Terry Umatum of Anchorage banks his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Terry Umatum of Anchorage banks his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

King fishing starts off slow on Anchor River

Usually, an opportunity to harvest king salmon brings anglers thronging to the riverbanks in the spring. Not so with the Anchor River opener this year.

Some sportfishermen turned out on the banks of the lower Kenai Peninsula stream on Saturday morning to drop a line in the water, but there was plenty of space left by midmorning. Angler Terry Umatum of Anchorage first tossed a line out around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, but it was nearly 10 a.m. before he hooked his king salmon.

With only 15-pound line on his fly rod, he let it play out rather than risk snapping the line and losing the fish. The king only surfaced two or three times during the battle as Umatum followed it up and down the bank, playing it out for 15-20 minutes, eventually winning it onto the shallow shelf and onto the shore.

From across the bank, another angler called out envious congratulations.

“When you leave, I’m taking your spot, man,” he said.

The river near Anchor Point is the first king salmon opener in the Kenai Peninsula freshwaters each summer. Anglers are allowed to retain kings up to where the north and south forks of the river split on the weekends and also Wednesdays up through June 20. Bait and multiple hooks are allowed during openings, with a bag limit of one per day with one in possession.

So far, though, even getting that one has proved challenging. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s video weir on the river’s north fork and sonar on the south fork had collectively counted a total of zero fish as of Monday. Last year on that date, 505 fish had passed the counter, according to the department’s online fish counts.

The cold spring may be holding up the run, said Area Management Biologist Carol Kerkvliet with the Division of Sportfish in Homer.

“It’s really cold right now — cold in the inlet, cold in river,” she said. “In 2013, it was also really, really cold and we also had higher water, we also had zero counts quite late.”

The Kenai Peninsula has had a long, cold spring, marked by temperatures in the low 40s and frequent cloud cover and rain. The cool temperatures and weather have kept the water chilly, including out in Cook Inlet.

People are still catching feeder kings, Kerkvliet said. A few people landed kings in the river Saturday, but Fish and Game classified the fishing conditions as “poor.”

The river is still relatively turbid and chilly, so the fishing conditions will likely be poor or fair this upcoming weekend as well, according to the May 22 sportfishing report from the Homer Fish and Game office. The water level in the river fell over the past few days, with a spike Wednesday morning but still lower than last weekend, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Memorial Day weekend also marks king salmon openers on the Ninilchik River and Deep Creek on the lower peninsula. The Ninilchik River is likely to have lower and clearer water than Deep Creek this weekend, making for better fishing, according to the fishing update.

The Ninilchik is expected to see an increased number of hatchery salmon returning this year after Fish and Game increased the hatchery stocking goal in the river several years ago. The river is open to fishing this weekend through Monday, with future openings June 2–4 and June 9–11. The river opens completely for hatchery king salmon fishing on June 16 and closes Oct. 31. Deep Creek is scheduled to have the same weekend openers and then open completely for king salmon on July 1.

Halibut season is kicking off as well, as the Homer Chamber of Commerce opened its annual Jackpot Halibut Derby on May 15. At the top of the leaderboard is Michael Eskelson of Sutton with a 187.6-pound, 78-inch fish caught from a private vessel on May 19. The derby runs all summer, closing Sept. 15.

Lake fishing on the rest of the Kenai Peninsula varies, with most of the lakes ice-free.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@peninsulaclarion.com.

An Anchor River king salmon landed by Anchorage resident Terry Umatum lies on the bank Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

An Anchor River king salmon landed by Anchorage resident Terry Umatum lies on the bank Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Hopeful anglers cross the Anchor River on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Hopeful anglers cross the Anchor River on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Terry Umatum of Anchorage banks his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Terry Umatum of Anchorage banks his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Anglers cross the meandering streams near the mouth of the Anchor River on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Anglers cross the meandering streams near the mouth of the Anchor River on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The Anchor River opening May 19 was the first chance for freshwater anglers on the Kenai Peninsula to catch king salmon. Saturday proved a slow morning for fishing — Umatum said he waited about 5 hours to catch his king — though it’s still early in the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s weir on the Anchor River has counted precisely zero kings so far this year, as of May 17, though the weir is positioned several miles upriver from the mouth. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

Alaska State Troopers logo.
State Trooper convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a minor

Vance Peronto, formerly an Alaska State Trooper based in Soldotna, was convicted… Continue reading

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna moves ahead with staff recruitment strategies

Soldotna City Council members last week gave city administration a thumbs up… Continue reading

State representatives Tom McKay, R-Anchorage, and Andi Story, D-Juneau, offering competing amendments to a bill increasing the per-student funding formula for public schools by $1,250 during a House Education Committee meeting Wednesday morning. McKay’s proposal to lower the increase to $150 was defeated. Story’s proposal to implement an increase during the next two years was approved, after her proposed amounts totalling about $1,500 were reduced to $800.
Borough, Soldotna call on Legislature to increase school funding

The City of Soldotna last week became the latest entity to call… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Nils Wallstrom celebrates winning a shootout over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Brown Bears sweep Ice Dogs, move into 3rd place

The Kenai River Brown Bears earned a two-game sweep over the Fairbanks… Continue reading

The waters of Cook Inlet lap against Nikishka Beach in Nikiski, Alaska, where several local fish sites are located, on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Unprecedented closures threaten setnet way of life

Setnetters have been vocal about their opposition to the way their fishery is managed

Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during the next decade to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Legislators eye oil and sales taxes due to fiscal woes

Bills to collect more from North Slope producers, enact new sales taxes get hearings next week.

Expert skateboarder Di’Orr Greenwood, an artist born and raised in the Navajo Nation in Arizona and whose work is featured on the new U.S. stamps, rides her skateboard next to her artworks in the Venice Beach neighborhood in Los Angeles Monday, March 20, 2023. On Friday, March 24, the U.S. Postal Service is debuting the “Art of the Skateboard,” four stamps that will be the first to pay tribute to skateboarding. The stamps underscore how prevalent skateboarding has become, especially in Indian Country, where the demand for designated skate spots has only grown in recent years. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Indigenous artists help skateboarding earn stamp of approval

The postal agency ceremoniously unveiled the “Art of the Skateboard” stamps in a Phoenix skate park

Bruce Jaffa, of Jaffa Construction, speaks to a group of students at Seward High School’s Career Day on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Seward High School in Seward, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward students talk careers at fair

More than 50 businesses were represented

Alaska state Sen. Bert Stedman, center, a co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, listens to a presentation on the major North Slope oil project known as the Willow project on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. The committee heard an update on the project from the state Department of Natural Resources and the state Department of Revenue. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Official: Willow oil project holds promise, faces obstacles

State tax officials on Thursday provided lawmakers an analysis of potential revenue impacts and benefits from the project

Most Read