Nick Varney

Reeling ‘Em In: Nick wraps up his summer fishing column

It was a short, strange, summer but it looks like the season for doubling the layers of my rain gear has finally arrived. Soon the… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reece Tousignant, 15, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, poses with a pink salmon he caught on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer, Alsaka. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Reeling ‘Em In: Nick offers tips for catching those cohos

I’m still receiving complaints that the smug silvers are continuing to drive some of you nuts at the Fishing Hole. Remember, they are fish and… Continue reading

Reece Tousignant, 15, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, poses with a pink salmon he caught on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer, Alsaka. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Anglers practice social distancing on the upper Kenai River in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in late June 2020. (Photo provided by Nick Longobardi/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Kenai River fishing rules tightened

Only unbaited single hooks and artificial lures will be allowed.

Anglers practice social distancing on the upper Kenai River in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in late June 2020. (Photo provided by Nick Longobardi/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Fish and Game announces closures for commercial fishing, king salmon sport fishery

Fish and Game announces closures for commercial fishing, king salmon sport fishery

Closure for Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial set net fishery, all Kenai River king salmon sport fishing.

Fish and Game announces closures for commercial fishing, king salmon sport fishery
Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March, 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)

96 seafood workers in Seward test positive for COVID-19

The outbreak was identified when an employee at OBI Seafoods tested positive on Sunday.

Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March, 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Limiting the catch

Kenai Peninsula seafood industry sees relatively few out-of-state COVID cases

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Chinook salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Kings fishing further restricted

Officials say king salmon runs have significantly underperformed preseason expectations.

Chinook salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnetting opens in Kenai

Dipnetters see quiet 1st day, with moderate catch

Shawn Dick of Talkneetna carries a fresh catch out of the water while dipnetting on the Kenai Beach on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)

Dipnetters banned from retaining kings

Dipnetting on the Kenai River opens Friday.

In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)

City announces health and safety measures for dipnet fishery

Dipnetters should socially distance, wear face coverings when needed and wash hands and surfaces.

In this July 20, 2013 file photo, several thousand dipnetters converged onto the mouth of the Kenai River to catch a share of the late run of sockeye salmon headed into the river in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo/Rashah McChesney)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Fish and Game announces more restrictions on king fishing

The restrictions are out of concern for Kenai River and the Kasilof River king salmon populations.

Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

More king fishing closures on Kenai River

Subsistence rod-and-reel fishing for king salmon on the Kenai River will be prohibited.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

Kings sport fishing closed on Kenai River, limited on Kasilof River

The returning king salmon population has been lower than what ADFG biologists had forecast for this year.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

Low king counts result in closures on southern Kenai Peninsula

As of Sunday, video weirs and sonar had counted 184 king salmon at the Anchor River.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire

Kenai offers local business support during dipnetting

The offer is meant to assist local businesses financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Man charged with illegally importing, releasing fish in peninsula lake

The man allegedly shipped 144 rainbow trout to Alaska that were released into a closed lake.

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The Kenai River can be seen from the Funny River Campground on Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Area fishing guides hit hard by pandemic

“If the quarantine doesn’t come off pretty soon, I think we’ll just be out of luck this year.”

The Kenai River can be seen from the Funny River Campground on Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic

Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic

Fishing charters are currently allowed to operate at 50% capacity with people from different households.

Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic
Commercial fishing boats are rafted together in May 2016 in the harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Alaska Voices: Mandates crucial to safety of fishing fleets

As a vessel operator, you are responsible for your crew’s compliance with the mandate.

Commercial fishing boats are rafted together in May 2016 in the harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)