Kenai River & Peninsula Salmon, Halibut & Trout Weekly Fishing Forecast and Report

Alaska Department of Fish & Game's
Upper Kenai Peninsula
Weekly Fishing Forecast
Disclaimer

This report is reproduced from information provided by Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Soldotna Office, and will be updated weekly throughout the fishing season. The same message can be accessed on their Record-A-Phone "Sportfishing Forecast" at (907) 262-2737.

DATE: For Week of May 5 to May 11, 2008

Emergency Orders and In-season Regulation Changes

At this time, no Emergency Orders are in effect for this area.
Flowing waters are now closed to sport fishing by regulation. Popular fishing areas that are closed to all fishing include that portion of the Kenai River between the Upper Killey River and the outlet of Skilak Lake. Additionally, the Upper Kenai River from Skilak Lake upstream to Kenai Lake is also closed by regulation. These waters will reopen to fishing on Wednesday, June 11. Anglers are reminded to check the regulation summary booklet as the water they intend to fish may be closed to all fishing.
The 2008 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet is available at Department of Fish and Game Offices as well as fishing license vendors throughout the Northern Kenai Peninsula Area.
A news release was issued on February 26, 2008 which summarized regulations changes made by the Board of Fisheries. These new regulations will be in effect for the 2008 season. Please review the regulation booklet before fishing in 2008 and follow the first link list at the bottom of this page to read the news release summary of the regulation changes made by the Board of Fisheries.
Most area lakes are ice covered however, they should be ice-free soon. Generally, many area lakes will be ice free by the end of the first week of the month of May. Twenty-seven lakes are stocked, while natural production of rainbow trout and lake trout in other lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities at the time the ice goes-out on area lakes.

FRESHWATER

Salmon - Kenai & Kasilof Rivers

It's too early yet for king salmon fishing in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, anglers typically start catching king salmon by early to mid May.

Resident Fish - Kenai River

Fishing for rainbow trout in the Kenai River Drainage is closed from May 2 through June 10. Flowing waters in the Kenai River watershed will reopen to fishing for rainbow trout on June 11.

Resident Fish - Kasilof River

Most fishing opportunity in the Kasilof River is in the Ôslack waterÕ area immediately below the Tustumena Lake outlet. Fishing is slow although a few lake trout and Dolly Varden have been caught.

Northern Pike

Stormy Lake has good numbers of northern pike and the lake has good public access. The lake is still mostly ice covered; however it is deteriorating with the warmer weather. Anglers who are interested in fishing for northern pike on the Kenai Peninsula need to put Stormy Lake on your early season list to fish at ice out, which should occur by the weekend.
Many other area lakes have northern pike, but public access is limited. Private property owners may allow access, but get permission first.
Pike can be taken using spears, bow and arrow (with arrow attached by a line), bait, spin, and fly-fishing gear. Try fish-shaped and fish-colored lures and flies.
There is no closed season for pike and the bag limit is unlimited. Wanton waste laws apply so be sure to use, or donate to charity, all the pike you harvest.

Lake Fishing

Numerous Kenai Peninsula Lakes provide great fishing opportunity while flowing waters are closed to fishing. The warmer weather and the recent overnight temperatures above freezing is causing the ice to begin to pull away from the shoreline and give anglers some open water fishing opportunity. Look for many Kenai Peninsula Area lakes to become ice-free this week. The following is a 4 step description of how lake ice melts.
1. Around March, as the air warms and the sun gets more intense, the snow melts, allowing light to penetrate the ice. Because the ice acts like the glass in a greenhouse, the water beneath it begins to warm, and the ice begins to melt FROM THE BOTTOM.
2. When the ice thickness erodes to between 4 and 12 inches, it transforms into long vertical crystals called "candles." These conduct light even better, so the ice starts to look black, because it is not reflecting much sunlight.
3. Warming continues because the light energy is being transferred to the water below the ice. Melt water fills in between the crystals, which begin breaking apart. The surface appears grayish as the ice reflects a bit more light than before.
4. The wind comes up, and breaks the surface apart. The candles will often be blown to one side of the lake, making a tinkling sound as they knock against one another, and pile up on the shore. In hours, a sparkling blue lake, once again!

Recorded weekly fishing reports from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game for other areas in the state can be reached by calling:
267-2515 in Anchorage
746-6300 in Palmer
235-6930 in Homer.

Helpful Links

Area webpage: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/areas/kenai/kenhome.cfm
Salmon and trout identification pages: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/regulations/2001/html/pdfs/01ayksalmonid.pdf
Sonar estimates/weir counts: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/Escapement/HTML/query.cfm
Kenai River in season data summaries: not yet available
River levels: http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ahps.cgi?pacr
Lake stocking: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/Hatchery/Stocking_search/HTML/stock_search.cfm
Maps to stocked lakes: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Region2/LAKEMAPS/HTML/LAKEMAP1.stm
Southcentral informational handouts: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/pubs.cfm
Safety in bear country:http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/hunt_trap/hunting/huntak/huntak14.cfm
Enforcement: http://www.dps.state.ak.us/fwp/index.asp
Regulations: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/reghome.cfm
Northern pike: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/areas/anch/pikepage.cfm
OEO/ADA statement: http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/oeostate.php

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