Section 5 AAC 57.122 - Special provisions and localized additions and exceptions to the seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and methods and means for the Middle Section of the Kenai River Drainage Area Unless otherwise specified by an emergency order issued under AS 16.05.060, the following are special provisions and localized exceptions to the general seasons, bag, possession, and size limits, and methods and means set out in 5 AAC 57.120 and 5 AAC 75 for the Middle Section of the Kenai River Drainage Area:
(1) the following waters of the Middle Section are closed to sport fishing, as follows: (A) from May 1 - June 10, 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) from May 1 - June 10, and from September 15 - October 31, the flowing waters of Cooper Creek;(G) from May 1 - June 10, and from August 1 - August 31, the Upper Russian (Goat) Creek upstream from an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 300 yards from its confluence with Upper Russian Lake;(H) from May 1 - June 10, the flowing waters of Jean Lake Creek, Hidden Lake Creek, Juneau Creek, and the Russian River from its mouth upstream 100 yards to ADF&G regulatory markers, excluding Upper Russian (Goat) Creek;(J) from September 15 - November 30, Hidden Lake;(2) from July 1 - August 15, the Kenai River riparian habitats described in 5 AAC 57.180(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 in the Kenai River, from ADF&G regulatory markers located at the power line crossing near the confluence of the Russian River, upstream 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, 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 one in possession may be a coho salmon;(B) in Upper and Lower Russian Lakes, the bag and possession limit for rainbow/steelhead trout is two fish, of which only one may be 20 inches or greater in length;(C) in Cooper Lake, the bag and possession limit for Arctic char/Dolly Varden is five fish, of which only one may be greater than 20 inches in length;(D) in Hidden Lake, the bag and possession limit for lake trout is one fish, less than 16 inches in length;(4) the following sport fishing 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) in 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 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, 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) all tributaries of the Middle Section, except the portion of the Russian River drainage downstream of an ADF&G regulatory marker located approximately 600 yards downstream from the falls, are closed to sport fishing for salmon;(6) from January 1 - December 31, a person may not deploy sport fishing gear from a vessel in the flowing waters of the Kenai River between ADF&G regulatory markers located approximately one-quarter mile above the Sterling Highway Bridge at the outlet of Kenai Lake, downstream to ADF&G regulatory markers located at approximately river mile 80.7, during motor use or after a motor has been used to propel that vessel on that same day.(7) Hidden Lake is closed to sport fishing for burbot;(8) Hidden Lake Creek, from ADF&G regulatory markers located at the mouth of Hidden Creek upstream to Hidden Lake, is closed to sport fishing for salmon;(9) Jean Lake Creek is closed to sport fishing for salmon.(10) the following waters of the Middle Section are open to sport fishing, only as follows: (A) from July 15 - April 30, the Russian River sanctuary area, as defined in subparagraph (4)(D) of this section, is open to sport fishing, except sockeye salmon may be taken only from July 15 - August 20;(B) 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;(C) 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;(D) 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.Eff. 10/1/2006, Register 179; am 11/12/2006, Register 180; am 6/4/2008, Register 186; am 6/12/2011, Register 198; am 5/18/2014, Register 210, July 2014; am 6/8/2017,Register 222, July 2017; am 6/8/2024, Register 250, July 2024Authority:AS 16.05.060
AS 16.05.251