A northern Kenai fishing report published by the State Department of Fish and Game on Thursday says that sockeye have arrived in each of the local rivers — there are lots of opportunity for good fishing in local waters.
Freshwater fishing
The Russian River and Russian River Sanctuary are open to fishing, with bag limits of three sockeye per day and six in possession. Per fish counts from the department, this year’s numbers are trailing each of the last four at this time in the season — around 27,000 have been counted so far. The Russian River Sanctuary was opened by emergency order this week as the run is projected to meet the escapement goal.
Sockeye fishing on the Kasilof River “has been good.” The department doubled the bag limit last week in response to a strong run. On Wednesday alone, nearly 34,000 sockeye were counted on the river. This year’s total count, currently over 324,000 fish, far outpaces the counts in each of the last four years and the river’s biological escapement goal has been exceeded as of this week.
Kenai River sockeye began to be counted on July 1, with more than 7,000 tallied on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
The department’s count for early-run Kenai River kings closed on Monday at 2,541. That’s the largest number counted on the river since 2021, but still falls well below the lower bound of the escapement goal.
Fishers are “having success” fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden on the Kenai, using flesh flies and bead patterns.
Saltwater fishing
Fishers are finding success shore fishing for halibut and cod at local beaches.
Local Lakes
The local stocked lakes “continue to be fishing well.” Fishers with access to a boat or watercraft, the report says, can try Hidden Lake “for a shot at bigger fish.”
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-1-29-25 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.
