Anchor River, Deep Creek closed through mid-July as king salmon returns fall short

The Anchor River and Deep Creek are closed to all sport fishing through July 15, with gear restrictions extending through July 31, as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game responds to weak king salmon returns on the Lower Kenai Peninsula.

The closures affect two heavily used roadside streams during the peak of summer fishing season. Water conditions have improved and fish counts have ticked up slightly, but not enough to reopen the fisheries, according to the department's June 1 fishing report.

ADF&G has closed the Anchor River and Deep Creek repeatedly in recent years when in-season counts indicated escapement goals would not be met. My read is these closures are becoming the new normal, not the exception. The department is managing for a resource that is not showing up in the numbers it used to.

From July 16 through July 31, the Anchor River and Deep Creek will be restricted to one unbaited, single-hook artificial lure.

The Ninilchik River will open to fishing for hatchery king salmon on Wednesday, June 3, for youth anglers only, and June 6 through 8 for all anglers. Bait is prohibited this season to protect wild king salmon and steelhead. Spinners and spoons are recommended. If anglers incidentally hook a steelhead or wild king salmon, they should get the fish to the bank as quickly as possible and release it without removing it from the water.