The last Northern Kenai Fishing Report of the season, published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Tuesday, says that coho fishing in local rivers is “poor.”
Freshwater fishing
Coho fishing is poor on the Kenai River, Kasilof River and Russian River, the report says, “expected to be poor for the remainder of the season.”
On the Kenai River, Bait and multiple hooks are prohibited and the bag and possession limit for coho is one by emergency order through the end of the year.
On the Kasilof River, the bag limit for coho is one through the end of the year by emergency order. The department recommends fishing from shore at Crooked Creek State Recreation Site
On the Russian River, the bag limit for coho is one until Sept. 30, when sport fishing for coho closes by regulation. Coho removed from the water must be retained are counted to the bag limit of the person who hooked the fish.
Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden in the middle and upper Kenai, as well as in Kenai River tributaries and the Russian River, “has been good.” The department recommends fishing at Cunningham Park, Centennial Park, Rotary Park, the Donald E. Gilman River Center, the Soldotna Visitor’s Center, Moose Range Meadows, Swiftwater Park, Morgan’s Landing State Recreation Area or Soldotna Creek Park.
Local Lakes
Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling and landlocked salmon is “good to excellent,” the report says. The department recommends fishing with dry or wet flies such as an egg sucking leech, bead head nymph, or mosquito pattern; small spoons and spinners size #0 or #2; or small bait under a bobber.
Elephant (Spirit) Lake access gate is closed through Sept. 30, the report says.
Emergency Orders
Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.
Emergency Order 2-SS-1-63-24: Effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. In those waters of the Kenai River open to fishing for coho salmon, the bag and possession limit for coho salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, is one fish per day. Additionally this EO prohibits the use of bait and restricts gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure from the Kenai River’s mouth upstream to the ADF&G regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake.
Emergency Order 2-SS-1-57-24: In the flowing fresh waters of the Kenai Peninsula (excluding the Kenai River) effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, the bag and possession limits for coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length will be reduced from two to one fish, the use of bait will be prohibited, and gear will be restricted to single-hook, artificial lure.
