Though fishing on the Kenai and Russian rivers opened Wednesday morning, a northern Kenai fishing report from the State Department of Fish and Game says that sockeye salmon hadn’t shown up as of Tuesday evening.

Freshwater fishing

Fishing opened on the Kenai and Russian rivers on Wednesday, June 11. As of Tuesday evening, only one sockeye salmon had been counted at the Russian River weir. At this time last year, more than 700 had been tallied.

On the Kenai River, 767 large king salmon have been counted since May 16. That’s above the totals counted at this time in each of the last three years, like last year’s count on the same day of 355. The report says that king salmon passage has been steady and is “tracking better than the past couple years.” Daily counts can be found at adfg.alaska.gov.

Fishing for hatchery king salmon is open on the Kasilof River, where fishers “continue to have success.” Only hatchery kings, recognizable by a missing adipose fin, can be retained; wild kings must be immediately released.

Crooked Creek weir will begin to count and collect adult king salmon late this week, after hatchery king smolt are released.

Saltwater fishing

Fishers are finding success shore fishing for halibut and cod at local beaches.

Personal use fishing for herring and hooligan has closed in saltwaters and is “beginning to taper off” in-river. While some people are still fishing for herring and hooligan, “harvest is low.”

Local Lakes

The department recently has stocked Arc, Longmere, Scout, Spirit and Sport Lakes, and fishing on each of the stocked lakes “has been good.”

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-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.

Emergency Order 2-RS-1-4-25 closes the first three days of the personal use set gillnet fishery at the mouth of the Kasilof River. The fishery will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, from Wednesday, June 18, through 11 p.m. Tuesday, June 24.