Fishing in June on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers: The Pros and Cons

Fishing in June on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers: The Pros and Cons

Fishing the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers start to become two very different experiences in June. Because of differences in regulations, angler density, and fish count, these rivers begin to look like two different worlds. In some respects, fishing Alaska in June feels like fishing in late-May, only everything is on the rise: water levels, air temperatures, and excitement.

Let's start by discussing the few remaining similarities between the Kenai and Kasilof. The early-run of king salmon is going strong and both rivers are seeing significantly higher fish counts. In June the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) sonar counter near the mouth of the Kenai River now detects 200-600 kings leaving the Cook Inlet everyday. With the increasing fish count comes increasing angler density on both rivers as well. Since their source glaciers are now belted with up to 19 hours of sunlight a day, the water level is rising on both rivers, too. This means fewer obvious places to set up an ambush near deep-water holes.

Got all that? Good, because more fish, more anglers, and more water is all the Kenai River and Kasilof River share in June. The Kenai River is now teeming with moderate-sized kings, but if you want to land one of these fish, you must do so with a single-hook, unbaited lure. The ADF&G also stipulates that once you retain a king 20" or longer on the Kenai, you may not fish on that same day for any species downstream of Skilak Lake (at and above which fishing for kings is closed). Also, kings between 46" and 55" must be released.

So if you get a lucky strike early on, fishing for kings on the Kenai in June may make for a pretty short day. The good news is you'll have plenty of people to talk to once you've wrapped things up. Angler density on the Kenai is by no means uncomfortable in June, but it's up. You may consider this a drawback, but many anglers enjoy the buzz of excitement surrounding the presence of other anglers sharing in the experience.

Meanwhile, over on the quieter Kasilof, a happy angler in a driftboat has just landed a 23 pound king. His guide has it safely stowed for him and he sets his shoulders to send out his next cast. What makes him even happier is that on the Kasilof River he can continue to catch and release, and possibly keep another king. On the Kasilof the bag limit is 2 kings longer than 20" (provided that only one is a wild king). The only thing that makes him happier still is that he's out with his guide on Monday, something else that he couldn't be doing on the Kenai.

To recap, in June, anglers begin to split up into two groups. Those on the Kenai have the opportunity to fish for larger fish on a river that is increasingly full of excitement, but also increasingly full of other anglers and motorboats. Those on the Kasilof must accept fewer and smaller fish in exchange for the opportunity to keep up to 2 kings a day.

Jimmie Jack Drath

www.JimmieJackFishing.com

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