Tight Lines: weekly fishing report

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 3, 2019

The Upper Kenai and Russian River continues to provide excelled fishing for sockeye salmon this year, with the Lower Kenai River catching up.

King salmon fishing continues to be slow on the Kenai River, but the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recommends trying the Kasilof River. Fishing for kings near the Crooked Creek confluence area is good, but Crooked Creek is closed to fishing.

The Kenai River is amping up for dipnet fishing, which opens on July 10. A resident Sport Fishing License and Personal Use Permit are both required for dipnetting. Only Alaska residents are able to dipnet.

The Ninilchik River has been producing some good king salmon fishing. Both hatchery and wild fish are showing up in good numbers, but anglers are reminded to check for the adipose fin, since only hatchery fish are allowed to be kept.

Fish and Game recommends fishing with a variety of gear, like spinners, spoons and flies.

Thu 4 July

Low tide

12:13 am2.10 ft

12:46 pm-4.60 ft

High tide

5:48 am23.45 ft

6:54 pm21.57 ft

Fri 5 July

Low tide

1:00 am1.86 ft

1:30 pm-4.25 ft

High tide

6:35 am23.23 ft

7:39 pm21.56 ft

Sat 6 July

Low tide

1:48 am1.90 ft

2:17 pm-3.29 ft

High tide

7:24 am22.42 ft

8:26 pm21.25 ft

Sun 7 July

Low tide

2:41 am2.17 ft

3:05 pm-1.83 ft

High tide

8:17 am21.11 ft

9:15 pm20.77 ft

Russian River early-run sockeye count:

Cumulative as of June 17 — 96,879

June 29- 1,568

June 30 – 1,775

July 1 – 3,038

Kenai River early-run king count:

Cumulative as of June 16 — 4,186

June 28 – 49

June 29 – 95

June 30 – 67

Kenai River late-run sockeye count:

July 1 – 6,810