A Northern Kenai Fishing report published by the Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says fishing for sockeye has picked up on the Kenai River.

Freshwater Fishing

Kenai River

The report says that in the Lower Kenai River, fishing for sockeye salmon has “picked up.” At the start of this week, daily sockeye counts on the river were around 30,000. On Tuesday and Wednesday, 120,000 and 195,000 fish were counted respectively.

A new Emergency Order issued Thursday prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks on the Kenai River starting Tuesday, Aug. 1. After that order goes into effect, anglers can only use one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure on the river.

Bag limits are six per day and 12 in possession. The department recommends fishing at Centennial Park, Rotary Park, Donald E. Gilman River Center, the Soldotna Visitors Center, Moose Range Meadows or Soldotna Creek Park.

Fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden in the middle Kenai RIver is “fair” but should improve, the report says.

The water conditions are high, “making fishing from shore challenging in some areas.”

Kasilof River

In the Kasilof River, hatchery king salmon can be kept. The department says that the fishery is “slow.” Hatchery salmon do not have an adipose fin, and any naturally produced king salmon, which do have an adipose fin, may not be removed from the water and must be immediately released. Additionally, only one single unbaited hook may be used. Only one hatchery king can be retained per day, and there is a combined annual limit of five king salmon.

Sockeye salmon fishing on the Kasilof is “slowing down” but limits can be caught with time. The bag limits are six per day and 12 in possession. The department recommends fishing from the shore at Crooked Creek State Recreation Site.

In the last couple of days, sockeye counts have been rising on the Kasilof. On Wednesday, 42,000 sockeye were counted, increasing every day since 12,000 were counted on July 22.

Russian River

Sockeye fishing on the Russian River is slow but “is expected to improve in the next week.” The bag limit is three per day and six in possession.

Wednesday saw the highest daily count so far this year for the species on the Russian River, at 1,400.

The report also reminds anglers that fish carcasses need to be removed from Russian River clear water and taken to cleaning tables near the mainstem Kenai River.

“Please respect habitat and cultural resource protection sites that are fenced or roped off, stay on the established trails and boardwalks, and use public restroom facilities in the campgrounds and ferry areas,” the report reads.

Resurrection Creek

Pink salmon “are arriving” at Resurrection Creek in Hope. The report says fishing “will only improve” over the next couple of weeks.

Personal Use

Dipnetting on the Kenai River has been “good since a large number of fish entered the river and should continue for the next few days.”

Dipnetting on the Kasilof River has also been better as a result of “the recent push of fish.”

Retention of king salmon is prohibited in both dipnet fisheries, and the department reminds anglers that a new regulation prohibits the use of felt or other “fiber material” on the soles of wading boots while dipnetting.

Local Lakes

Fishing on local lakes for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling and land locked salmon “is good to excellent.” The report 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.

Johnson Lake is “fishing excellent,” and is a good choice for young anglers, the report says.

John Hedberg Lake is also fishing excellent, and the department says its a nice place for a picnic or a hike as well.

Emergency Orders

Please review the emergency orders and advisory announcements below in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip.

Kenai River

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-51-23 prohibiting the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the ADF&G marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake, effective 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. Anglers may use only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure in these waters. “Single-hook” means a fishhook with only one point.

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-47-23 increases the bag and possession limit for salmon, 16 inches or longer, other than king, pink, and coho salmon, from three per day, six in possession to six per day, 12 in possession in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake. No more than two salmon, 16 inches or longer, per day and in possession may be coho salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 21, 2023.

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-10-23 closes sport fishing for king salmon of all sizes in the Kenai River from the mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake from 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023. Fishing for king salmon will remain closed from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023, in waters of the Kenai River drainage from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon accidentally caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-11-23 closes the Kenai River to fishing for king salmon and prohibits the use of bait and multiple hooks in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to ADF&G markers located at the outlet of Skilak Lake from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023. This closure prohibits all sport fishing for king salmon, including catch-and-release fishing. King salmon may not be retained or possessed; king salmon caught while fishing for other species may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Kasilof River

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-32-23 increases the bag and possession limit for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or longer, to six fish per day and 12 in possession in all portions of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing effective 12:01 a.m. Friday June 30, 2023. No more than two salmon per day and two in possession may be coho salmon.

Emergency Order 2-KS-1-33-23 prohibits the retention of naturally produced king salmon while sport fishing in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge. Only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used when sport fishing in these waters effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023. Naturally produced king salmon may not be retained or possessed, may not be removed from the water, and must be released immediately.

Personal Use

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-48-23 increases the hours salmon may be taken by dipnet in the personal use fishery at the mouth of the Kenai River effective 11:00 p.m. Friday, July 21 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2023.

Emergency order 2-KS-1-40-23 prohibits the retention of king salmon in the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery. Any king salmon caught incidentally may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately and returned to the water unharmed.

Emergency order 2-RS-1-28-23 expands the personal use salmon dipnet fishing area on the Kasilof River. Salmon may be harvested from the shore from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Salmon may be harvested from a boat from ADF&G markers located on Cook Inlet beaches outside the terminus of the river upstream to ADF&G markers placed at approximately river mile 3 effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 25 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, August 7, 2023.

Cook Inlet Salt Waters

Emergency Order 2-KS-7-15-23 prohibits sport fishing for king salmon (including catch-and-release) in the salt waters of Cook Inlet north of the latitude of Bluff Point (59° 40.00’ N. lat.) effective 12:01 a.m. Monday, May 15 through Monday, July 31. King salmon incidentally caught while fishing for other fish may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Local Lakes

Emergency Order 2-NP-1-04-23 prohibits the retention of any species of fish in East Mackey, West Mackey and Derks lakes for the 2023 season.

Emergency Order 2-DV-1-03-23 establishes a bag and possession limit of Arctic char/Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake of one fish, less than 16 inches in length for the 2023 season.