Kasilof River King Salmon Sport Fishery Opens July 1 With No Bait, Single-Hook Lures

The following is courtesy of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

(Soldotna) – In favor of protecting returning king salmon and ensuring fishing opportunities in the future, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is prohibiting bait and multiple hooks in the Kasilof River drainage effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 1 through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2020. The use of bait is prohibited and only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used in the Kasilof River from its mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge. Single-hook means a fishhook with only one point. Anglers may harvest either one naturally-produced or hatchery-produced king salmon per day from the Kasilof River from the mouth upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge.

“In order to achieve the Crooked Creek king salmon escapement goal, reduce mortality of Kasilof wild king salmon, and meet broodstock collection needs in 2020, ADF&G has determined restricting the late-run king salmon sport fishery in the Kasilof River will provide the best chance to achieve these goals,” stated Area Management Biologist Colton Lipka. “It’s important to our staff and anglers that we continue our efforts to protect and rebuild our wild king salmon stocks. ADF&G does anticipate an increase in angler effort on the Kasilof River due to late-run king salmon restrictions on the Kenai River.”

In conjunction with this restriction, EO 2-KS-1-22-20 was issued starting the Kenai River late-run king salmon fishery off prohibiting the use of bait from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek. Additionally, the Kenai River early-run king salmon sport fishing restrictions issued June 8, 2020, which closed king salmon fishing from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek upstream to the Skilak Lake will remain in effect through July 31, 2020.