A northern Kenai fishing report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Friday says sockeye fishing on the Kenai River is “exceptional.”
Freshwater fishing
The Russian River and Russian River Sanctuary are open to fishing, with bag limits of six sockeye per day and 12 in possession. Per fish counts from the department, around 19,000 sockeye have been counted on the Russian River during the late run, more than were counted last year and in 2023 but fewer than counts in 2021 and 2022. More than 1,000 fish, and as many as nearly 3,000 fish, have been counted each day since July 27.
Sockeye fishing on the Kasilof River “has been good.” This year’s total count, currently over 1 million fish, outpaces the counts in each of the last four years and the river’s biological escapement goal has been exceeded.
On the Kenai River, between 20,000 and 45,000 sockeye have been counted each day for the last week. Fishing is “picking up as the season progresses.” So far, 313,000 total have been counted — fewer than this time last year, but more than 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Kenai River late-run sockeye fishing “has been exception this last week,” the report reads. More than 100,000 fish have been counted daily for 15 days and the escapement has already reached 2.9 million. For comparison, only 2 million sockeye were counted in the full run last year.
On July 21, more than 247,000 sockeye were counted on the Kenai, which the Kenai River Sportfishing Association said is the largest single-day total in 47 years of available records from the department.
Around 9,500 king salmon have been counted in the Kenai River’s late run since July 1 — a significant improvement over last year’s count, but still far below an escapement goal of 15,000.
Saltwater fishing
Shore fishing for halibut and cod is “picking up” at local beaches.
Local Lakes
The local stocked lakes “continue to be fishing well.” Scout Lake is spotlighted as a good spot to fish for rainbow trout and “the occasional grayling.”
Information about stocked lakes can be found under the “Sport” tab at adfg.alaska.gov.
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-RS-1-44-25 increases the bag and possession limits for salmon, other than king salmon, to six fish per day and 12 fish in possession, of which only one per day and one in possession may be a coho salmon, in the area of the Kenai River upstream from Skilak Lake to the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet of Kenai Lake, including the Russian River from its confluence with the Kenai River upstream to an ADF&G marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the Russian River falls.
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-1-25 closes king salmon sport fishing (including catch and release) in the Kasilof River downstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge to the river mouth from 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 10, through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 31. Additionally, gear is restricted to only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure or fly through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-29-25 opens the Russian River Sanctuary Area to sport fishing for sockeye salmon.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-26-25 increases the bag and possession limits for sockeye salmon, 16 inches or longer, to six fish per day and 12 in possession in all waters of the Kasilof River open to salmon fishing.
Emergency Order 2-RS-1-25-25 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 4
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-1-25 prohibits the use of bait on the Kasilof River effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure or fly may be used. This emergency order also prohibits the retention of naturally produced king salmon effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 31.
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-2-25 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. Thursday, May 1, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 30.
Emergency Order 2-KS-1-3-25 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. Friday, June 20, through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15.
