Title 5 . Fish and Game

Chapter 56 . Personal Use Fishery

Section 23. Seasons; bag, possession, and size limits; and special provisions for the Kenai River drainage

5 AAC 56.023. Seasons; bag, possession, and size limits; and special provisions for the Kenai River drainage

(a) Except as otherwise specified in this section, the following are the seasons, and the bag, possession, and size limits, for the Kenai River drainage:

(1) king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, as follows:

(A) may be taken from January 1 - July 31 in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake and in the Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai River upstream to the northernmost edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge, with a bag and possession limit of one fish, as follows:

(i) from January 1 - June 30, from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, and from July 1 - July 14, from the Soldotna Bridge upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake and in the Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai River upstream to the northernmost edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge, only king salmon that are less than 44 inches in length or 55 inches or greater in length may be retained;

(ii) repealed 6/11/2005;

(iii) if retention is permitted under this subparagraph, a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length that is removed from the water must be retained and becomes part of the bag limit of the person originally hooking it; a person may not remove a king salmon from the water before releasing the fish; there is an annual limit of two king salmon and a harvest record is required as specified in 5 AAC 56.024;

(iv) a king salmon 55 inches or greater in length taken from the Kenai River from January 1 - July 31 must be sealed as specified in 5 AAC 56.070;

(B) king salmon 20 inches or greater in length may not be taken

(i) in the Kenai River upstream of the outlet of Skilak Lake, including Kenai Lake; and

(ii) in the Kenai River drainage lakes and tributaries including Kenai Lake tributaries, except the lower Moose River;

(C) for king salmon 55 inches or greater in length, that are retained, sealing is required as specified in 5 AAC 56.070;

(2) king salmon less than 20 inches in length, as follows:

(A) may be taken in flowing waters and unstocked lakes and ponds from January 1 - July 31; bag and possession limit of 10 fish;

(B) repealed 6/11/2005;

(C) may be taken in stocked lakes and ponds from January 1 - December 31; bag and possession limit of 10 fish; for the purposes of this subparagraph, "stocked lakes and ponds" has the meaning given in (5)(E) of this subsection;

(3) salmon, other than king salmon,

(A) 16 inches or greater in length, as follows:

(i) sockeye, pink, and chum salmon may be taken from January 1 - December 31;

(ii) coho salmon may be taken from July 1 - October 31;

(iii) bag and possession limit for sockeye, coho, and chum salmon in combination is three fish, of which no more than two may be coho salmon; in addition, the bag and possession limit for pink salmon is six fish;

(B) less than 16 inches in length may be taken from January 1 - December 31; bag and possession limit of 10 fish;

(4) Arctic char/Dolly Varden

(A) may be taken from January 1 - December 31, in all flowing waters from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to Skilak Lake, and the waters of Skilak Lake, except the waters within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 18 inches in length; no retention of fish 18 inches or greater in length; Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 18 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(B) may be taken from January 1 - December 31, in the lakes and ponds of the Kenai River drainage, including Kenai Lake and lakes tributary to Kenai Lake, except Skilak Lake; bag and possession limit of two fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(C) may be taken from June 11 - May 1, in all flowing waters from the waters of Skilak Lake within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet, upstream to Kenai Lake, including the flowing waters of the Kenai Lake drainage; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 16 inches in length; no retention of fish 16 inches or greater in length; Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(D) may be taken from January 1 - December 31, in flowing waters from the mouth of the Upper Killey River upstream to Skilak Lake, and the waters of Skilak Lake, except the waters within one - half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 18 inches in length; no retention of fish 18 inches or greater in length; Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 18 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(E) may be taken from June 11 - May 1, in all flowing waters of the Kenai River drainage from the waters of Skilak Lake within one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet, upstream to Kenai Lake, including the flowing waters of the Kenai Lake drainage; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 18 inches in length; no retention of fish 18 inches or greater in length, Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 18 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(F) may be taken from January 1 - December 31, in Hidden Lake and the lakes and ponds of the Kenai River drainage upstream from the Kenai River inlet into Skilak Lake, including Kenai Lake; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 18 inches in length; no retention of fish 18 inches or greater in length; Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 18 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(5) rainbow/steelhead trout

(A) are subject to an annual limit of two fish 20 inches or greater in length, and a harvest record is required as specified in 5 AAC 56.024;

(B) may be taken from June 11 - May 1, in all flowing waters from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to Skilak Lake, and the waters of Skilak Lake, except the water within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 18 inches in length; no retention of fish 18 inches or greater in length; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 18 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(C) may be taken from June 11 - May 1, in all flowing waters upstream of Skilak Lake, and the waters of Skilak Lake within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet; bag and possession limit of one fish less than 16 inches in length; no retention of fish 16 inches or greater in length; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately;

(D) may be taken from January 1 - December 31, in the lakes and ponds, including Kenai Lake and lakes tributary to Kenai Lake, except Skilak Lake and stocked lakes; bag and possession limit of two fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(E) may be taken from January 1 - December 31, in stocked lakes and ponds of the Kenai River and Kenai Lake drainage; bag and possession limit of five fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length; for the purpose of this subparagraph, "stocked lakes and ponds" means Aurora Lake, Barbara Lake, Cabin Lake, Carter Lake, Cecille Lake, Chugach Estates Lake, Douglas Lake, Elephant Lake, Island Lake, Longmere Lake, Loon Lake, Rainbow Lake, Scout Lake, Sport Lake, Thetis Lake, Tirmore Lake, and Vagt Lake;

(6) Arctic grayling may be taken from January 1 - December 31; bag and possession limit of five fish; no size limit;

(7) lake trout

(A) 20 inches or greater in length may be taken from January 1 - December 31; bag and possession limit of two fish;

(B) less than 20 inches in length may be taken from January 1 - December 31; bag and possession limit of 10 fish;

(8) other finfish not specified in this subsection may be taken from January 1 - December 31; no bag, possession, or size limits.

(b) The following special provisions apply in addition to the seasons, and the bag, possession, and size limits specified in (a) of this section for the Kenai River drainage:

(1) salmon may be landed only with the aid of a landing net or by hand;

(2) a person, after taking and retaining a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length from the Kenai River, may not sport fish from a boat in the Kenai River downstream from Skilak Lake for any species of fish on that same day;

(3) a person, after taking and retaining two coho salmon 16 inches or greater in length from the Kenai River, may continue to sport fish only from the Soldotna Bridge upstream to the ADF&G regulatory markers at the outlet of Skilak Lake.

(c) The following are localized additions and exceptions to the seasons, and the bag, possession, and size limits, and special provisions specified in (a) of this section for the Kenai River drainage from its mouth upstream to Skilak Lake, including Skilak Lake, but not including the waters of Skilak Lake within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet:

(1) sport fishing gear restrictions:

(A) from January 1 - June 30, in the Kenai River, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(B) from July 1 - July 31, in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake, only one single hook, may be used;

(C) from September 1 - December 31, in the Kenai River from the mouth of the Upper Killey River upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the outlet of Skilak Lake, only unbaited, artificial lures may be used;

(D) from November 1 - December 31, in the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, only unbaited artificial lures may be used;

(E) from May 15 - August 15, the Moose River from its confluence with the Kenai River upstream to the upstream edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge, and the waters of the Kenai River within a 100-yard radius of the Moose River, are fly-fishing-only waters;

(F) from January 1 - July 14, that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 100 yards upstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek is fly-fishing-only waters;

(G) from January 1 - July 14, that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one mile downstream from the mouth of Funny River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards upstream from the mouth of Funny River, is fly-fishing-only waters;

(H) from June 25 - July 14, that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately three-quarters of a mile downstream from the mouth of the Lower Killey River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one-half mile upstream from the mouth of the Lower Killey River, is fly-fishing-only waters;

(I) in Hidden Lake Creek, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(J) in Mackey Lakes, Derks Lake, Sevena Lake, Cisca Lake, Union Lake, and the unnamed lakes on Tote Road, five lines may be used to fish for northern pike through the ice;

(2) the following waters of the Kenai River are closed to sport fishing, as follows:

(A) from April 15 - August 15, Slikok Creek;

(B) from January 1 - December 31, the flowing waters of Soldotna Creek upstream of ADF&G markers located approximately 100 feet upstream from its confluence with the Kenai River;

(C) from May 2 - June 10, the flowing waters of Soldotna Creek downstream from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 100 feet upstream from its confluence with the Kenai River;

(D) from January 1 - July 14, that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one mile downstream from the mouth of the Funny River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards upstream from the mouth of the Funny River, is closed to the taking of king salmon;

(E) from June 11 - August 14, the Funny River from the Kenai River upstream to the Funny River Road Bridge;

(F) from May 2 - June 10, the flowing waters of Moose River upstream of the upper edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge;

(G) from June 25 - July 14, that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately three-quarters of a mile downstream from the mouth of the Lower Killey River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one-half mile upstream from the mouth of the Lower Killey River, is closed to the taking of king salmon;

(H) repealed 6/11/2005;

(I) from May 2 - June 10, Hidden Lake Creek;

(J) from July 1 - August 15, the Kenai River riparian habitats described in 5 AAC 56.065(d) are closed to all sport fishing, except to sport fishing from a boat that is more than 10 feet from shore and is not connected to the shore or any riparian habitat;

(K) from January 1 - July 14, the waters in that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker approximately 100 yards upstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek is closed to the taking of king salmon;

(3) a person may not sport fish from a boat

(A) on any Monday in May, June, and July, except Memorial Day, in that portion of the Kenai River from its mouth upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake, except that unguided sport fishing from a non-motorized vessel is allowed on Mondays in May, June, and July as described in 5 AAC 21.359(b) (2); for the purposes of this section, a "non-motorized vessel" is a vessel that does not have a motor on board;

(B) from January 1 - July 14, in that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards downstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 100 yards upstream from the mouth of Slikok Creek;

(C) from May 15 until the end of the king salmon season, or July 31, whichever is later, in that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 250 yards downstream from the upper breakwater at Centennial Park boat launch, upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge at Soldotna;

(D) from May 15 until the end of the king salmon season, or July 31, whichever is later, in that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 100 yards downstream from the landing at Morgan's Hole (river mile 31) upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located at the north section line of Section 28, Township 5 North, Range 9 West, Seward Meridian;

(E) from May 15 until the end of king salmon season, or July 31, whichever is later, in that portion of the Kenai River within a 100-yard radius of the mouth of the Moose River, and the Moose River upstream to the upstream edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge;

(F) from January 1 - July 14, in that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one mile downstream from the mouth of the Funny River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 200 yards upstream from the mouth of the Funny River;

(G) from June 25 - July 14, in that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately three-quarters of a mile downstream from the mouth of the Lower Killey River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately one-half mile upstream from the mouth of the Lower Killey River;

(4) sport fishing from guided vessels is restricted in waters of the Kenai River as specified in 5 AAC 56.036(k) and 5 AAC 56.080(b) (2);

(5) Hidden Lake is closed to sport fishing for burbot;

(6) in Hidden Lake, the bag and possession limit for lake trout is two fish; no size limit;

(7) repealed 6/11/2005.

(d) The following are localized additions and exceptions to the seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and special provisions set out in (a) and (b) of this section for the Kenai River drainage, including the waters of Skilak Lake, within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet, upstream to the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet of Kenai Lake:

(1) the following waters of the Kenai River drainage are open to sport fishing only as follows:

(A) from June 11 - May 1, the Kenai River from the waters of Skilak Lake, within a one-half mile radius of the Kenai River inlet, upstream to the downstream edge of the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet of Kenai Lake;

(B) repealed 6/11/2005;

(C) from June 11 - September 14, and from November 1 - May 1, Cooper Creek;

(D) from June 11 - May 1, flowing waters of the Russian River drainage upstream of a point approximately 100 yards from its confluence with the Kenai River, excluding Upper Russian (Goat) Creek, only one single hook with a gap between point and shank of three-eighths inch or less may be used;

(E) from July 15 - April 30, the Russian River Sanctuary, including waters upstream from ADF&G regulatory markers located just downstream of the ferry crossing on the Kenai River to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman's Landing (including the waters around the upstream end of the island near the Russian River mouth) and the Russian River from its mouth upstream 100 yards to ADF&G regulatory markers is open to sport fishing, except sockeye salmon may be taken only from July 15 - August 20;

(F) from June 11 - August 20, the waters of the Kenai River near the confluence of the Russian River, from the powerline crossing on the Kenai River upstream to the Ferry Crossing, are open to sport fishing for sockeye salmon;

(G) from June 11 - August 20, the waters of the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the falls are open to sport fishing for sockeye salmon;

(H) from June 11 - July 31, and from September 1 - May 1, the Upper Russian (Goat) Creek upstream from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards from its confluence with Upper Russian Lake;

(I) from June 11 - May 1, Jean Lake Creek;

(J) from July 1 - September 30, the waters of the Russian River from its mouth upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the falls are open to sport fishing for coho salmon;

(2) from July 1 - August 15, the Kenai River riparian habitats described in 5 AAC 56.065(d) are closed to sport fishing, except sport fishing is allowed from a boat that is more than 10 feet from shore and is not connected to the shore or any riparian habitat;

(3) the following bag and possession limits apply;

(A) in the Russian River and the Russian River sanctuary area, which consists of waters upstream from ADF&G regulatory markers located downstream of the ferry crossing on the Kenai River, to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman's Landing (including the waters around the upstream end of the island near the Russian River mouth) and the Russian River from its mouth upstream 100 yards to ADF&G regulatory markers, the bag and possession limit for salmon, other than king salmon, 16 inches or greater in length is three fish, of which only one per day and in possession may be a coho salmon;

(B) in Upper and Lower Russian lakes, the rainbow/steelhead trout bag and possession limit is two fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(4) the following gear restrictions apply:

(A) in flowing waters, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure, with a gap between point and shank of three-eighths inch or less, may be used;

(B) the Russian River drainage, including Upper and Lower Russian Lakes, only one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure, with a gap between point and shank of three-eighths inch or less, may be used;

(C) the Russian River from its confluence with the Kenai River, upstream to an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the falls, from June 11 - August 20, is fly-fishing-only water;

(D) the Russian River sanctuary area, which consists of waters up stream from ADF&G regulatory markers located just downstream of the ferry crossing on the Kenai River, to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately 300 yards upstream of the public boat launch at Sportsman's Landing, including the waters around the upstream end of the island near the Russian River mouth, and the Russian River from its mouth upstream 100 yards to ADF&G regulatory markers, from July 15 - August 20, is fly-fishing-only waters;

(E) that portion of the Kenai River from an ADF&G regulatory marker located below the Ferry Crossing on the Kenai River downstream to the power line crossing from June 11 - August 20, is fly-fishing-only water;

(5) the Russian River drainage upstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the falls is closed to sport fishing for salmon.

(e) The following are localized additions and exceptions to the seasons, and the bag, possession, and size limits, and special provisions set out in (a) and (b) of this section for the Kenai River drainage upstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet of Kenai Lake, including Kenai Lake and all streams and lakes that flow into Kenai Lake:

(1) Kenai Lake from the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet, upstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately one-quarter mile upstream, is open to sport fishing from June 11 - May 1;

(2) in Kenai Lake within one-quarter mile of the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet

(A) only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(B) the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is one fish less than 16 inches in length; rainbow/steelhead trout 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(3) in all flowing waters of the Kenai Lake drainage, the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is one fish less than 16 inches in length; rainbow/steelhead trout 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(4) from January 1 - December 31,

(A) waters of the Kenai Lake drainage are closed to fishing for salmon;

(B) in stocked lakes of the Kenai Lake drainage, including Jerome, Carter, Vagt, Long, and Meridian lakes, the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is five fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(C) in the flowing waters of the Kenai Lake drainage, including waters of Kenai Lake within one-quarter mile radius of all inlet streams, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(5) in waters of Kenai Lake within a one-quarter mile radius of all inlet streams, the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is one fish less than 16 inches in length; rainbow/steelhead trout 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(6) Crescent Creek drainage:

(A) is open to sport fishing from July 1 - May 1;

(B) in flowing waters, only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(C) in Crescent Lake, from July 1 - May 1, the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is two fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;

(D) from July 1 - May 1, the Crescent Creek drainage, except Crescent Lake, is open to sport fishing for rainbow/steelhead trout; the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is one fish less than 16 inches in length; rainbow/steelhead trout 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(E) Arctic grayling: bag and possession limit is two fish; no size limit;

(7) Quartz Creek drainage, excluding Crescent Creek:

(A) only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(B) closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(C) open to sport fishing for fish other than salmon, from its mouth to the upstream side of the Sterling Highway Bridge, from June 11 - May 1;

(D) from June 11 - September 14, and from November 1 - May 1, upstream of the Sterling Highway Bridge (including Devils Creek, Johns Creek, Jerome Creek, Summit Creek, and Slate Creek) is open to sport fishing for fish other than salmon;

(E) Arctic char/Dolly Varden: bag and possession limit is one fish less than 16 inches in length; Arctic char/Dolly Varden 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(F) rainbow/steelhead trout: bag and possession limit is one fish less than 16 inches in length; rainbow/steelhead trout 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(8) Snow River drainage:

(A) only one unbaited, single-hook, artificial lure may be used;

(B) closed to sport fishing for salmon;

(C) the South Fork of the Snow River is open to sport fishing for fish other than salmon from June 11 - September 14, and from November 1 - May 1;

(D) the remainder of the Snow River drainage, not specified in (C) of this paragraph, is open to sport fishing for fish other than salmon from June 11 - May 1;

(E) Arctic char/Dolly Varden: bag and possession limit is one fish less than 16 inches in length; Arctic char/Dolly Varden 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; Arctic char/Dolly Varden caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed;

(F) rainbow/steelhead trout: bag and possession limit is one fish less than 16 inches in length; rainbow/steelhead trout 16 inches or greater in length may not be retained; rainbow/steelhead trout caught that are 16 inches or greater in length must be released immediately, and returned to the water unharmed.

History: Eff. 6/22/2002, Register 162; am 8/9/2002, Register 163; am 5/18/2003, Register 166; am 7/31/2003, Register 167; em am 9/28/2004 - 1/25/2005, Register 172; am 6/11/2005, Register 174; am 6/22/2005, Register 174

Authority: AS 16.05.060

AS 16.05.251