Alaska Outdoor Digest

The source for important, timely news on hunting, fishing and the outdoors in Alaska.

Kenai reopened to sockeye fishermen
With run at minimum escapement, daily limit set at 3 (Soldotna) – The passage of sockeye salmon into the Kenai River has achieved the sustainable escapement goal (SEG) of 700,000 to 1,200,000 Kenai River late-run sockeye salmon, so the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is reopening sport... Read more
Kenai sockeye run making late arrival?
Could it be the long-missing late run of sockeye salmon to the Kenai River is finally starting to arrive? The last three days (Aug. 5-7) saw almost 120,000 sockeye pass the ADF&G counter on the lower river, topped by 55,768 fish Aug. 7.  That’s the second best day of... Read more
Kenai closed to sockeye fishing
The unthinkable has happened for Southcentral Alaska fishermen. Fishing for sockeye salmon on most of the Kenai River has been closed effective Saturday.  State officials are taking this almost unprecedented action thanks to a disastrously low sockeye return. Here’s the official release today: “To protect returning sockeye salmon and... Read more
Sockeye run limping to finish
The late sockeye run on the Kenai has gained some late momentum this week. Several days of 30,000 to 40,000 fish per day into the river is moving the run closer to its million fish minimum escapement. The jury is still out on whether this was a small or... Read more
Lower Kenai filling with red salmon
By Lee Leschper They showed up after all. What was shaping up as the worst sockeye run in several decades is now building to what Alaskan anglers expect and count on.  That is, daily new surges of 50,000 or more salmon per day, so both dip netting and sport... Read more
Wait for Kenai sockeye continues, ADF&G curtails commercial fishing
Will this be the year the sockeye never came back to the Kenai? Sockeye salmon fishermen on the Kenai River at still playing a waiting game.  That is, waiting for the big surge of late run sockeye salmon that usually fills the river by now.  And fills both stringers... Read more
Strong Russian sockeye run provides great fishing
By Lee Leschper Defining recent trends, this year’s early Russian River run of sockeye salmon continues strong and steady, blessing eager anglers with limits now up to six fish a day. ADF&G raised the daily bag limit on the Russian and the Upper Kenai to six per day and... Read more