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ADFG’s Northern Kenai Fishing Report: Trout Fishing On The Kenai River Good

ADFG’s Northern Kenai Fishing Report: Trout Fishing On The Kenai River Good

By September24, 2024 Featured Content, Fishing 0 Comments

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

Northern Kenai Fishing Report

September 24, 2024

This is the last fishing report for the 2024 fishing season. This fishing report will be updated when additional information is available in the spring. For current seasonal information, please contact the Anchorage office at (907) 267-2218.

The Soldotna ADF&G office offers a fishing rod loaner program and has a limited number of salmon fishing poles and a limited amount of tackle anglers can borrow for up to three days. This is a first come, first served program and fishing poles cannot be reserved. For more information, check out the Rod Loaner Program webpage or contact Jillian Downey at (907) 262-9368.

Freshwater Fishing

Kenai River

  • Resident species fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden in the middle and upper Kenai River and Kenai River tributaries has been good.
  • Coho salmon fishing on the Lower Kenai River is poor and is expected to be poor for the next remainder of the season. Bait and multiple hooks are currently prohibited on the entire river. The bag and possession limit for fish 16” or greater in length, is currently one (1).
  • Try fishing at Cunningham Park, Centennial Park, Rotary Park, Donald E. Gilman River Center, Soldotna Visitors Center, Moose Range Meadows, Swiftwater Park, Morgan’s Landing State Recreation Area or Soldotna Creek Park.

Kasilof River

Russian River

  • Coho salmon fishing is poor. Anglers are reminded that bag and possession limits are 1 per day and 1 in possession until September 30th, 2024. Coho salmon that are removed from the water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person who originally hooked the fish. You must not remove coho salmon 16 inches or longer from the water before releasing it. Sport fishing for coho salmon on the Russian River closes by regulation on Thursday, September 30.
  • Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing is good.

Swanson River

  • Swanson River coho salmon fishing has poor reports. Anglers should try and fish the incoming tide and high slack tide. Bait and multiple hooks are prohibited. The bag and possession limit for fish greater than 16” in length, is currently one (1).

Local Lakes

  • Elephant (Spirit) Lake access gate is closed at this time and will be closed through September 30.
  • Lake fishing for rainbow trout, Arctic char, Arctic grayling, and land locked salmon is good to excellent this time of year. Try fishing with dry or wet flies such as an egg sucking leech, bead head nymph, or mosquito pattern; small spoons and spinners size #0 or #2; or small bait under a bobber.
  • Not familiar with all the stocked lakes in the area? Check out the ADF&G publication with locations, access, and other valuable information on Kenai Peninsula area lakes. For specific lake stocking information including species stocked and numbers of fish stocked, directions, bathymetric maps, and amenities, please visit the ADF&G Alaska Lakes Database. Many local lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout and coho salmon fingerling recently.

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-SS-1-63-24: Effective 12:01 am Thursday, September 19 through 11:59 pm Tuesday, December 31, 2024. In those waters of the Kenai River open to fishing for coho salmon, the bag and possession limit for coho salmon, 16 inches or greater in length, is one fish per day. Additionally this EO prohibits the use of bait and restricts gear to one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure from the Kenai River’s mouth upstream to the ADF&G regulatory marker at the outlet of Skilak Lake.
  • Emergency Order 2-SS-1-57-24: In the flowing fresh waters of the Kenai Peninsula (excluding the Kenai River) effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 24 through 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024, the bag and possession limits for coho salmon 16” or greater in length will be reduced from two to one fish, the use of bait will be prohibited, and gear will be restricted to single-hook, artificial lure.

Don’t forget to purchase your 2024 sport fishing license and king stamp! You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can also purchase licenses through the ADF&G online store and print it off from the comfort of your own home. Make sure to review emergency orders, advisory announcements, and the 2024 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.

For additional information, please contact the Soldotna Area Office at 907-262-9368

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