the 2008 season. The next week should see things improve dramatically as we inch closer to the historical peak for this early run king salmon return. Currently our boats are averaging 2-5 fish per trip which is not blockbuster but is certainly in the ballpark for a good day of king salmon fishing during any time of the season. Hopefully those numbers will spike with more fish arriving in the next week to ten days.

Kenai River:

The Kenai River has experienced a similar start to the Kasilof with colder than normal water temps and low water conditions. However, sonar counts for king salmon have been encouraging and beginning today, the river was open to the use of bait via Emergency Order from ADF&G:

By Staff Report | Peninsula Clarion

Due to sufficient numbers of early run king salmon entering the Kenai River, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced that anglers may fish with bait from a point approximately 100 yards downstream of the confluence of the Moose and Kenai Rivers beginning at 12:01 a.m. today.

On Friday alone, 267 king salmon were recorded entering the Kenai River by the sonar station located 8.6 miles from the mouth of the river, for a cumulative 2,229 kings so far in the early-run. The "Kenai River and Kasilof River Early-Run King Salmon Management Plan" directs Fish and Game to achieve a spawning escapement goal of 5,300-9,000 king salmon. Fish and Game is currently projecting a total in-river run of early-run king salmon of approximately 11,000 to 19,000 fish and a spawning escapement within the escapement goal.

All other Kenai River special provisions, methods and means, and bag and possession limits remain in effect. Anglers may only use one single-pointed hook. Anglers may keep only those king salmon that are less than 46 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length. All other king salmon must be released immediately.

For additional information, contact Robert Begich, Fish and Game Area Management Biologist, at 907-262-9368.

Fishing success has not mirrored the sonar counts and anglers are seeing only sporadic success so far with less than a one fish per boat average. The cold water may be contributing to the low success but the introduction of bait should improve success considerably, at least in the short term. Next week should yield better conditions and more action as more fish continue to arrive and we add bait to the fishery.

Emergency Order Number 2-KS-1-07-08 May 30, 2008

As provided by 5 AAC 57.160 KENAI RIVER AND KASILOF RIVER EARLY-RUN KING

SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN (d)(3), if the spawning escapement is projected to be within the optimal escapement goal, the commissioner shall, by emergency order, liberalize the sport fishery by allowing the use of bait if the department projects that the total harvest under the increased liberalization will not reduce the escapement to achieve the optimal escapement goal.

The Kenai River and Kasilof River Early-Run King Salmon Management Plan (5 AAC 57.160) directs the Department to achieve the optimal escapement goal of 5,300 to 9,000 king salmon. Through Thursday, May 29, the total inriver run is approximately 1,962 king salmon and the estimated total harvest is less than 100 king salmon below the Soldotna Bridge. The ADF&G Kenai River creel survey indicates the harvest of king salmon has been lower than usual due to the combination of low angler effort and poor water conditions.

The Department projects a total run of approximately 11,000 to 19,000 fish and a spawning escapement within the optimal escapement goal range of 5,300 to 9,000 fish. Therefore, it is warranted to liberalize this fishery.

DISTRIBUTION:

The distribution list for this emergency order is on file at the Region 2 Office of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518, (907) 267-2218.

KENAI RIVER KING SALMON ESCAPEMENT

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/html/qResults.cfm

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SPORT FISHING

Emergency Order ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME Under Authority of AS 16.05.060

Emergency Order No. 2-KS-1-07-08 Issued at Soldotna: Friday, May 30, 2008 Effective Date: 12:01 a.m., Sunday, June 1, 2008 Expiration Date: 11:59 p.m., Monday, June 30, 2008, unless superseded by subsequent emergency order.

EXPLANATION:

This emergency order allows the use of bait in flowing waters of the Kenai River drainage open to fishing for king salmon beginning 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 1, 2008 through 11:59 p.m., Monday June 30, 2008. 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 the Moose and Kenai rivers. The slot limit remains in effect through June 30 below the Soldotna Bridge and through July 14 above the Soldotna Bridge. Only those king salmon less than 46 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length may be retained while the slot limit is in effect.

REGULATION:

The provisions of 5 AAC 57.121 SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND LOCALIZED ADDITIONS AND EXCEPTIONS TO THE SEASONS, BAG, POSSESSION, AND SIZE LIMITS, AND METHODS AND MEANS FOR THE LOWER SECTION OF THE KENAI RIVER DRAINAGE AREA (1) (A) are superceded by this emergency order. Under this emergency order, the following provisions are effective beginning at 12:01 a.m., Sunday, June 1, 2008 through 11:59 p.m., Monday June 30, 2008.

5 AAC 57.121 SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND LOCALIZED ADDITIONS AND EXCEPTIONS TO THE SEASONS, BAG, POSSESSION, AND SIZE LIMITS, AND METHODS AND MEANS FOR THE LOWER SECTION OF THE KENAI RIVER DRAINAGE AREA.

(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 1 to June 30, in the Kenai River upstream from its mouth to a point one hundred yards downstream of the confluence of the Moose and Kenai River, one single-hook may be used and the use of bait is allowed.

Denby S. Lloyd,
Commissioner
By delegation to:
Robert N. Begich
Area Management Biologist

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/eonr/Devpdf/2008/R2/EO_2-KS-1-07-08_Kenai_King_Bait.pdf

2008 KENAI RIVER KING SALMON
( ADF&G SONAR )

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2007 KENAI RIVER KING SALMON

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2006 KENAI RIVER KING SALMON

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2005 KENAI RIVER KING SALMON

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