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Nick Varney

Sports

Reeling ‘Em In: Techniques to lure picky silvers

You may have to experiment with set-ups to catch silvers with some skill.

An angler holds up a dolly varden for a photograph on Wednesday, July 16. (Photo courtesy of Koby Etzwiler)

News

Anchor River opens up to Dollies, non-King salmon fishing

Steelhead and rainbow trout are still off limits and should not be removed from the water.

Nick Varney

Sports

Reeling ‘Em In: Watching the fish roll in

The incoming tide was headed our way so we could restart our game of “Spot the violations” as…

A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Kenai River dipnet fishery open 24 hours beginning Friday night

Per fish counts available from the department, 471,000 sockeye have been counted so far this year — with…

Nick Varney

Sports

Reeling ‘Em In: Can things get even better?

The silvers are starting to get their finny freak on at our famous Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

News

Late-run sockeye beginning to arrive in Russian, Kenai rivers

Northern Kenai fishing report

The Ninilchik River on May 18, 2019, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

News

Ninilchik River to remain closed to king salmon fishing

It was an “error in regulation” that would have opened the Ninilchik River to king salmon fishing on…

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

Nick Varney

Sports

Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

News

King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the…

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

Anglers fish in the Russian River in early September 2020. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News file)

News

Sockeye fishing good on Russian, Kasilof rivers

Northern Kenai Fishing Report

The Russian River Sanctuary Area is seen in the area labeled B in this map provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (courtesy)

News

Strong sockeye run prompts early open of Russian River Sanctuary

In regulation, the confluence is expected to be open from July 15 to Aug. 20.

Nick Varney

Sports

Reeling ‘Em In: Fair weather expected for 4th of July weekend

Keep a heads-up approach when in traffic during the holiday — you don’t know who you’ll run into.

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Good fishing on Kasilof; Russian River harvest lags

Northern Kenai Fishing Report

Nick Varney

Sports

Reeling ‘Em In: Kudos to anglers who adhere to fishing regulations

Line launchers mimicking the scofflaw’s method is one of the reasons fish get spooked and quit biting.

A sockeye salmon rests atop a cooler at the mouth of the Kasilof River on Monday, June 26, 2023, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Bag limit for Kasilof sockeye doubled

Sport fishers can harvest six sockeye per day and have 12 in possession starting Wednesday.

A salmon is carried from the mouth of the Kasilof River in Kasilof, Alaska, early in the morning of the first day of the Kasilof River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Kasilof dipnetting opens

Dipnetting will be allowed at all times until Aug. 7.

A silver salmon is weighed at Three Bears in Kenai, Alaska. Evelyn McCoy, customer service PIC at Three Bears, looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion

Opinion: Will coho salmon be the next to disappear in the Kenai River?

Did we not learn anything from the disappearance of the kings from the Kenai River?