06-16-2004, 03:06 PM
Kenai Area Fresh Waters
Kenai River King Salmon [ul] [li]Water levels on the Kenai River are slightly higher than normal. Water clarity is excellent. [li]Fishing for early run king salmon on the Kenai River has been very good. [li]The Division of Sport Fish is tagging Kenai River king salmon with a grey spaghetti tag to collect harvest timing and location data. Anglers catching a tagged fish are asked to report the tag number, date, and specific location of capture to Adam Reimer in the Soldotna ADF&G office at (907) 262-9368. Anglers may keep the tagged fish, if it's of legal size, as part of their regular bag and possession limit. [li]Only king salmon less than 44 inches or 55 inches or longer may be retained. [li]Any Kenai River king salmon 55 inches or longer that is kept must be sealed within 3 days of harvest by ADF&G staff in the Soldotna office. [/li][/ul]
Kasilof River King Salmon [ul] [li]King salmon fishing on the Kasilof River has been very good. [li]Bank anglers often do well by casting or flipping flies or small to medium sized Spin-n-Glos with yarn or eggs. [li]Boat anglers often fish a medium sized Spin-n-Glo with eggs behind a planer, or use a Kwikfish with a sardine wrap. [li]Lures must have only one single pointed hook. [li]Only fish with a hatchery-clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. [/li][/ul]
Upper Kenai River and Russian River [ul] [li]Again, the waters of the Upper Kenai River and most of the waters of the Russian River are now open for fishing, and the Russian River Sanctuary Area remains closed to all fishing through July 15, unless an Emergency Order is issued to open it earlier. [li]Early run red salmon are showing in the Upper Kenai and Russian rivers, with anglers reporting fair fishing. Some anglers have been catching their three fish limit. [li]Water levels have been dropping over the past several days, but are still slightly higher than normal. Water clarity has been good. [li]Anglers are reminded that in the Russian River and waters of the Kenai River near its confluence with the Russian River are fly-fishing only waters and other special regulations apply. [li]If you use a bead in fly-fishing only waters, it must be attached to the hook and be part of the fly. Beads not attached to the hook are an attractor, and are not allowed in fly-fishing-only waters. [li]Again, please check page 31 of the 2004 Southcentral Alaska sport fishing regulation booklet for detailed regulations. [/li][/ul]
Resident Fish - Kenai River [ul] [li]Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden can be good at times during the summer, but are typically a little slow until early August. [li]Review the 2004 Southcentral Alaska fishing regulations closely for tackle and daily limits. [/li][/ul] Lake Fishing [ul] [li]Fishing in the area's stocked lakes is likely to be good at this time. See below for links to stocking information, as well as maps to the area lakes. [li]Johnson Lake in the Kasilof area and Sport Lake in the Soldotna area were both recently stocked with catchable rainbow trout. [li]Island Lake in the Nikiski area was also recently stocked with Arctic char. [li]Floating eggs off a bobber or casting small spoons or spinners are popular methods while fishing in the lakes. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike [ul] [li]Fishing success for northern pike will slow as water temperatures increase throughout the summer. [li]Stormy Lake and Arc Lake are both publicly accessible. [li]Many other area lakes have northern pike, but public access is limited. Private property owners may allow access, but get permission first. [li]Casting lures or flies that imitate small fish or other prey works well for northern pike. Bait fishing can also be productive. [li]Pike can also be taken using a spear or with a bow and arrow as long as the arrow is attached to the bow by a line. [li]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. [/li][/ul] Personal Use [ul] [li]Personal use hooligan (smelt) dipnetting in the Kenai River closes at 11:59 p.m. June 15. [li]The Kasilof River personal use set-net fishery is open June 15 through June 24, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. [li]The Kasilof River will open for personal use dip netting at 12:01 a.m. on June 25 and will be open through 11:59 p.m. August 7. The Kasilof dip net fishery will be open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. No king salmon may be retained in the Kasilof fishery. [li]The Kenai River will open for personal use dipnetting at 6 a.m. on July 10. The Kenai fishery will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week through July 31. [li]Personal use fishery participation is open only to those holding an Alaskan resident fishing license. [li]Kenai and Kasilof River personal use fishery permits are available from Fish and Game offices as well as most local license vendors. [/li][/ul]
Kenai River King Salmon [ul] [li]Water levels on the Kenai River are slightly higher than normal. Water clarity is excellent. [li]Fishing for early run king salmon on the Kenai River has been very good. [li]The Division of Sport Fish is tagging Kenai River king salmon with a grey spaghetti tag to collect harvest timing and location data. Anglers catching a tagged fish are asked to report the tag number, date, and specific location of capture to Adam Reimer in the Soldotna ADF&G office at (907) 262-9368. Anglers may keep the tagged fish, if it's of legal size, as part of their regular bag and possession limit. [li]Only king salmon less than 44 inches or 55 inches or longer may be retained. [li]Any Kenai River king salmon 55 inches or longer that is kept must be sealed within 3 days of harvest by ADF&G staff in the Soldotna office. [/li][/ul]
Kasilof River King Salmon [ul] [li]King salmon fishing on the Kasilof River has been very good. [li]Bank anglers often do well by casting or flipping flies or small to medium sized Spin-n-Glos with yarn or eggs. [li]Boat anglers often fish a medium sized Spin-n-Glo with eggs behind a planer, or use a Kwikfish with a sardine wrap. [li]Lures must have only one single pointed hook. [li]Only fish with a hatchery-clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. [/li][/ul]
Upper Kenai River and Russian River [ul] [li]Again, the waters of the Upper Kenai River and most of the waters of the Russian River are now open for fishing, and the Russian River Sanctuary Area remains closed to all fishing through July 15, unless an Emergency Order is issued to open it earlier. [li]Early run red salmon are showing in the Upper Kenai and Russian rivers, with anglers reporting fair fishing. Some anglers have been catching their three fish limit. [li]Water levels have been dropping over the past several days, but are still slightly higher than normal. Water clarity has been good. [li]Anglers are reminded that in the Russian River and waters of the Kenai River near its confluence with the Russian River are fly-fishing only waters and other special regulations apply. [li]If you use a bead in fly-fishing only waters, it must be attached to the hook and be part of the fly. Beads not attached to the hook are an attractor, and are not allowed in fly-fishing-only waters. [li]Again, please check page 31 of the 2004 Southcentral Alaska sport fishing regulation booklet for detailed regulations. [/li][/ul]
Resident Fish - Kenai River [ul] [li]Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden can be good at times during the summer, but are typically a little slow until early August. [li]Review the 2004 Southcentral Alaska fishing regulations closely for tackle and daily limits. [/li][/ul] Lake Fishing [ul] [li]Fishing in the area's stocked lakes is likely to be good at this time. See below for links to stocking information, as well as maps to the area lakes. [li]Johnson Lake in the Kasilof area and Sport Lake in the Soldotna area were both recently stocked with catchable rainbow trout. [li]Island Lake in the Nikiski area was also recently stocked with Arctic char. [li]Floating eggs off a bobber or casting small spoons or spinners are popular methods while fishing in the lakes. [/li][/ul] Northern Pike [ul] [li]Fishing success for northern pike will slow as water temperatures increase throughout the summer. [li]Stormy Lake and Arc Lake are both publicly accessible. [li]Many other area lakes have northern pike, but public access is limited. Private property owners may allow access, but get permission first. [li]Casting lures or flies that imitate small fish or other prey works well for northern pike. Bait fishing can also be productive. [li]Pike can also be taken using a spear or with a bow and arrow as long as the arrow is attached to the bow by a line. [li]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. [/li][/ul] Personal Use [ul] [li]Personal use hooligan (smelt) dipnetting in the Kenai River closes at 11:59 p.m. June 15. [li]The Kasilof River personal use set-net fishery is open June 15 through June 24, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. [li]The Kasilof River will open for personal use dip netting at 12:01 a.m. on June 25 and will be open through 11:59 p.m. August 7. The Kasilof dip net fishery will be open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. No king salmon may be retained in the Kasilof fishery. [li]The Kenai River will open for personal use dipnetting at 6 a.m. on July 10. The Kenai fishery will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week through July 31. [li]Personal use fishery participation is open only to those holding an Alaskan resident fishing license. [li]Kenai and Kasilof River personal use fishery permits are available from Fish and Game offices as well as most local license vendors. [/li][/ul]