Alaska News

Kenai red salmon fishing is great

Here is a quick look at the fishing prospects this week, from the crew at Mountain View Sports Center in Anchorage:

Sockeye fishing on the Kenai Peninsula is fantastic. The fish are still thick in the lower Kenai River and up through Soldotna. The Russian River should see a surge of bright sockeye by the weekend.

This is the last weekend of king fishing on the Kenai, so bring your K15s and Mag-lips.

Resurrection Creek in Hope is getting pinks and silvers. The creek is a great place to take the kids fishing. Try Vibrax and other medium-sized spinners for these salmon. If you're fly-fishing, use purple, fuchsia or chartreuse weighted bunny leeches.

Mat-Su area streams are fishing well for silvers, pinks and chums. Vibrax will also work well. Try the mouths of Willow, Montana or Sheep creeks. Rainbows and grayling can be a bonus in these creeks as well. Try fishing small sculpins, beads or small spinners.

Around Anchorage, people are catching salmon at Bird and Ship creeks. Try to fish the incoming tide. Chester and Campbell creeks have also been fishing well for rainbow trout.

Symphony Lake is also a great grayling spot.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alaska Troutfitters in Cooper Landing reports that sockeyes are being caught throughout the Kenai River. Large numbers of incoming fish are still being counted daily by Fish and Game. The fish are moving upriver in pulses. Anglers on the upper river (above Skilak Lake) can expect to pick up some "blush" fish, that is fish that have been in fresh water for awhile, but the guide service says a fair number of bright, feisty, fresher fish are in the mix as well.

Trout fishing should pick up as the salmon fishermen throw more carcasses into the river. Try a bright-colored flesh fly.

In the Mat-Su, Fish and Game announced the opening of the personal use dipnet salmon fishery on Fish Creek beginning at 6 a.m., tomorrow, July 29, and continuing through 11 p.m., Sunday, July 31. Fish Creek crosses Knik-Goose Bay Road between Wasilla and Point McKenzie.

Dipnetting will be allowed for all salmon species except kings, and only between the hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kings must be released immediately.

The Fish Creek sockeye escapement goal is 20,000 to 70,000 fish. As of yesterday, more than 32,500 sockeyes had passed through the Fish Creek weir. Biologists are projecting a total escapement of more than 50,000 sockeyes.

A 2011 Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use permit is required. For details about licensing, permits and limits, check the fishing blog on adn.com or call the Palmer Fish and Game Office at 746-6300.

And finally, with the summer salmon rush in overdrive, the Fish and Game issued this warning this week:

"Anglers and dipnetters are reminded not to dispose of fish waste in (town). Discarding fish waste on public or private property is against state and municipal law. ... Violators may be subject to fines ranging from $300 to $1,000.

"The Divisions of Sport Fish and Wildlife Conservation have recently received numerous reports of salmon waste dumped into Anchorage creeks, lakes and neighborhood areas. This illegal activity is a serious public safety concern; fish waste can draw bears to an area from more than a mile away."

The Daily News fishing report is published each Thursday. For the latest and most comprehensive information every day, check the links on adn.com/outdoors/sportfishing. In addition to reports from Department of Fish and Game biologists across the state, you will find lots of photos in the Nice Catch galleries, links to current weather, river and stream flows, tide charts, fish counts, salmon run timing, fishing derbies across the state and how-to videos. You can also buy a fishing license online, check the regulations, read a blog with the latest fishery closures and emergency orders, and sign up for our fishing newsletter email.

Post a Nice Catch photo

Anchorage Daily News

sports@adn.com

ADVERTISEMENT